Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 21

UK Government

• Cabinet Office: National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority – Sir John Armitt’s tenure as chair of the Expert Advisory Council extended until the end of the year.
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Royal Parks – Aurora Antrim and Jane Hurst re-appointed as trustees for four years from 14 August until 13 August 2029; Bronwyn Hill’s tenure as trustee extended for nine months until 14 March 2026.
• Ministry of Defence – Air Marshal Harv Smyth appointed as chief of the air staff from August
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Office for Environmental Protection – Professor Elizabeth Fisher and Caroline May appointed as non-executive directors until 30 June 2029; Professor Dan Laffoley and Dr Paul Leinster re-appointed until 31 December 2026.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Alexandra Cole appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to the Republic of Armenia from September, succeeding John Gallagher who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
• Department of Health and Social Care: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – Professor Graham Cooke and Dr Paul Goldsmith re-appointed as non-executive directors for two years from 1 September; Dr Junaid Bajwa and Rajakumari Long reappointed as non-executive directors for one year from 1 September; Michael Whitehouse re-appointed as non-executive director and chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee for one year from 1 September 2026.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: London Borough of Croydon –  Gerard Curran appointed as lead commissioner; Jackie Belton and Debra Warren appointed as commissioners; Abi Brown appointed as political commissioner. Thurrock Council – Dr Dave Smith appointed as managing director commissioner; Gavin Jones appointed as lead commissioner; Denise Murray appointed as finance commissioner.
• Ministry of Justice: MoJ Board – Mark Beaton appointed as non-executive board member for three years from 15 July. Legal Services Board – Habib Motani re-appointed as non-lay member for four years from 18 April 2026.
• HM Treasury: National Wealth Fund – Oliver Holbourn appointed as chief executive from 1 November. Prudential Regulation Committee – Marjorie Ngwenya re-appointed as external member for three years from 5 September until 4 September 2028.
• Non-Ministerial Departments: Ofsted – David Meyer’s term as board member extended for six months from 1 August.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff and Rachael Maskell had the Labour whip suspended on 16 July. 
• Diane Abbott had the Labour whip suspended on 17 July.
• Rosena Allin Khan is no longer the trade envoy to South Africa and Mauritius. Bell Ribeiro-Addy is no longer the trade envoy to Ghana. George Freeman is no longer the trade envoy to Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Brunei. Mohammad Yasin is no longer the trade envoy to Pakistan.

House of Lords

• Lord Blair of Boughton (Crossbench, life peer) died on 9 July. Lord Marlesford (Conservative, life peer) died on 13 July.
• The Bishop of Chester was introduced in the Lords on 17 July.
• Simon Case (Crossbench) raised to the peerage as Lord Case on 17 July and will be introduced in the Lords on 22 July. Sharon White (Crossbench) raised to the peerage as Baroness White of Tufnell Park on 17 July. The date of her introduction in the Lords is still to be announced. Tim Barrow (Crossbench) raised to the peerage as Lord Barrow on 18 July and will be introduced in the Lords on 24 July.

Devolved Administrations

Scottish Government

• Forth Valley NHS Board – Alison Jaap, Clare Mackenzie and Finlay Scott appointed as members for four years from 21 July until 20 July 2029
• Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Board – Beth-Anne McDowall and Alan Wright appointed as members for four years from 28 July until 27 July 2029
• Lothian NHS Board – Heather Campbell and Ralph Roberts appointed as members for four years from 28 July until 27 July 2029
• Scottish Social Services Council – Peter Murray’s term as interim convener extended for five months until 30 November
• State Hospitals Board for Scotland – Brian Moore re-appointed as chair for two years until 4 July 2027.

Welsh Government

• Johanna Robinson re-appointed as national adviser for violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence for four years from 1 November. The role is currently a job share with Yasmin Khan, who will stand down on 31 October.
• Cardiff and Vale University Health Board – Kirsty Williams appointed as chair from 1 October.
• Transport for Wales – Vernon Everitt appointed as chair from later in July.
• Velindre University NHS Trust – Sara Moseley appointed as chair from 1 September.

Local Authorities

Councils

• Luton Borough Council – Mark Fowler appointed to permanent chief executive, having been interim chief executive
• Newham Council – Paul Martin appointed as interim chief executive from 18 July
• Tameside Council – Emma Alexander appointed as chief executive from November. She will stand down as managing director of Derbyshire County Council.

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