Former DfT director appointed as DVSA non-exec

John Parkinson recently retired after a lengthy civil service career
John Parkinson. Photo: GOV.UK

By Tevye Markson

17 Aug 2026

Former Department for Transport senior civil servant John Parkinson has been appointed as a non-executive director at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. 

Parkinson recently retired from the civil service, having served most recently as director for UK international and trade at DfT.

A career civil servant, he worked predominantly in transport, spending more than two decades at DfT and holding high-profile senior leadership roles in aviation security, airports policy, motoring and freight. He was also DfT’s senior responsible owner for EU Exit.

A DVSA press release notes that Parkinson “has worked with a broad range of senior stakeholders, including within Whitehall, with arms-length bodies and across the wider transport sector”.

It also says he is “highly experienced in policy development and implementation, operational delivery, and crisis response and is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, particularly as a champion for disability”.

DVSA has also appointed Debbie Francis, a chair, non-executive director and executive leader with over 25 years’ experience across transport, infrastructure, housing, health, education and culture, as a new NED.

Parkinson and Francis have been appointed for 3-year terms. Both appointments started on 3 August.

They will receive a remuneration of £15,000 per year.  

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