Latest civil service & public affairs moves – May 6
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
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.