Former Cabinet Office second permanent secretary Sue Gray has become the chair of an animal-protection charity in Northern Ireland.
The new role comes 16 months after Baroness Gray joined the House of Lords as a Labour Party peer following her departure from government and stint as chief of staff to Keir Starmer.
Gray is one of four new board appointments announced by the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals yesterday.
USPCA chief executive Heather Weir said Gray would bring a “wealth of experience” to the charity as it looks to “grow into the future”.
The charity, which is based in Newry, supports thousands of pet animals and their owners every year – as well as aiding wild animals in distress. In the last financial year USPCA rehomed 384 companion animals and responded to 2,354 wildlife rescues.
It also facilitated more than 10,000 veterinary consultations and surgical procedures, and provided more than 6,000 pet food parcels to food banks in Northern Ireland to help families struggling with the cost of living.
Gray said she is “honoured” to take on the role of USPCA chair.
“The organisation plays a vital role in protecting animals and supporting communities across Northern Ireland,” she said. “I look forward to working with colleagues, volunteers and partners to build on its strong foundations and drive forward our mission to prevent cruelty and relieve suffering.”
Gray grew up in north London but has a long connection with Northern Ireland, where her husband is from. In the 1980s she took a career break from the civil service to run a bar near Newry.
She served as permanent secretary in Northern Ireland’s Department of Finance from 2018 to 2021 and sought – unsuccessfully – to become head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service before returning to Whitehall.
Alongside Gray’s appointment as USPCA chair, the charity also confirmed the appointment of three new board members. They are vet and sheep farmer Paul Crawford, ex-Bank of Ireland senior manager Bernard Grimley and former Ford Motor Company executive Lyle Watters.