Latest civil service & public affairs moves – May 6

UK government

• UK Trade Remedies Authority: UK Trade Remedies Authority – Jessica Blakely and Carmen Suarez appointed as chief executives from 2 June. 
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: DCMS Board – Jude Kelly and Janet Pope appointed as non-executive board members for three years until 22 April 2028. Natural History Museum – Kate Robson Brown and Tanuja Randery appointed as trustees four years. Imperial War Museum – Professor Dame Janet Beer, Emma Loxton and Sheena Wagstaff appointed as trustees for four year term from 1 March 2025 to 28 February 2029. Museum of the Home – Alex Ely appointed as chair for four years. 
• Department for Education: Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel – David Holmes appointed as chair for four years from 23 June. 
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Climate Change Committee – Professor Keith Bell re-appointed as non-executive director for three years; Professor Swenja Surminski re-appointed as non-executive director for three years from 1 May. 
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Victoria Busby OBE appointed as British high commissioner to the Republic of Malta from September, succeeding Katherine Ward LVO OBE who will be transferring to another diplomatic service appointment. 
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Architects Registration Board – Caroline Turnbull-Hall and Jonathan Prichard appointed as Lay Members four years until 31 March 2029. 
• Ministry of Justice: Sentencing Council – Richard Wright KC re-appointed as Member for three years from 1 August until 31 July 2028. 
• Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General – Susan Deacon appointed as lead non-executive director; Catherine MacLeod and Andrew Kerr appointed as non-executive directors. 
• HM Treasury: Financial Conduct Authority – Julia Black and Anita Kimber appointed as non-executive Directors from 12 May; John Ball appointed as non-executive director from 27 May; Stéphane Malrait appointed as non-executive director from 20 October; Richard Lloyd re-appointed as non-executive director until 31 March 2026. 

Parliament

House of Commons

• Runcorn and Helsby by-election result: Sarah Pochin won the seat for Reform UK with a majority of six and a swing of 17% from Labour to Reform UK on 1 May. The turnout was 46.4%. 
• Administration Committee – Kirsteen Sullivan added; Joe Morris discharged. 
• Committee of Selection – Paul Holmes and Tom Morrison added; Charlie Maynard and Joy Morrissey discharged. 

Devolved administrations 

Scottish Parliament 

• Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency by-election will take place on 5 June. Candidates can be found here
• Rural Affairs and Islands Committee – Mark Ruskell added; Ariane Burgess discharged. 

Scottish Government 

• Children’s Hearings Scotland Board – Sean Austin and Katie Docherty re-appointed as members for four years from 1 July until 30 June 2029. 
• Crown Estate Scotland – Liz Leonard re-appointed as member of the board for 10 months from 1 May until 28 February 2026; Jean Lindsay re-appointed as member of the board for one year from 1 May until 30 April 2026; Ailsa Raeburn re-appointed as member of the board for three years from 1 June until 31 May 2028. 
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise – Dr Keith Nicholson, Ailsa Raeburn and Anna Salgado re-appointed as members of the board for three years from 3 June until 12 June 2028. 
• Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland – Simon Watkins re-appointed as member for four years from 1 May until 30 April 2029. 

Welsh Parliament 

• Health and Social Care Committee – Peter Fox elected as chair. 
• Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee – Samuel Kurtz added; Laura Anne Jones discharged. 
• Standards of Conduct Committee – Tom Giffard added; Samuel Kurtz discharged. 

Northern Ireland Executive 

• Dame Brenda King re-appointed as attorney general for Northern Ireland for five years until 30 June 2030. 
• Independent Review of Teacher Workload Panel – Paul Sweeney appointed as chair; Larry Flanagan and Liam Perry appointed as members. 

Interested in an updated contact list of Local Government leaders – get in contact with your Dods Account Manager or Customer Services for more details. 

Local government

Councils 

• City of Doncaster Council – Ros Jones (Lab) re-elected as mayor. 
• Dudley Council – Balvinder Heran appointed as permanent chief executive. 
• North Tyneside Council – Karen Clark (Lab) elected as mayor. 
• South Ayrshire Council – Martin Dowey to temporarily stand down as council leader. 
• West Berkshire Council – Joseph Holmes appointed as permanent chief executive from 2 May. 

Combined Authorities 

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority – Paul Bristow (Con) elected as mayor. 
• NEW Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority – Andrea Jenkyns (RefUK) elected as mayor. 
• NEW Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority – Mayor still to be declared. 
• West of England Combined Authority – Helen Godwin (Lab) elected as mayor. 

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