Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People

UK government


Prime Minister’s Office – UK Supreme Court: Lord Briggs of Westbourne appointed as president from January 2027, succeeding Lord Reed.
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade – Cat Little appointed as new permanent secretary for five years, succeeding Amanda Brooks. Advanced Research and Invention Agency: Matt Clifford to stand down as chair.
Ministry of Defence – National Armaments Director Group: Ian Brimicombe appointed as chief financial officer from 7 September, succeeding David Johnson.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – Gambling Commission: Ruth Evans appointed as chair for five years from 30 September, succeeding Charles Counsell. Sports Grounds Safety Authority: Derek Wilson re-appointed as chair from 1 April 2027 until 31 March 2030.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Lindy Cameron appointed new permanent under-secretary for five years, succeeding Nick Dyer. Adam Pile appointed as high commissioner to Mozambique from January 2027, succeeding Helen Lewis.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Tom Riordan appointed as new permanent secretary for five years from 21 September, succeeding Will Garton.
Ministry of Justice – HM Inspectorate of Probation: Martin Jones re-appointed as chief inspector of probation from 1 March 2027 until 30 April 2030.
Department for Transport – Charles Randell appointed as non-executive board member for three years from October; Harjit Sandhu appointed as non-executive board member for three years.
HM Treasury – entrepreneurship advisor Alex Depledge re-appointed until 6 November.
National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority: Fiona Driscoll, Prof Jim Hall, Philippa Powell, James Wardlaw and Simon Wright appointed as Expert Advisory Council members for five years.
Non-ministerial departments – Office for National Statistics: André Loranger appointed as United Kingdom national dtatistician for five years, succeeding Emma Rourke who stepped down from the role in December 2025.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons


Holborn and St Pancras by-election date: 8 October.

Committees


Committee chair elections – ballots will take place on 14 September. Housing, Communities and Local Government – nominees:Rachel Blake; Jonathan Brash; Naushabah Khan; Abena Oppong-Asare; Alan Strickland; Catherine West. Justice – nominees: Catherine Atkinson; Mary Creagh; Janet Daby; Sarah Russell. Women and Equalities – nominees: Olivia Bailey; Anneliese Dodds; Preet Kaur Gill.
Joint Committee on Draft Conversion Practices Bill – Olivia Bailey, Alex Barros-Curtis; Danny Beales, Feryal Clark, Marie Goldman and Jeremy Wright appointed as members.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Jenny Riddell-Carpenter discharged.
Joint Committee on Human Rights – Alex Sobel appointed as chair, replacing Lord Alton of Liverpool.
Liaison – Alex Sobel added.
Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy – Helen Maguire added; Edward Morello discharged.
Privileges – James Asser added; Michael Wheeler discharged.
Procedure – Martin Wrigley added; Tom Morrison discharged.
Selection – David Simmonds and Rebecca Smith added; Jerome Mayhew and Mike Wood discharged.
Standards – James Asser added; Michael Wheeler discharged.

House of Lords


Lord Wilson of Dinton (CB) retired from the Lords on 6 September.
Baroness McAnea (Lab) and Lord Smith of Ranmoor (Lab) were introduced in the Lords on 7 September.
Lord Singh of Solihull (Con) and Lord Stace (Lab) were introduced in the Lords on 8 September.
Lord Davey of Chalk Farm (Lab) and Lord Jabbar (Lab) were introduced in the Lords on 10 September.
Lord Redesdale was Non-Affiliated, now Liberal Democrat.

Committees


Economic Affairs – Lord Liddle appointed as chair; Baroness Alexander of Cleveden added; Lord Wood of Anfield discharged.
Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee – Baroness Bi, Lord Carrington of Fulham, Lord Newby and Baroness Wheatcroft added; Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted, Baroness Fairhead and Lord Pitkeathley of Camden Town discharged.
Finance – Lord Kennedy of Southwark added; Baroness Blake of Leeds discharged.
International Agreements – Baroness Bi added; Baroness Blower discharged.
Liaison – Lord Hampton added.
National Resilience – Baroness MacLeod of Camusdarach added; Baroness Winterton of Doncaster discharged.
Selection – Lord Hampton added.
Services – Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent added; Baroness Wheeler discharged.
Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments – Lord Monks added; Baroness Kennedy of Cradley discharged.
Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission – Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede appointed as member; Lord Gardiner of Kimble discharged.

Devolved Administrations

Scottish Parliament


Criminal Justice Committee – David Linden elected as convener; Ben Macpherson added; Alyn Smith discharged.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee – Steven Bonnar added; David Linden discharged.

Scottish Government


Care Inspectorate – Douglas Moodie re-appointed as chair until 28 February 2027.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Carole Wilkinson re-appointed as chair from 10 October until 9 October 2027.
NHS Borders – Roderick Allister Short appointed as board member from 1 October until 30 September 2030.

Northern Ireland Assembly


Paul Boggs (Sinn Féin) co-opted as MLA for West Tyrone on 7 September; replacing Maolíosa McHugh who resigned.
Assembly and Executive Review Committee – Deborah Erskine appointed as chair, replacing Jonathan Buckley.
Infrastructure Committee – Jonathan Buckley appointed as chair, replacing Peter Martin.

Northern Ireland Executive


Business Services Organisation – Maureen Brunt appointed as non-executive (lay) board member until 31 August 2030.

Local Authorities

Councils


Cornwall Council – A new interim chief executive to be appointed, replacing Kate Kennally who is on a leave of absence.
West Surrey Council – Susan Halliwell to be appointed as chief executive and head of paid Service, succeeding Andy Brown.

Discover Dods People: Your ultimate stakeholder management solution. Dods People is a comprehensive online service that provides unparalleled access to political representatives and public affairs professionals across the UK and EU. Book your demo now to explore the power of Dods People