Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 6 July

UK government

• Prime Minister's Office: University of Oxford – Professor James Maynard appointed regius professor of mathematics, replacing Professor Sir Andrew Wiles.
• Department for Business and Trade: Low Pay Commission – Nigel Cotgrove has died. His term as commissioner was due to end on 21 January 2027.
• Cabinet Office: Civil Service Commission – Patricia Gallan, Thomas Goldsmith, Susan Lapworth and Baroness Hunt of Bethnal Green appointed commissioners from 1 July 2026 (Thomas Goldsmith’s term will commence from 1 November 2026). Patricia Gallan has also been appointed as the commission’s link commissioner for Scotland. Independent Review of the Use of Non-corporate Communications Channels in Government – Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein appointed independent reviewer.
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: British Film Institute – Tanya Cordrey, Mark Herbert, Ganan Kanagathurai, Hakan Kousetta, Ryan Prince and Jane Tranter appointed Governors for 4 years. Monica Chadha, Elizabeth Karlsen, Edgar Wright and Laura Miele reappointed as Governors for 4 years. Royal Armouries Board – Rebecca Crook and Judith Donovan appointed for four years from 26 September 2026. Helen Williams appointed for four years from 1 October 2026. Science Museum Group – Ann Allen, Priya Guha, Janice Lane, Toufic Machnouk and Tom Solomon appointed trustees. Anya Hurlbert and Baroness Morgan reappointed trustees.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Broads Authority – Tony Grayling reappointed to the board for four years. Cotswolds National Landscape Board –  Caroline Cotterell and Emilie Brignall appointed to the board, both on three-year terms from 1 July 2026. Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority – Lizzie Bushby reappointed to the board, for four-years.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Ms Jennifer Elizabeth Anderson appointed His Majesty’s ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, succeeding Ms Jill Morris from August 2026. Ms Jemima Gordon-Duff appointed His Majesty’s ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, succeeding Ms Melanie Barlow from August 2026. Special Envoy for LGBT+ rights – Lord Collins of Highbury appointed, replacing Lord Herbert of South Downs.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Local Audit Office – Bill Butler appointed as chair from 1 July 2026 and ending on 30 June 2031.
• Ministry of Justice: Criminal Cases Review Commission – Dame Vera Baird reappointed as interim chair from 12 months from 9 December 2026.
• Independent Review into Prisons – Amber Rudd appointed chair.
• HM Treasury: Financial Conduct Authority – Kirsty Cooper appointed chair of the Listing Authority Advisory Panel. Clare Woodman and Matt Hammerstein reappointed as chair of the FCA Markets Practitioner Panel and chair of the FCA Practitioner Panel.

Non-ministerial departments

• National Audit Office – Michael Jary to be appointed chair from January 2027, replacing Dame Fiona Reynolds.  

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Eve Samson appointed as clerk of the House of Commons from November, succeeding Tom Goldsmith.

Committees

• International Development – Alicia Kearns added; David Reed discharged.
• Northern Ireland Affairs – Alec Shelbrooke added; Alicia Kearns discharged.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Parliament

• Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee – Meghan Gallacher appointed as deputy convener.
• Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee – Tim Eagle appointed as deputy convener.

Scottish Government

• Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd – Mark Preston appointed non-executive director to the board from 30 June 2026 until 31 May 2028.
• Lanarkshire NHS Board – Phillip Couser, Colin Lee and Siobhan White reappointed as board members.

Welsh Government

• Elective Care Expert Group – Rhidian Morgan-Jones appointed chair. Dr Claire R Dunstan, Sophie O’Donovan and Corrina Casey appointed group members.

Local Authorities

Councils

• Cumberland – Andrew Seekings to step down as chief executive at the end of this year.
• Norfolk – Tom McCabe stepped down as chief executive.

Combined Authorities

• Greater Manchester – Caroline Simpson to step down as chief executive.

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