Alex became Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office and Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service in April 2020. He was previously Permanent Secretary for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and prior to that he was Joint Permanent Secretary for BEIS.
His previous career highlights include:
Permanent Secretary for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Chief Executive of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Chairperson and Commissioner of Ireland’s communications regulatory agency, ComReg and Chair of the Economic Regulators Network in Ireland. He also held senior executive positions in the media, technology and e-commerce industries, with Pearson plc, Financial Times Group, eCountries Inc and Ecceleration Ltd.
Sir Jon Cunliffe became Deputy Governor for Financial Stability on 1 November 2013. Jon is a member of the Bank’s Financial Policy and Monetary Policy Committees, the Bank’s Court of Directors and the Prudential Regulation Authority Board.
He has specific responsibility within the Bank for the supervision and oversight of Financial Market Infrastructures, for Resolution and for the provision of Emergency Liquidity Assistance. He is a member of the G20 Financial Stability Board Steering Committee, the Bank for International Settlements’ Board of Directors and the European Systemic Risk Board.
Before joining the Bank, Jon was the UK Permanent Representative to the European Union, effective from 9 January 2012. From July 2007 to December 2011, he was the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Europe and Global Issues and the UK Sherpa for the G8 and G20 and the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary responsible for EU coordination.
Between 2002 and 2007, Jon was Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury, Managing Director of the Macroeconomic and International Finance Directorate. He was responsible for UK macroeconomic policy, international and EU policy and financial services and the Government’s representative at the meetings of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee.
Between 1990 and 2002, Jon held various posts at HM Treasury, including Managing Director for Financial Regulation and posts on EU and international finance. He led the Treasury’s work on operational independence of the Bank of England; European Monetary Union; and the international financial system. Prior to that Jon held a number of posts at the Department of Transport and the Environment.
Jon was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the New Year Honours 2001, and made a Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours 2010. He has a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Manchester and spent some time as a Lecturer on English Literature at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.
Carolyn is an experienced business leader whose responsibilities and achievements span a range of operational and board roles in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, media and banking.
As a McKinsey consultant and partner, she advised companies across the UK on issues of competitiveness and growth and as Director of Strategy and Distribution at the BBC she created and launched Freeview. She also has policy and government experience, and is a strong advocate for UK businesses of all sizes and sectors.
Carolyn has extensive boardroom experience, including as a non-executive director of Lloyds Banking Group, The Vitec Group (a medium-sized photographic and broadcast equipment supplier), global outsourcer Capita, the Competition and Markets Authority and UK Statistics Authority. Between 2008 and 2011, Carolyn was a Non-Executive Director of the Financial Services Authority.
Carolyn was Director of Group Development and Strategy at ITV from 2007-2010. She joined the company at a time of crisis as the advertising market collapsed following the financial crash. She was put in charge of ITV’s emergency cost-reduction programme to cut the company’s cost base by 25%. This enabled ITV to weather the storm and subsequently return to growth.
And as Director of Strategy and Distribution at the BBC, Carolyn ran the BBC’s transmission arm responsible for delivery of the BBC’s services to viewers, including on cable and satellite. She managed a budget of £150 million and negotiated the BBC’s major distribution deals with Sky, Virgin and BT. In 2002/3, she created and launched Freeview, a joint venture between the BBC, Sky and Arqiva, which became one of the UK’s most successful new television services.
Carolyn has spent eight years at as a consultant and then partner at McKinsey & Company where she worked with companies in sectors as diverse as brewing, DIY retailing, computer services, investment management and newspapers, advising on mergers, business expansion, cost control and global competitiveness. Carolyn later became one of the leaders of McKinsey’s UK’s media practice, specialising in digital strategy.
Carolyn also has a strong understanding of Whitehall and Westminster. From 1995-97, she was seconded from McKinsey as a Special Adviser in Number 10’s Policy Unit, where she advised on health and social services.
She began her career as an economist at the World Bank, before joining the Economist magazine as a business and financial journalist.
She read Economics at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, graduating with a double-First (1983). She holds an MBA from the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD) and MA in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.
Carolyn is married with three children and lives in Hampshire. She is a Trustee of Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Mark Lloyd became Chief Executive of the Local Government Association in November 2015. He brought to the LGA ten years experience as a Council Chief Executive (Cambridgeshire County Council from 2008 and Durham County Council from 2005).
Mark has overall responsibility for 349 members of staff and a budget of £54.1m
Mark is a Trustee of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and a patron of The Whitehall Industry Group.
Sir Simon McDonald was the Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office August 2015 to August 2020.
Sir Simon joined the British Diplomatic Service in 1982 and served in Berlin, Jeddah, Riyadh, Bonn, Washington and Tel Aviv, and in a wide range of jobs in London.
Sir Simon served as the British Ambassador to Berlin from 2010 to 2015. He was the Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Adviser and Head of Foreign and Defence Policy in the Cabinet Office from 2007 to 2010. From 2003 to 2006 he was British Ambassador to Israel.
He was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in 2014.
Lord Mark Sedwill was Cabinet Secretary from April 2018 to September 2020 and National Security Advisor from April 2017 to Sept 2020. He is currently the Chair of the Atlantic Future Forum and the G7 Panel on Global Economic Resilience
Prior to this, Mark was the Permanent Secretary at the Home Office (2013-17), FCO Political Director (2012-13), NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan (2010-11), HM Ambassador to Afghanistan (2009-10) and Director of UKvisas (2006-8). He joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1989, serving in Egypt, Iraq, Cyprus and Pakistan.
Mark was educated at the University of St Andrews and the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and President of the Special Forces Club. He is married with one daughter.
Nigel was appointed Group Managing Director of Programmes and Support, one of three Global Operating Groups in BAE Systems, in 2008. In this role he has responsibility for UK Businesses including Maritime, Military Air & Information, Combat Vehicles (UK), UK Munitions and the Group’s Shared Services operations. These businesses deliver over £7bn turnover predominantly in UK defence but also in international markets.
Nigel undertakes a number of additional roles:
Commissioner, UK Commission for Employment and Skills
Nigel is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He has been active in defence programmes including design, development, production and support for 30 years, working in the UK, Sweden and Australia. Nigel was awarded a CBE for services to Vocational Education and Skills in the 2015 Birthday Honours list.
Prior to joining BAE Systems as an aerodynamicist, Nigel worked for Rolls-Royce for four years as a production engineering apprentice and graduated in mechanical engineering.
Phil is President of Global Affairs at GSK and a member of the Group’s Corporate Executive Team. He serves as an advisor and representative of the CEO on corporate and business-related matters, with specific responsibilities for the Group’s strategic approach to Reputation, Corporate Responsibility and Global Health. He is also responsible for the Group’s engagement and relationships with investors, media, government and employees; management of the corporate brand; and key global community partnerships.
Phil joined Glaxo Wellcome as a commercial trainee in 1996, and has worked in a number of external-facing roles on matters related to corporate strategy, business performance and reputation. He earned his degree in English, History and Russian Studies from Durham University.
Phil is a Co-Opted Member of the China-Britain Business Council and is Chairman of The Whitehall & Industry Group.
Debbie started her career in the Private Sector, achieving a place on Marks & Spencer retail graduate scheme on leaving University. She worked in retail and the Private Sector for 21 years in a variety of HR roles both in the UK and abroad before joining the Civil Service in 2009.
Leading HR across Government, Debbie spent a year with DWP as HR Director in Policy before joining DEFRA for two years as their HR Director. In 2013 she joined the Ministry of Justice for a year as Group HR Director before returning to DWP to take up post as HR Director General in January 2014.
In her capacity as HR Director General at DWP, Debbie sets the HR strategy - aligning this to both the business strategy and Civil Service Reform to ensure Business delivery and the creation of an extraordinary department.
As Disability, Wellbeing and Worklife Balance champion Debbie is passionate about enabling colleagues to reach their own potential whilst inspiring others to do the same.
Neil joined WorldSkills UK in November 2015. Neil was previously Deputy Director-General and Chief Operating Officer at the CBI, the UK’s premier business organisation, where he worked for 12 years at the highest level of the business and government interface nationally and internationally on issues such as trade and investment, diversity, skills and employment, public services reform, climate change and infrastructure development.
Neil is a trustee of The Whitehall & Industry Group, a member of the advisory council for the IPA employment think tank and the independent member of the social inclusion committee at Warwick University. He was also the former CEO of OUTstanding, a business network for LGBT leaders and their allies, and former deputy chair of Stonewall, the LGBT equality charity. He holds a PhD in race equality in the workplace and was awarded an OBE for services to diversity and inclusion in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List. In 2019, Neil was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Middlesex University for services to STEM education.
David is currently Industry Value Advisor at SAP, helping people realise value from their investments in technology.
Prior to SAP, David spent eight years as Chief Digital Officer - Public Sector and Health for Atos and six years as Programme Director of Business.Gov, a cross UK government initiative designed to make Britain a better place to do business. This included delivering the businesslink.gov.uk online service. David has started and grown several digital technology companies including anaqua.com (innovation and intellectual property).
David’s key skills are focused on digital; improving the way that organisations interact with customers and staff; creating new services and bringing them to market; and ensuring we are safe in a world where cyber threats are invisible and ever present.
Janette Durbin became the Director for Civil Service Talent in April 2015. The Civil Service Talent team is responsible for developing world class leaders for the future Civil Service. This includes supporting the Cabinet Secretary in managing the appointment and development of Permanent Secretaries.
Janette was previously the HR Director in the Department for Education from May 2012 and, prior to that, HR Director at the Cabinet Office for 3 years. She spent much of her earlier career in human resources roles at the Ministry of Justice.
Bernadette Kelly became Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport on 18th April 2017.
From September 2015 to April 2017, Bernadette Kelly was Director General, Rail Group in DfT. Prior to that she was a Director General at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills from April 2010.
Bernadette joined the Civil Service after graduating. She has spent most of her career working on public policy in relation to business and the economy. She has led work in government to reform the planning regime for major infrastructure; boost housing supply; establish the Competition and Markets Authority; strengthen utility regulation; reform corporate governance; and on industrial strategy and local growth and devolution.
In addition to the Department for Transport and BIS, Bernadette has worked in the Department for Communities and Local Government, HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office and the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit; as well as on secondment to ICI plc.
Bernadette was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 2010.
Eleanor started working in Local Government in 1974 and has worked at every level from junior Trainee Accountant to Chief Executive. She has undertaken the Chief Executive role in three London Boroughs: Tower Hamlets, Merton and Southwark.
As part of her role in Southwark she is also the Chief Officer responsible for regeneration and planning.
During her career Eleanor also spent five years working for KPMG which has given her a good public/private perspective.
Eleanor has held a number of non Executive Directorships, most notably as a Trustee of Tomorrow People Charitable Trust, and as a non executive Chairman of the board of directors for a private sector consultancy company.
Outside of work her hobbies are scuba diving, cooking and renovating properties.
Keith Mendez is Head of Human Resources – Northern Europe for Mondelēz International leading the people strategy for the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. This market is home to iconic brands such as Cadbury, Green & Blacks, Trebor, Marabou, Halls, Belvita and Oreo. The role encompasses end to end HR partnership for Sales, Marketing, supply chain and is responsible for delivering the growth, execution and culture strategies in line with Mondelez' Purpose of Snacking Made Right.
Keith has extensive HR experiences in both developed and emerging markets having lived and worked in the UK, Chicago, Dubai & Singapore and has managed large scale change management, functional transformations and organization merger & acquisitions. Keith is passionate about learning and development and leveraging well-being to define organisational culture.
Kate Stephens is CEO of Smart Works, a UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed and marginalised women before their job interview.
During her tenure, Smart Works has grown from being a London only charity to a national organisation, helping almost 20,000 women from eight centres across the UK. After visiting Smart Works, 65% secure a job within a month, allowing them to gain financial independence, improve their life chances and start a new chapter.
Smart Works was named Social Action Charity of the Year in 2017 and was honoured to announce the patronage of the Duchess of Sussex in 2019.
Having spent 15 years in senior roles in consultancy, Kate combines senior private sector experience with a passion for the entrepreneurial, dynamic and inspirational charity sector, learnt first as Trustee, Vice Chair and then Chair of a leading family charity and now as CEO of Smart Works.
David Walker is head of Citi's public sector banking group for Europe, Middle East and Africa. He commenced this role in January 2015. The business serves governments, central banks, agencies and multilateral organisations across the region, with teams in over 50 countries.
David joined Citi in 1990, and his previous roles include UK Head of Corporate Banking (2011-2014), Head of Banking for Switzerland (2008-2010), Financial Institutions Group (2004-2008), Industrials Group (2000-2004). Prior to this David had roles in capital markets, derivatives and in transaction services. David is a senior credit officer of the bank and is a Trustee Director of Citibank's UK pension schemes.
David holds a BSc. Economics from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and was a Robert T. Jones scholar at Emory University in Atlanta, USA. He is married with two children and lives in London.
David is a 2016/17 alumnus of WIG’s Exchange Programme.
