Our governance

Decision-making, executive, and managerial bodies in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Departmental Board

The Departmental Board provides direction on strategy, performance and risk management.

Members

See the Departmental Board terms of reference.

Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) is a sub-committee of the Departmental Board. It assures the quality of audit and risk control functions within the department.

Members

  • Vikas Shah, Non-Executive Board Member and Non-Executive Member (Chair)
  • Peter Mather, Non-Executive Board Member
  • Elaine Clements, Non-Executive Member
  • Andre Katz, Non-Executive Member
  • Anne Marie Millar, Non-Executive Member
  • Tristan Morgan, Non-Executive Member
  • David Scott, Non-Executive Member

Also attending:

  • Jeremy Pocklington, Permanent Secretary
  • Clive Maxwell, Second Permanent Secretary
  • David Thomas, Chief Financial Officer
  • Simon Hulme, Director, Implementation and Delivery
  • Ali Morgan, National Audit Office (NAO) representative
  • Andrew Hinder, Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) representative

See the ARAC terms of reference.

Nominations and Governance Committee

The Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC) is a sub-committee of the Departmental Board. It is responsible for senior level pay and succession planning.

Members

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee (ExCo) sets the strategic direction of the department and manages the day-to-day running of the department’s resource, policies, and programmes.

Members

  • Jeremy Pocklington, Permanent Secretary (Chair)
  • Clive Maxwell, Second Permanent Secretary
  • Lee McDonough, Director General, Net Zero, Nuclear and International
  • Ben Rimmington, Director General, Net Zero Buildings and Industry
  • Ashley Ibbett, Director General, Energy Infrastructure
  • Jonathan Mills, Director General, Energy Markets and Supply
  • Donna Leong, Chief Economist
  • Professor Paul Monks, Chief Scientific Adviser
  • Johanna Cowan, Director, Strategy
  • David Thomas, Chief Financial Officer
  • Simon Hulme, Director, Implementation and Delivery
  • Alice Hurrell, Chief People Officer

Also attending:

  • James Sorene, Director, Communications
  • Wendy Hardaker, Director, Legal

People and Operations Committee

The People and Operations Committee (POpCo) is a sub-committee of ExCo. It manages human resources, estates, operations, IT and people related issues.

Members

  • Alice Hurrell, Chief People Officer (Co-Chair)
  • Ashley Ibbett, Director General, Energy Infrastructure (Co-Chair)
  • Johanna Cowan, Director, Strategy
  • Emily Bourne, Director, Energy Systems and Networks
  • Selvin Brown, Director, Net Zero Buildings – Domestic
  • Marina Skrinar, Director, International Net Zero: Trade and Energy
  • James Sorene, Director, Communications
  • Chris Heffer, Director, Nuclear Power and Decommissioning
  • Karl Hoods, Director, Digital
  • Mark Leigh, Director, Commercial
  • Victoria Brooks, Director, Operations

Also attending:

  • Erik Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Competition and Markets Authority (Non-Executive Director)
  • Diane Caddle, Director, Service Delivery Transformation, Ministry of Justice, (Non-Executive Director)
  • Claire Gibbs / Sacha Hatteea - Directors, Rail Workforce Transformation, Department for Transport (job-share, Non-Executive Directors)
  • Staff Network Representatives

Portfolio and Investment Committee

The Portfolio and Investment Committee (PIC) is a sub-committee of ExCo. It is responsible for approving and appraising departmental investments.

Members

  • Clive Maxwell, Second Permanent Secretary, (Chair)
  • Jonathan Mills, Director General, Energy Markets and Supply, (Deputy Chair)
  • Lee McDonough, Director General, Net Zero, Nuclear and International
  • Ashley Ibbett, Director General, Energy Infrastructure
  • Professor Paul Monks, Chief Scientific Adviser
  • Ben Rimmington, Director General, Net Zero Buildings and Industry
  • Daron Walker, Director, Smart Metering Implementation Programme and NZBI Delivery Portfolio
  • Donna Leong, Chief Economist
  • David Thomas, Chief Financial Officer
  • Mark Leigh, Director, Commercial
  • Simon Hulme, Director, Implementation and Delivery
  • Wendy Hardaker, Director, Legal
  • Johanna Cowan, Director, Strategy

Also attending:

  • Andrew Jamieson (Non-Executive Member), Chief Executive of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
  • Sam Ulyatt (Non-Executive Member), Director, Commercial, Home Office
  • Jill Adam (Non-Executive Member), Project Director, Euston, Department for Transport
  • Andy Butterworth (Non-Executive Member), Executive Director, UK Government Investments
  • Jon Loveday (Non-Executive Member), Director, Infrastructure and Projects Authority

Structure of our boards and committees

For more information on our boards and committees, see our annual report and accounts.

This report includes a visual representation of our governance structure.

Register of interests

Board members are asked to declare any personal or business interests which may influence their judgement, or be perceived to, when performing their duties.

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