Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 27 October

UK government

• Prime Minister's Office – The Venerable Dr Fiona Ruth Gibson appointed as bishop of Taunton, succeeding The Right Reverend Ruth Elizabeth Worsley. The Right Hon Lord Sales appointed as deputy president of the Supreme Court from January 2026, succeeding The Right Hon Lord Hodge.
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: BBC – Muriel Gray re-appointed as board member for four years from 3 January 2026.
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – Professor Emily Shuckburgh appointed as chief scientific adviser. 
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority – David Peattie to stand down as chief executive in March 2027
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Rural Payments Agency – Oliver Munn appointed as chief executive from January 2026.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Martin Reynolds appointed as His Majesty's ambassador to the State of Libya, succeeding Martin Longden. Leigh Stubblefield appointed as British high commissioner to the Republic of Malawi from November, succeeding Fiona Ritchie who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Neil Crompton appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to Ukraine, succeeding Martin Harris who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Sonia Farrey appointed as UK permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation in Vienna from January 2026, succeeding Corinne Kitsell.
• Department of Health and Social Care – Gemma Aldridge appointed to undertake a short review of DHSC’s and NHS England’s media and digital work having received a direct ministerial appointment. Care Quality Commission – Sir Julian Hartley resigned as chief executive.
• Home Office – Richard Wright KC appointed to lead an independent review of stalking laws. Security Industry Authority – Sarah Pumfrett appointed as non-executive director.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

Committees

• Ecclesiastical Committee – Catherine Atkinson discharged.
• Environmental Audit – Carla Denyer added; Ellie Chowns discharged.
• Public Accounts Committee – Rupert Lowe and Dan Tomlinson added; Peter Fortune and James Murray discharged.
• Work and Pensions Committee – Joy Morrissey added; Danny Kruger discharged.
• Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission – Samantha Dixon and Alison McGovern added.

House of Lords

• Professor Dame Clare Gerada and Polly Neate announced as new crossbench peers on 22 October. They will receive their peer titles and date for their introduction in the Lords in due course.
• The Bishop of Portsmouth was introduced in the Lords on 23 October.
• Baroness D’Souza suspended from the service of the House for eight weeks on 23 October.

HM Treasury

• Dex Hunter-Torricke appointed as non-executive board member for three years; Jane Hanson’s tenure as non-executive board member extended until 31 December.
• Dr Anna Valero appointed as industrial strategy adviser to the chancellor for 12 months.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Government

• Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board – Kim Dams and Greg Black re-appointed as members for four years from 1 November until 31 October 2029.
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise – Angus Campbell appointed as chair of the board for three years from 1 November until 31 October 2028.
• NHS Education for Scotland – Annie Gunner Logan re-appointed as a member of the board for eight months from 1 November until 30 June 2026.
• Scottish Children's Reporter Administration Board – Jim Edgar’s terms as member extended for three months until 15 January 2026.
• Scottish Law Commission – Roisin Higgins appointed as commissioner for five years from 7 January 2026 until 6 January 2031.

Welsh Parliament

• Caerphilly constituency by-election result: Lindsay Whittle won the seat for Plaid Cymru from Labour with a majority of 3,848 on 23 October.

Welsh Government

• Welsh Revenue Authority – Ruth Glazzard’s term as chair extended to October 2026; Jocelyn Davies’ term as deputy chair extended to October 2027.

Local authorities

Councils

• Croydon Council – Katherine Kerswell resigned as chief executive.

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