Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 16 March

UK government

• Prime Minister's Office: Civil Society Council – Saeed Atcha, Dr Lindsay Cordery, Emma de Closset, Maddy Desforges, Charlotte Hill, Matt Hyde, Kate Lee, Innes Morgan, Dame Clare Moriarty, Dr Tessy Ojo, Gemma Peters, Mark Russell and Bishop Rob Wickham appointed as members.
• Cabinet Office – Sonia Kumar appointed as parliamentary private secretary.
• Ministry of Defence: Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust – Richard Harries appointed as trustee of the board until 1 February 2028; Gary Lashko appointed as trustee of the board until 24 February 2028. Armed Forces Pay Review Body – Schellion Horn appointed as economist member from 1 April until 31 March 2029; Mark Ackrill appointed as HM Forces member from 1 April until 31 March 2029.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Dame Caroline Wilson appointed as ambassador to the European Union from August, succeeding Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Andrew Nethercott appointed as British High  Commissioner to the Independent Stateof Samoa from May, succeeding Gareth Hoar who will be  transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
• Department of Health and Social Care – Donna Ockenden appointed to chair Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s maternityand neonatal service review. British Pharmacopoeia Commission – Dr Edward Bush, Carlo Giartosio, Sean Jones and James Rickard re-appointed as members for four years from 1 May.
• Home Office: Migration Advisory Committee – Dr Madeleine Sumption appointed as interim chair for six months.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Planning Inspectorate – Rebecca Phillips appointed as permanent chief executive.
• Ministry of Justice – Phil Brickell MP appointed as parliamentary private secretary. Clara Swinson appointed as second permanent secretary from April. Civil Procedure Rule Committee – Gregory Cox appointed as member for three years from 11 May; James Egan and James Willan KC appointed as members for three years from 1 October. Legal Services Board – Monisha Shah announced as the preferred candidate for chair, subject to a preappointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee.
• HM Treasury: Government Economic Service – Prof Brian Bell appointed as head from 9 March. Reclaim Fund Ltd – Lawrence Wiess re-appointed as chair for three year term from 11 July until 10 July 2029.
• Non-Ministerial Departments: Charity Commission – Kate Sayer appointed as board member and chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee for three years from 9 March 2026 until 8 March 2029. Gas and Electricity Markets Authority – Nick Winser appointed as member of the Ofgem Board for five years from 1 April.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Markus Campbell-Savours, MP for Penrith and Solway, had the Labour whip restored on 6 March.

House of Lords

• Lord Chadlington (Con) retired from the Lords on 7 March.
• Lord Suri (Con) retired from the Lords on 9 March.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Government

• Healthcare Improvement Scotland Board – Abishek Agarwal and Robert Tinlin reappointed as members for four years from 1 July until 30 June 2030; Michelle Rogers reappointed as member for four years from 1 September until 31 August 2030.
• Highlands and Islands Airports Limited Board – Isabel Todenhoefer re-appointed as non-executive director for two years until 29 February 2028.
• Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex – Fiona Taylor appointed as chair.
• Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland – Lindsay Montgomery re-appointed as chair for three years until 31 December 2029; Emma Marriott re-appointed as member for four years until 30 November 2029.
• National Library of Scotland Board – Alison Kidd, Robert Kilpatrick and Kirsty Lingstadt re-appointed as members from 7 March until 6 March 2030.
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Prof Sarah Gurr and Liz Trevor re-appointed as trustees to the board for four years until 15 September 2029.
• Scottish Children's Reporter Administration Board – Kay Barton re-appointed as member for four years until 31 October 2029.
• Tayside NHS Board – Tom Spink appointed as chair for four years from 13 April until 12 March 2030; Kris Bryce appointed as member for four years run from 1 April until 31 March 2030.

Welsh Government

• Aneurin Bevan University Health Board – Andrew Morgan appointed as chair from 5 May.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Stranmillis University College – Edgar Jardine re-appointed as chair of the board of governors until 31 July 2027.

Local authorities

Councils

• Braintree District Council – Graham Butland (Con) to stand down as council leader on 28 May.
• Luton Borough Council – Hazel Simmons (Lab) to stand down as council leader on 19 May.
• North East Lincolnshire Council – Sharon Wroot to be appointed permanent chief executive from 26 March.

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