Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 19 January

UK government

• Department for Business and Trade: Industrial Strategy Advisory Council – Keith Anderson, Amelia Gould and Dana Strong appointed as members. UK Export Finance – Tracey McDermott, Alex O’Cinneide and Jon Samuel appointed as members to the Export Guarantees Advisory Council for three years. 
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Natural History Museum – Sally MacGregor appointed as trustee to the board from 14 January until 13 January 2030. Sports Grounds Safety Authority – Emma Clancy, Russell Procter and Kate Staples appointed as board members for three years. 
• Ministry of Defence – Major General Phil Prosser appointed as chief of defence logistics and support from October. 
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Environment Agency – Sarah Mukherjee and Mark Suthern re-appointed as board members for 12 months from 10 January. Protected Landscapes Partnership – Mary-Ann Ochota appointed as independent chair for one year from 13 January. 
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Jo Lomas appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia from July,  succeeding Ross Allen who will be transferring to another diplomatic service appointment. Paul Eastwood appointed as British High Commissioner to The Independent State of Papua New Guinea from February, succeeding Anne Macro. 
• Department of Health and Social Care: Health Data Research Service – Dr Melanie Ivarsson appointed as chief executive. 
• Home Office: Security Industry Authority – Caroline Corby re-appointed as non-executive director until September 2028. 
• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – Josh Simons MP appointed as parliamentary under-secretary of state responsible for digital ID. He remains as parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office. 
• Department for Transport – Sigourney Ansah, Miguel Cabrera Vivas, Ken Eckersall, David Gardner, Emma Garnham, Sam Higgins, Ross Priday, Marcus Sellars, Lauren Turner appointed as aviation ambassadors from 28 January.  Department for Transport Operator Limited – Sir Andrew Haines appointed as chair from 2 February. Network Rail – Richard George appointed as chair from 2 February. 
• HM Treasury – Katie Martin appointed as business adviser to the chancellor of the exchequer for 12 months from 12 January. 
• Department for Work and Pensions – Praful Nargund appointed as skills policy adviser for six months from January. Social Security Advisory Committee – Owen McCloskey and Richard Machin appointed as members for five years. 
• Non-Ministerial Departments: Serious Fraud Office – Nick Ephgrave to retire as director at end of March. 

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Robert Jenrick had the Conservative whip suspended and was sacked as shadow secretary of state for justice on 15 January. He defected to Reform UK later that day.
• Nick Timothy appointed as shadow secretary of state for justice.
• Committees:  Administration – Marie Goldman added; Max Wilkinson discharged. Northern Ireland Affairs – Robin Swann added. Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority – Helena Dollimore added; Leigh Ingham discharged.

House of Lords

• Matthew Doyle (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Doyle and Len Duvall (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Duvall on 8 January. Both were introduced in the Lords on 12 January.
• Shama Tatler (Labour) raised to the peerage as Baroness Shah and Nick Forbes (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Forbes of Newcastle on 9 January. Both were introduced in the Lords on 13 January.
• Sara Hyde (Labour) raised to the peerage as Baroness Hyde of Bemerton on 12 January. She was introduced in the Lords on 15 January.
• Joe Docherty (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Docherty of Milngavie on 12 January. He will be introduced in the Lords on 19 January.
• Andy Roe (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Roe of West Wickham on 13 January. He was introduced in the Lords on 15 January.
• Tracey Paul (Labour) raised to the peerage as Baroness Paul of Shepherd's Bush. She will be introduced in the Lords on 26 January.
• Carol Linforth (Labour) raised to the peerage as Baroness Linforth on 14 January. She will be introduced in the Lords on 2 February.
• Neena Gill (Labour) raised to the peerage as Baroness Gill on 14 January. She will be introduced in the Lords on 20 January.
• David Pitt-Watson (Labour) raised to the peerage as Lord Pitt-Watson on 15 January. He will be introduced in the Lords on 19 January.
• Sharron Davies (Conservative) raised to the peerage as Baroness Davies of Devonport on 15 January. She will be introduced in the Lords on 20 January.
• Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Conservative) elected as Lord Speaker for five years on 12 January; he will succeed Lord McFall of Alcluith from 2 February.

Parties

Ulster Unionist Party – Mike Nesbitt MLA to stand down as leader; a new leader and deputy leader will be elected on 31 January. Jon Burrow MLA was the only candidate by the closing date on 15 January, so is set to be elected as leader. Diana Armstrong MLA, as his running mate, is set to become deputy leader.

Reform UK – Lord Offord appointed as Scottish leader.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Government

• Independent Public Inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh – Lord Colbeck appointed as chair from 2 March 2026, succeeding Lord Bracadale.
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Claire Bishop and Ed Ikin appointed as members of the board of trustees for four years until 31 July 2029.
• NatureScot – Dr Ian Gambles and Prof Pete Higgins re-appointed as members of the board for four years until 31 March 2029; Colin MacPhail and Dr Heather Reid reappointed as members of the board reappointed for three years until 31 March 2028; David Johnstone, Prof Wayne Powell and Nikki Yoxall re-appointed as members of the board for two years until 31 March 2027.

Welsh Government

• Social Partnership Council – Aled Edwards and Joshua Miles appointed as employer representative members, succeeding Ben Cottam and Dame Elan Closs-Stephens.
• 2027 Tour de France – Geraint Thomas appointed as Wales’ cycling ambassador.

Northern Ireland Assembly

• William Irwin (DUP) resigned as MLA for Newry and Armagh; Gareth Wilson co-opted as MLA for Newry and Armagh.
• Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee – Gareth Wilson added.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Belfast Health and Social Care Trust – Prof Ian Bruce appointed as non-executive director until 31 December 2029.
• Drainage Council – Mark Robinson appointed as non-executive councillor member for four years.
• RUC George Cross Foundation – Stephen White re-appointed as chair from 14 January for five years; Jonathan Henry, Alistair McGowan and Gerry McGrath appointed as trustees for five years from 14 January.

Local authorities

Councils

• Rochdale Borough Council – James Binks resigned as chief executive, following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Discover Dods People: Your ultimate stakeholder management solution. Dods People is a comprehensive online service that provides unparalleled access to political representatives and public affairs professionals across the UK and EU. Book your demo now to explore the power of Dods People