Latest civil service & public affairs moves – December 1

UK government

• Cabinet Office: Crown Commercial Service – Sara Halton’s term as non-executive director extended for five months until 31 March 2026.
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: National Lottery Heritage Fund Board – Heather Reid appointed for three years from 24 November.
• Ministry of Defence: Single Source Regulations Office – Hannah Nixon’s term as chair extended from 3 January 2026 until 2 January 2027.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – David Concar appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to the Republic of Chile from March 2026, succeeding Louise de Sousa who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
• Department of Health and Social Care: Health Data Research Service – Baroness Blackwood appointed as chair. NHS Counter Fraud Authority – Dame Linda Pollard resigned as chair from 26 November for personal reasons; Gaon Hart appointed as interim chair from 27 November until July 2026 and Hart’s term as non-executive directors extended until 30 September 2026; Alyson Coates’ term as non-executive directors extended until 30 September 2026.
• Home Office – Paul Morrison appointed as director general for visas, passports, citizenship and resettlement services. Morrison departs the Planning Inspectorate after three years as chief executive.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Nottingham City Council – Sharon Kemp appointed as lead commissioner until 22 February 2026; Tony McArdle appointed as commissioner until 22 February 2026. Planning Inspectorate – Graham Stallwood appointed as interim chief executive, replacing the departing Paul Morrison; Rebecca Phillips appointed as interim chief planning inspector.
• Ministry of Justice: Family Procedure Rule Committee – Vicki Mulligan appointed as Lay Member for three years from 4 November; Laura Coyle re-appointed as Solicitor Member for three years from 1 August 2026. Independent Monitoring Authority – Dr Maike Bohn and Lynne Charles appointed as non-executive members for three years from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2028. Parole Board – Mark Hamilton appointed as non-executive director of the management committee for three years from 4 December until 3 December 2028.
• Department for Transport: DfT Operator – Alex Hynes appointed as chief executive from 23 December.
• HM Treasury – Catherine Howard’s term as infrastructure and planning adviser extended until 1 January 2026.

House of Commons

Committees

• Environmental Audit – Manuela Perteghella added; Cameron Thomas discharged.

House of Lords

• Dame Clare Gerada (Crossbench) raised to the peerage as Baroness Gerada, of Kennington in the London Borough of Lambeth, on 24 November and was introduced in the Lords on 25 November.
• Polly Neate (Crossbench) raised to the peerage as Baroness Neate, of Hammersmith in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham on 26 November and will be introduced in the Lords on 9 December.
• Lord Evans of Watford was a Labour peer, now sits as a non-affiliated peer.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Government

• Scottish Charity Regulator – Lynn Bradley, Neil Mackay and Robin Strang re-appointed as members for four years from 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2030.

Scottish Parliament

• Parliamentary Bureau – Tim Eagle added; Alexander Burnett discharged.

Welsh Government

Disused Tips Authority for Wales – Fiona Jones appointed as chair for five years from 28 November.

Regulatory Advisory Group – Kalwant Grewal appointed as Independent chair for three years.

Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board – Nicola Berry, Karen Cherrett, Clive Glover, Iwan Trefor Jones and Gus Williams appointed as members for three years.

Welsh Revenue Authority – Rebecca Godfrey appointed as chief executive.

Northern Ireland Assembly

• Audit Committee – Emma Sheerin added; Jemma Dolan discharged.
• Communities Committee – Cathy Mason appointed as deputy chair; Nicola Brogan discharged.
• Economy Committee – Jemma Dolan added; Emma Sheerin discharged.
• Infrastructure Committee – Maolíosa McHugh added; Nicola Brogan discharged.
• Justice Committee – Emma Sheerin appointed as deputy chair; Deirdre Hargey discharged.
• Procedures Committee – Philip McGuigan added; Maolíosa McHugh discharged.
• Standards and Privileges Committee – Emma Sheerin added; Jemma Dolan discharged.
• Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee – Cathal Boylan added; Emma Sheerin discharged.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Northern Ireland Housing Executive – Mark Cooper appointed as member of the board until the next local council elections.

Local authorities

Councils

• Leicestershire County Council – Jane Moore set to be appointed as chief executive from 4 December, replacing John Sinnott.
• Mansfield District Council – James Biddlestone appointed permanent chief executive, after serving temporarily since February.
• Warrington Borough Council – Sarah Smith set to be appointed as chief executive from early 2026, replacing Steve Park.

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