Government leaders share the highs and lows of 2021 and set out their priorities for next year in CSW's annual round up
Each year, CSW asks permanent secretaries and leaders across government to reflect on the challenges and successes of the previous year, and look ahead to their goals for the next one. Here are the 2021 entries. We also asked who their dream New Year's Eve party guest would be – and from Adele to a Delphic oracle, their answers didn't disappoint.
"Who would I most like to join me for a New Year's Eve celebration? Mary Berry, on the basis that she would do the catering. But I’m sure she would be good company too!" Peter Schofield
"Remote working, resource pressures, supporting a five-party coalition Executive and the unique challenges for Northern Ireland as a direct result of the EU exit have made for a testing mix of circumstances" Jayne Brady
"The indirect effects of Covid, ranging from the backlog of cancelled operations, through missed screening visits for heart disease, to the classroom hours that children have lost, will take many years to work through" Chris Whitty
"We’ve shared our ideas on how to make real change happen when it comes to the elimination of gender-based violence, including small changes that can take place in departments" Cross-Government Gender Network
‘We invested heavily in extensive safety measures’: DVLA’s Julie Lennard on a year of adaptation and innovation
'Our aim is to be more expert, engaged and collaborative': Joanna Davinson on setting up CDDO
'I fear Caravaggio would be disruptive': Jo Saxton shares her dream NYE guest list, and reflects on her first months as Ofqual chief
"Our number one priority for 2022? Defeat the evil geniuses at the Forestry Commission" Douglas Wilson
'Our interventions saved millions of jobs': Charles Roxburgh shares the Treasury's 2021 highlights
"Balancing HMRC’s priorities in 2021 felt like a high-wire act" Jim Harra
"Employee networks do some of their best work when they build communities. One of the biggest challenges this year has been giving people that sense of belonging when the pandemic has still been happening around us" John Peart
Green savings bonds, going digital and a new business model: Ian Ackerley on NS&I's year of change
"A major challenge has been maintaining morale and a sense of perspective (and sometimes gallows humour) in the face of scrutiny" Gareth Rhys Williams
"I’d like to hear from HG Wells on what we can expect next from the 21st century. The last couple of years have had a science fiction feel to them and his imagination was more interesting than most" Gareth Davies
All of the 2021 perm secs round-up entries were pubished in the December 2021 issue of CSW. Read the issue here. Read the 2020 round-up here