Permanent Secretary, Department for International Development
What are you most proud of achieving in 2011?
Earlier this year we completed and have begun to implement a radical set of comprehensive reviews of aid policy. These reviews are helping us achieve much more for poor people: saving more lives, educating more children, creating more jobs, and providing health care to the poorest countries.
In addition, in June the prime minister hosted a major event in London to raise funds for child vaccination. With our support, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation will inoculate 250 million children in the poorest countries against deadly diseases over the next four years, saving four million lives: a child inoculated every two seconds, and a life saved every two minutes.
How has the shape and structure of the department changed during 2011?
The reviews have led to a radical reshaping of the Department for International Development (DfID). Sixteen countries no longer receive direct British aid funding. This is mostly because they are now able to tackle poverty on their own - the ultimate aim of our efforts. One third of our country offices are closing and we have also cut funding to a number of poorly-performing international agencies.
Instead, resources are being directed to the frontline, with more expert staff in the poorest and most vulnerable countries. We are focusing on the places where the need is greatest, where we can make the biggest difference and where Britain has particular national interests.
We have also established a new private sector unit to focus on wealth creation and inject business DNA into the department. The evidence is clear: no country can hope to escape poverty without high levels of economic growth sustained over decades. Our private sector operation will spearhead our work in this area.
In addition, DfID's work has become much more transparent and accountable. We are publishing much more data on our website, and other countries like the USA are now following our lead. Our work is now subject to the rigorous scrutiny of a dedicated aid watchdog, the Independent Commission on Aid Impact, whose first reports were published last month. It is helping us ensure our work is delivering the best results for the poorest.
What is the most important thing the department must achieve during 2012?
We must continue to implement the findings of our aid reviews and keep up the momentum of change in the organisation, especially in driving through our value for money programme.
Our biggest asset is the dedication, professionalism and creativity of our staff. We need to ensure that we have the right staff in the right places, and that we develop and support them well so we can meet the new standards of value for money, effectiveness and transparency.
We have to make many of the same economies as other departments - finding efficiencies in our corporate functions; reducing accommodation, travel and consultancy costs; and automating services where we can. But there is more to do.
How is the civil service likely to change during 2012?
It is vital that leaders, including both top civil servants and ministers, recognise that people come into the public service because they want to make a difference. We need to create a compelling vision of the future in order to attract and retain the best people in the civil service. That is more important than ever when the challenges we face are as tough as they are right now.
Which historical, mythological or contemporary figure would you most like to join for Christmas dinner?
Can I invite one of each? I studied economic history at university and think John Maynard Keynes could tell us a lot about how to manage our current economic challenges. My daughter is a deep expert on the Harry Potter series, and my street cred would skyrocket if I could get Dumbledore to the dinner table. And I like stand up comedy, so if we could add Jo Brand to the mix that would be perfect.