Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 25

UK government

• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy –  Jane Toogood appointed as the UK's first hydrogen champion. Advanced Research and Invention Agency – Dr Ilan Gur appointed as first chief executive; Matt Clifford MBE appointed as first chair. Research England – The Science and Technology Select Committee has endorsed the appointment of Professor Dame Jessica Corner as executive chair. 
• Ministry of Defence – Adrian Bird CB appointed as chief of defence intelligence from September, succeeding General Sir James Hockenhull KBE ADC Gen. 
• Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Building Digital UK – Simon Blagden CBE appointed as chair. 
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Environment Agency – Alan Lovell appointed as chair from 26 September. 
• Home Office – Nicole Jacobs re-appointed as domestic abuse commissioner for three years from September until September 2025. Investigatory Powers Tribunal – Sir Martin Chamberlain appointed as member until 10 July 2027. 
• HM Treasury: Bank of England – Anne Glover and Diana Noble re-appointed as non-executive directors of the court for four years until 31 May 2026. Crown Estate Board – Anne Kavanagh and Clare Shine appointed as members for four years. 

Houses of Parliament

• Lord Gilbert of Panteg re-appointed as an electoral commissioner from 1 November until 31 October 2026; Roseanna Cunningham appointed as an electoral commissioner from 1 October until 30 September 2026; Chris Ruane appointed as an electoral commissioner from 1 November until 31 October 2026. 
• New joint committee: Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Act Reform Bill. The committee is required to report by 16 December. Rosena Allin-Khan, Baroness Barker, Baroness Berridge, Lord Bradley, Baroness Buscombe, Marsha De Cordova, Jonathan Gullis, Baroness Hollins, Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall, Dan Poulter, Ben Spencer, Charles Walker added. 
• Joint Committee on Human Rights – Joanna Cherry elected as chair. She takes on this role while Harriet Harman is chairing the Privileges Committee. 

House of Commons 

• Science and Technology Select Committee – Nominations for the new chair are open from 18 July until 13 September. If there is only one candidate, the speaker is likely to announce the result that day.  If more than one nomination is received a ballot will take place on 14 September and the results will be announced in the chamber later that day. The order of the House of 16 January 2020 allocated the chair of the committee to the Conservative Party. 

House of Lords 

• Viscount Ullswater (Conservative, hereditary peer) retired from the House of Lords on 20 July. 
• Lord Colwyn (Conservative, hereditary peer) and Earl of Listowel (crossbench, hereditary peer) retired from the House of Lords on 21 July. 
• Lord Astor of Hever (Conservative, hereditary peer) and Lord Mackay of Clashfern (Conservative, life peer) retired from the House of Lords on 22 July. 
• By-elections will take place in due course to replace the four hereditary peers. 
• Baroness Willis of Summertown (crossbench, life peer) was introduced to the House on 21 July. 

Devolved administrations

Welsh Government 

• Digital Health and Care Wales – Marilyn Bryan-Jones appointed as independent member until 13 July 2026. 
• Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales – Neil Beagrie, Christopher Brayne and Dr Louise Emanuel re-appointed as members for three years from 1 September. 

Northern Ireland Executive 

• Tourism NI – Ellvena Graham appointed as chair until 30 June 2025. 

Local authorities

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• Bristol City Council – Mike Jackson to stand down as chief executive to take up a new role as chief executive of Richmond and Wandsworth Borough Councils, subject to a formal decision from both councils. 
• Devon County Council – Jan Shadbolt appointed as interim chief executive subject to a formal decision by an appointments panel. 
• Kensington and Chelsea Royal Borough Council – Maxine Holdsworth appointed as chief executive. 
• Liverpool City Council – Tony Reeves has resigned as chief executive with immediate effect; Anne Marie Lubanski appointed as interim head of paid service. 
• Rhondda Cynon Taf Council – Paul Mee appointed as chief executive from 1 December. 
• Somerset County Council – Duncan Sharkey appointed as chief executive from the autumn, he is currently chief executive of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. He will move to the new unitary, Somerset Council in April 2023. 
• Southend-on-Sea City Council – Rob Polkinghorne appointed as chief executive. 
• Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council – Mike Greene appointed as managing director subject to a formal decision by the full council, succeeding Julie Danks who is retiring after more than 30 years in local government. 
• Thanet District Council – Colin Carmichael appointed as interim chief executive from 20 July. 

Industry  

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Interest Groups 

• BAFTA – Jane Millichip appointed as chief executive. 
• Centre for Local Economic Strategies – Carolyn Wilkins OBE appointed as chair of trustees; Rebecca Deegan and Huw Thomas appointed as trustees. 
• Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity – Professor Sir Doug Turnbull, Karima Fahmy and Michael Wiseman appointed as members to the board of trustees.