Latest civil service & public affairs moves – October 11

Government departments

• Office of the Advocate General for Scotland: Panel of Standing Junior Counsel – Graham Maciver appointed as second standing junior; Carla Fraser, David Blair, Giles Reid, Kirsty Tyre, Megan Dewart, Neale Tosh, Simon Crabb appointed; Adam McKinlay, David Massaro, Elisabeth Roxburgh, Graham R Middleton, Hugh Olson, Richard Pugh, Roddy MacLeod, Ross Anderson and Usman Tariq re-appointed.
• Attorney General’s Office – Kelby Harmes appointed as director and deputy head of the AGO.
• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Intellectual Property Office – Harry Rich appointed as chair and Harriet Kelsall and Hilary Newiss appointed as non-executive directors for three years from 1 October; Andrew Lawrence and Kevin Orford’s terms as Steering Board members extended by one year to 30 July 2022 and 27 November 2022 respectively. Lopa Patel MBE re-appointed as Steering Board member for three years to 3 July 2024. National Physical Laboratory – Professor Graeme Reid appointed as chair of the NPL Management Ltd (NPLML) Board.
• Ministry of Defence – Admiral Sir Tony Radakin KCB ADC appointed as chief of the defence staff from 30 November, replacing General Sir Nicholas Carter GCB CBE DSO ADC Gen.
• Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: National Portrait Gallery – David Ross re-appointed as chair for four years from 7 October to 6 October 2025.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Lucia Wilde appointed as HM ambassador to Turkmenistan from November, replacing Hugh Philpott OBE who is retiring.
• Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Regulator of Social Housing – Bronwen Rapley, Angela Forshaw and Lesley Thompson appointed to the Board of Eldonian Community Based Housing Association Limited.
• Competition and Markets Authority – David Stewart appointed as executive director from January 2022.
• Government Legal Department – Elizabeth Hambley and Mel Nebhrajani CB appointed as director generals. Elizabeth Hambley will lead the new Commercial with Trade and International Directorate and Mel Nebhrajani will lead the new Employment with Economic Recovery and UK Governance Directorate.
• National Crime Agency – Graeme Biggar CBE appointed as interim director general on 4 October.

Houses of Parliament

All-Party Groups added to 6 October Register:

• Austria
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Professionals
• Lawyers and Judges at Risk Globally
• Pandemic Response and Recovery
• Public Legal Education and Pro-Bono
• Small and Micro Business
• Timber Industries
• Yoga in Society

Political parties

Welsh Conservatives

• Andrew RT Davies, leader in the Senedd, is to take a break from front-line politics to deal with mental health issues; Paul Davies will deputise in his absence.

Devolved authorities

Welsh Parliament

• Scrutiny of the First Minister Committee – David Rees appointed as chair; Paul Davies, Russell George, John Griffiths, Llyr Gruffydd, Jenny Rathbone and Jack Sargeant appointed as members.
• Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform – Huw Irranca-Davies appointed as chair; Jayne Bryant, Jane Dodds, Elin Jones, Siân Gwenllian and Darren Millar appointed members.

Welsh Government

• Judith Paget appointed as chief executive of the NHS in Wales and director general for health and social services on 1 November.

Northern Ireland Assembly

• Deborah Erskine returned to serve as MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, replacing Arlene Foster.

Northern Ireland Executive

• NI Screen – Dame Rotha Johnston’s term as chair extended from 1 July to 31 January 2022.
• Probation Board for Northern Ireland – Amanda Stewart appointed as chief executive on 4 October.

Local authorities

• Cambridge City Council – Lewis Herbert to stand down as council leader in November.
• Colchester Council – Adrian Pritchard to stand down as chief executive in March 2022.
• Manchester City Council – Bev Craig appointed as council leader from 1 December.
• Newcastle City Council – Pam Smith appointed as chief executive, expected to start in January 2022.

Industry

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Interest groups

• Fawcett Society – Jemima Olchawski appointed as chief executive.
• Rockinghorse Children’s Charity – Donna Holland appointed as chief executive from 1 November.