Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 17

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People

17 Jul 2023

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Horserace Betting Levy Board – Paul Darling OBE KC re-appointed as chair for four years from 1 April 2024; Anne Lambert CMG re-appointed as independent member for two years and 9 month from 1 April 2024.
National Citizen Service Trust – Harris Bokhari OBE appointed as chair for three years from 12 July.
Sport England – David Mahoney re-appointed as board member until 27 October 2025; Tove Okunniwa re-appointed as board members until 1 September 2025 and appointed as vice-chair of the board.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Ele Brown appointed as the UK’s deputy chief veterinary officer for national, domestic and exotic diseases; Jorge Martin-Almagro appointed as the UK’s deputy chief veterinary officer for international and trade affairs.
Department of Health and Social Care: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – Amanda Calvert, Graham Cooke and Michael Whitehouse appointed as interim co-chairs from 12 July.
Ministry of Justice: LawtechUK Panel – Sophia Adams Bhatti, Stephen Browning, Maya Markovich, Isabel Parker and Mimi Zou appointed as members; Rosemary Martin has stepped down.
Department for Transport: HS2 Ltd – Mark Thurston to step down as chief executive at the end of September after six and a half years in the role; Sir Jon Thompson will be appointed as interim executive chair while a new chief executive is recruited.

House of Commons

Angus MacNeil announced he will continue as an Independent MP until at least October.

House of Lords

Lord Palmer (Crossbench, hereditary peer) died on 10 July.
Shaun Bailey (Con) raised to the peerage as Lord Bailey of Paddington on 10 July.
Benjamin Gascoigne (Con) raised to the peerage as Lord Gascoigne on 10 July.
Ross Kempsell (Con) raised to the peerage as Lord Ross Kempsell on 11 July.
Kulveer Singh Ranger (Con) raised to the peerage as Lord Ranger of Northwood on 11 July.
Ben Houchen (Con) raised to the peerage as Lord Houchen of High Leven on 12 July.
Charlotte Owen (Con) raised to the peerage as Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge on 12 July.
Dan Rosenfield (Con) raised to the peerage as Lord Rosenfield on 13 July.
Baroness Goudie’s suspension from the House of Lords ended on 11 July; she has returned as a Labour peer.
Built Environment Committee – Earl Russell added; Lord Goddard of Stockport discharged.
International Agreements Committee – Lord Goldsmith appointed as chair; Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town discharged.
Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments Committee – Lord Watson of Wyre Forest added; Lord Leong discharged.

Welsh Government

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board – Pippa Britton appointed as vice-chair until 5 November 2025; Martin Blakebrough appointed as independent member (third sector) until 2 May 2026.

Northern Ireland Executive

Belfast Metropolitan College – Rose Byrne, Dr Tom Hesketh, Michael McKernan, Sheena McKinney and Sinead Sharpe appointed as governing body members for four years from 1 August.
Libraries NI – Cheryl Brownlee, Alistair Cathcart and Julie Gilmour re-appointed as members to the board until the date of the local council elections in 2027; Wendy Osborne OBE and John Peto re-appointed as members to the board until 20 June 2027.
Northern Regional College – Brendan Devlin, Carla McGovern, Brendan Patterson and Jayne Taggart appointed as governing body members for four years from 1 August.
North West Regional College – Sharon McMahon appointed as governing body member for four years; Paul Clancy appointed as governing body member for four years from 1 August.
Southern Regional College – Geraldine Campbell, Sean Fitzsimons, Monica Kelly, Patricia McCaffrey and Angela Whiteside appointed as governing body members for four years from 1 August.
South West College – Elizabeth Armstrong, Maria Curran, Dr David Cutting and Maria Hackett MBE appointed as governing body members for four years from 1 August.

Newham Council – Abi Gbago recommended for appointment as chief executive, subject to approval by members at a meeting of the full council on 19 July.

Interest Groups

Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Vice Admiral Peter Hudson CB CBE appointed as vice-chair.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust – Andrew McLaughlin appointed as chief executive.
Guide Dogs – Andrew Lennox appointed as chief executive from 20 September.
Stonewall – Nancy Kelley will step down as chief executive at the end of July.
Trussell Trust – Suresh Ariaratnam, Tom Gibbs, Sasha Morgan, Duncan Shrubsole and Sarah Vibert appointed as board members.