Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 27 May

UK government

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: UK Sport – Professor Nick Webborn appointed as chair for four years from 22 May.
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – Baroness Curran appointed as minister of state, replacing Lord Hunt of Kings Heath. Nuclear Decommissioning Authority – Dr Neil Bruce and Catriona Schmolke appointed as non-executive board members for three-and-a-half-years from 1 June.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board – Emily Norton appointed as chair from 1 June. Covent Garden Market Authority – Jo Wright appointed as non-executive director for four years. Joint Nature Conservation Committee – Dr David Cooper appointed as chair for three years from 1 June until 31 May 2028; Professor Julia Jones appointed as independent member for three years until 31 May 2028; Professor Tom Meagher re-appointed as independent member for four years until 3 April 2029.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Mark Bryson-Richardson appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt from August, succeeding Gareth Bayley who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Dr Christian Turner appointed as UK ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in New York from the end of the year, succeeding Dame Barbara Woodward.
• Ministry of Justice – Jonathan Hall KC appointed to lead the HMP Frankland Independent Review. Legal Services Board – Catherine Brown appointed as interim chair until 31 December. National Mental Capacity Forum –  Dr Margaret Flynn re-appointed as chair for three years.
• Northern Ireland Office – Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Justin Kouame re-appointed as commissioner for three years until 31 August 2028.
• HM Treasury: UK Debt Management Office – Gary Admans appointed as non-executive director to the advisory board for three years.

Houses of Parliament

House of Lords

• Lord Gove (Con) was introduced in the Lords on 22 May
• Committees Industry and Regulators – Baroness Nichols of Selby added; Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway discharged
• Joint Committee on National Security Strategy – Lord Tunnicliffe added; Lord Browne of Ladyton discharged.
• Procedure and Privileges – Baroness Kramer added as alternate member
• Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments – Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer and Lord Carter of Haslemere added; Lord Beith and Lord Kakkar discharged.
• UK Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe – Baroness Drake added; Baroness Taylor of Bolton discharged.

Devolved Administrations

Scottish Parliament

• Health, Social Care and Sport Committee – Patrick Harvie added; Gillian Mackay discharged.

Welsh Government

• Natural Resources Wales’ Board – Nilesh Sachdev announced as the preferred candidate for chair subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Senedd.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Drainage Council – Callum Bowsie, Philip Campbell, Michael Goodman, Keith Kerrigan and Mervyn Storey appointed as non-executive councillor members for four years.

Local Authorities

Councils

• Camden Council – Jon Rowney appointed as chief executive.
• Leicestershire County Council – John Sinnott to retire as chief executive at the end of November.

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