The strongest case for increasing diversity on the boards of public bodies comes from members of under-represented groups themselves.
Lucy discusses the importance of diversity in public appointments, and why she thinks it is important to have diverse boards. A transcript of Lucy’s video is available.
Lucy provides advice to candidates who are interested in applying for public appointments. A transcript of Lucy’s video is available.
Lucy Armstrong, Chair of the Port of Tyne, talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the ways in which boards work and how they have adapted to continue working. A transcript of Lucy’s video is available
During a sit down with OCPA, Cindy expresses what it means to be a Senior Independent Panel Member, what she gets involved with in her role, and what that means for the recruitment of public appointees. A transcript for Cindy’s video about what it means to be a Senior Independent Panel Member is available.
Delroy Beverley is a board member of the British Library and Ofqual. He spoke to OCPA about his experience of holding public appointments, and gave his advice to prospective candidates on how best to prepare when applying for a public appointment.
The Commissioner interviewed Carly Jones MBE, who is a member of the CVS Honours Committee and is a champion for those with autism; and Matthew Campbell-Hill, who is a non-executive member of the board of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. They discussed their personal experiences of board appointments.
In the following case studies, public appointees from diverse backgrounds give their thoughts on the process that led them into their current role.
Cindy guides candidates through what to expect when going for a public appointment and what she’s learned from being a public appointee herself. A transcript of Cindy’s experience as a SIPM is also available.
Delroy spoke to OCPA about how his life experience contributed to him being ready to take up a public appointment and the value of having a diversity of experience on boards.
Natalie Campbell began her appointment as a Non Executive Director on the board of the Big Lottery Fund in 2015.
Natalie Campbell is a social entrepreneur, author and business coach. She is Founding Partner at A Very Good Company, a social innovation agency.
She is also Chair of Nominet Trust (starting November 1st 2016) a Trustee of UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs; Chair of NCVYS and has previously held board positions with NCVYS, The Consortium for Street Children, The British Youth Council (Vice-Chair Campaigns and Communications) VInspired, iCould and Wayra UnLtd a ‘tech for good’ accelerator programme funded by O2 Telefonica and the Cabinet Office.
Natalie is a Fellow of the Clore Social Leadership Programme and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
Nicola Williams began her appointment as the Service Complaints Ombudsman on 1 January 2016 after seeing the office through transition as the second and final appointee to hold the position of Service Complaints Commissioner.
Nicola previously held the post of the Complaints Commissioner for the Cayman Islands from 2009 to 2015, with a remit that extended over 93 government entities.Since 2009, Nicola has also been a Crown Court Recorder sitting on the London and South Eastern Circuit. Between 2004 and 2009, she was a Commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission, with particular responsibility for Kent, Sussex, the Ministry of Defence Police and part of the Metropolitan Police. Prior to this, she was a board member at the Police Complaints Authority from 2001 to 2004.
Between 1985 and 2001, Nicola was a barrister in private practice, practising in a number of fields before the High Court,Crown Court and Court of Appeal, and specialising in Criminal Law, including three successful Commonwealth death penalty appeals before the House of Lords sitting as the Privy Council.
Nicola was the legal expert on BBC World for the OJ Simpson trial verdict in 1995, is a former Chair for the London Regional Advisory Council, BBC and a founder member of the Independent Advisory Group to the Metropolitan Police Service (following recommendations arising from the Macpherson Report of 1999).
Nicola is also a published author.