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Sponsor department
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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Great Britain-China Centre
5 July 2025
Great Britain-China Centre appoints Isabel Hilton as new Chair
The Great Britain-China Centre is pleased to announce the appointment of Isabel Hilton as its new Chair. Isabel will be responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the GBCC supporting HMG priorities, enhancing its mission to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations, and building the UK government and wider expertise on China.
The GBCC is an arms-length body of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office established in 1974 to support UK-China relations.
Isabel brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, previously founding the China Dialogue, a bilingual non-profit organisation that focused on climate change and environmental issues in China and abroad. With a distinguished career in broadcast journalism and writing, Isabel has demonstrated an exceptional understanding of China that will be valuable when fostering strong bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and China.
Catherine West, Minister for the Indo-Pacific said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Isabel as the new Chair of the Great Britain-China Centre. Her extensive expertise on China will be invaluable to GBCC’s work supporting confident, careful and pragmatic engagement with China across a broad range of areas. This government puts great value on the impact that the GBCC has on developing China capability within the Civil Service and facilitating dialogues between UK and Chinese officials. I’d also like to extend my gratitude to the out-going chair Sir Martin, who has led the Centre admirably with clear and strategic direction over the last decade.”
The Board of the Great Britain China Centre extends its gratitude to Sir Martin Davidson for his dedicated service and significant contributions during his 10-year tenure.
This is an un-remunerated role that reflects a time commitment of approximately 30 days per year.
Isabel Hilton said: “I am honoured and delighted to be appointed as Chair of the Great Britain China Centre. I have known and admired the work of the Centre for many years and I look forward to working with the talented team to further our goals and to build on the Centre’s strong foundations. I am especially grateful to my predecessor in this role, Sir Martin Davidson, for his leadership and exemplary stewardship.”
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Sponsor department
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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Independent Commission for Aid Impact
13 March 2025
Minister for International Development Anneliese Dodds is pleased to confirm, following endorsement by the International Development Committee, the appointment of Jillian Popkins as Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI). She will head up ICAI’s work scrutinising the government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend for both impact and value for money. Her 4 year term will last from 26 January 2025 until 26 January 2029.
Jillian is an experienced international development professional, most recently working as a consultant at Solidaridad, an international civil society organisation. Prior to that she was Deputy Executive Director, Advocacy, Programmes and Safeguarding at UNICEF UK
Other roles include:
- Chief Social Policy and Reform for Children Section, UNICEF China
- Director, Policy, Advocacy and Programmes, ActionAid UK
- Lead Consultant, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Audit, DEFRA
- Jillian began her career at DFID as a Senior Social Development Adviser, moving to Girl Hub Ethiopia (now Girl Effect) as Founding Country Director.
The appointment process was conducted in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Governance for Public Appointments.
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Sponsor department
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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Westminster Foundation for Democracy
6 December 2024
The Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, has appointed Duncan Hames and Iain Wright as Independent Governors onto the Board of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Both appointments will be for a period of 3 years, effective from 18th November 2024.
Duncan Hames
Duncan Hames is currently Director of Policy and Programmes at Transparency International UK (2016-present).
He is a former Liberal Democrat MP and Parliamentary Private Secretary to then Deputy Prime Minster, Nick Clegg (2010-2015).
Board and corporate level experiences and qualifications include Board Member of the Great Britain China Centre (2011-2015), which is another FCDO ALB. He has served on audit and risk committees, including the Audit Committee Chair for the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Iain Wright
Iain Wright is currently Managing Director, Reputation & Influence at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW).
He is also a Former Labour MP for Hartlepool (2004-2017) and Minister for Housing and Planning, Department for Communities and Local Government, and Shadow Minister for Education.
Other roles have included Chief Executive, North East Process Industry Cluster (2017-2018) where he was responsible for leading the trade association supporting the North East region’s chemical-using companies.
Board and corporate governance experience also includes co-chair of Professional and Business Services Council, Importance of Palace Working Group (2021- present), Member Prompt Payment Code Compliance Board (2021-present), Governor, Middlesbrough College (chair of the Audit and Risk Committee) (2017-present).
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy is the UK public body dedicated to strengthening democracy and open societies around the world. WFD contributes to delivery of the Government's ambitious open societies agenda to ensure that people around the world - no matter their identities, backgrounds, interests, or religious beliefs - are able to take part in political life and have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. You can find out more about WFD's work here:
Strengthening democracy around the world | Westminster Foundation for Democracy
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Sponsor department
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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British International Investment plc
2 May 2024
Daniel Hanna has been appointed as the new British International Investment (BII) Non-Executive Director. His three-year term will last from 1st May 2024 until 30th April 2027.
Daniel has two decades of banking experience with a particular focus on climate and sustainable finance. Daniel is currently the Global Head of Sustainable Finance at Barclays which has a commitment to mobilise a trillion dollars of sustainable and transition finance. Daniel also sits on the investment committee of Barclays’ Sustainable Impact Capital programme, which is investing £500 million in climate technology companies. He previously set up a sustainable finance team at Standard Chartered Bank growing it from an intern to 100 people, which mobilised more than $22 billion in green and transition finance in 2021, principally in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Governance for Public Appointments. The regulation of public appointments against the requirements of this code is carried out by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
This appointment was made on merit and political activity played no part in the decision process. However, in accordance with the code, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. The appointee has not declared any political activity.
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Sponsor department
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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FCDO Departmental Board
18 April 2024
Lead Non-Executive Director. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Following the conclusion of recruitment for a Lead Non-Executive Director to the board of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Beverley Tew, a serving Non-Executive Director and the Interim Lead Non-Executive Director, will take on the role from 15 April 2024 for a term of three years.
The role is remunerated at a rate of £20,000 a year for a time commitment of 20 days per annum.
The appointment is made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Governance for Public Appointments. The regulation of public appointments against the requirements of the Code is carried out by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
The appointment is made on merit and political activity played no part in the decision process. However, in accordance with the Code, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Beverley Tew has not declared any political activity.
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Sponsor department
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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Body
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FCDO Departmental Board
18 April 2024
Non-Executive Director. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Following the conclusion of recruitment for a Non-Executive Director to the board of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, James Bilefield will take on the role from 15 April 2024 for a term of three years.
The role is remunerated at a rate of £15,000 a year for a time commitment of 20 days per annum.
The appointment is made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Governance for Public Appointments. The regulation of public appointments against the requirements of the Code is carried out by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
The appointment is made on merit and political activity played no part in the decision process. However, in accordance with the Code, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. James Bilefield has not declared any political activity.
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Sponsor department
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
11 March 2024
Reappointment of John Raine as Chair of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
John Raine CMG OBE has been reappointed as Chair of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission (MACC). The re-appointment is for 3 years from 1 February 2024 until 31 January 2027.
This reappointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Governance on Public Appointments. The regulation of public appointments against the requirements of this Code is carried out by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
John Raine CMG OBE served the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office for 33 years. His overseas postings included Kuwait, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Baghdad and Islamabad. As a senior member of the national security community, John’s bilateral and multilateral diplomatic work involved working extensively with US administrations and the US military on issues related to international coordination and security. John is now a Senior Advisor at the IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies). He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors for the University of Lincoln, and serves as a Trustee for the HALO Trust.
The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, a non-departmental public body, is accountable to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Commission is responsible for the Marshall Scholarship programme, which provides scholarships to talented Americans to study in the UK. Up to fifty scholars are selected each year to study in any field at graduate level at a UK institution. As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of the UK’s institutions and society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the UK and the USA, their governments, their institutions and their people.
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Sponsor department
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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Independent Commission for Aid Impact
13 February 2024
ICAI PT Commissioner Announcement
Liz Ditchburn and Harold Freeman have been appointed as part time Commissioners for the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) for four years from 1 July 2024.
Liz is a highly experienced public sector leader in international, UK and devolved administrations. Liz is currently a Trustee of Nesta, a Non-Executive Director at Net Zero Technology Centre and an Honorary Professor at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. She has previously held roles as the Director General for Economy for the Scottish Government and was the former Department for International Development’s Policy Director and its first Value for Money Director.
Harold is a board-level professional specialising in economic development, public policy and sustainable finance. He currently works as an independent advisor and is a member of the advisory council of trade credit agency UK Export Finance. He has previously held roles as a Board Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, and led on sustainable lending as Head of International Debt & Capital Markets at HM Treasury.
These appointments are made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Governance for Public Appointments. The regulation of public appointments against the requirements of this Code is carried out by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Liz Ditchburn and Harold Freeman will replace Sir Hugh Bayley and Tarek Rouchdy, whose appointments as ICAI Commissioners end on 30 June. A selection process to replace Dr Tamsyn Barton, the outgoing ICAI Chief Commissioner, is underway and an announcement will be made once this process is complete/in due course.
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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Westminster Foundation for Democracy
25 January 2024
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minister of State (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth), has appointed James Deane as an Independent Governor to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy Board. The appointment will be for a period of 3 years, effective from 19 December 2023 until 18 December 2026.
James Deane is the Co-Founder and Consultant to the International Fund for Public Interest Media and was Director of Policy and Research at BBC Media Action. Other roles have included managing director of the Communications for Social Change Consortium (2004-2007), a project of the Rockefeller Foundation and four roles for the Panos Institute (1986-2004) including executive director and director, HIV/AIDS programme.
James is also a member of the Wilton Park Advisory Council. His board and corporate governance experience includes, until recently chair of the board of Global Voices and serving on the Research Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security (PaCCS).
He has an extensive list of authored/co-authored publications on a wide range of topics relating to foreign policy, media and elections. He holds a MSc with distinction in Communication Policy Studies (International Communication Technologies and Development) from City University, London.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy is the UK public body dedicated to strengthening democracy and open societies around the world. WFD contributes to delivery of the Government's ambitious open societies agenda to ensure that people around the world - no matter their identities, backgrounds, interests, or religious beliefs - are able to take part in political life and have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. You can find out more about WFD's work here: www.wfd.org
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Sponsor department
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Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
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Wilton Park
28 September 2023
Julia Prescot appointed Non-Executive Director to the Board of Wilton Park
The Foreign Secretary has appointed Julia Prescot to the Wilton Park Board as a Non-Executive Director.
Julia Prescot will start her role at Wilton Park on 01 10 2023 for a term lasting three years.
About the appointment
Wilton Park is an Executive Agency of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), tasked with convening networks of influence to discreetly address critical global challenges. It works to support UK foreign policy development and the international strategic priorities of His Majesty’s Government, bringing together experts, policymakers, and decision takers to solve complex global issues.
Founded in 1946 Wilton Park has established a global reputation and extensive international networks. It is a world-leading forum for discreet dialogue on international affairs. Each year, it welcomes thousands of the most influential politicians, policymakers, practitioners, academics, and private sector leaders to debate and address a wide array of international challenges and how these should be approached. Further information can be found on the Wilton Park website.
Wilton Park Non-Executive Directors are appointed by the Foreign Secretary.
The appointment has been made on merit following a fair and open competition process.
About Julia Prescot
Julia is an expert in financing global infrastructure with a passion for sustainable investment. With over 30 years’ experience in delivering projects across a wide range of sectors, Julia has become a trusted adviser to both Government and the private sector. After a successful career as an investment banker, in 2005 Julia co-founded Meridiam which has grown to become one of the world’s leading infrastructure funds, with Julia continuing to serve boardroom roles across a number of Meridiam’s UK and European assets including the £2.4bn NeuConnect energy link, healthcare investor Fulcrum Infrastructure Group and leading EV charging company Allego. Julia is an Honorary Professor at the Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, University College London. She also serves as Deputy Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, as a member of the Government’s Investment Council, as Deputy Chair of the Port of Tyne, and is Private Sector Global Co-Chair of the World Bank Global Infrastructure Facility, a G20 initiative.