What was your highlight of 2025?
The opening of the refurbished 22-26 Whitehall for DSIT was a real highlight. Bringing to life one of the oldest heritage offices in the UK, by creating a contemporary workspace for productive collaboration, was a hugely rewarding achievement for my colleagues.
What was the hardest part of being a leader in 2025?
Leading an organisation requires a huge commitment. Life outside doesn't get any easier, particularly for loved ones, so balancing all that is tough.
What are the main challenges facing your department in the coming year?
Delivering the Plan For London, culminating in the closure of 11 buildings, relocating over 14,000 civil servants, to save £94m pa, whilst creating more vibrant workplaces. It's an exciting challenge and the GPA team are looking forward to working across all departments to deliver the change.
Which celebrity or historical figure would you choose to turn on the Christmas lights in your town?
I would ask Robert Smith of The Cure, and hope he would bring the band along. They could switch on the lights and play a gig – Christmas hit covers, with a twist. I’m not sure it would be his thing but it would pull in the Ilkley crowds.
Read all the entries to this year's perm secs round up here