Dr Gillian Fairfield
Biography
Qualifying in medicine in 1981, Gillian has worked in clinical, managerial and leadership roles across different sectors and specialties, in hospitals, general practice and public health. In 1997, she was awarded a British Medical Association Fellowship in public health to study managed care in Washington State and Harvard Universities. In 1998, Gillian led on a review of prison health in England and Wales and was subsequently appointed to the post of Deputy Head of the national Prison Health Taskforce.
During her career, Gillian has held 4 NHS Chief Executive posts in both mental health and acute Trusts. In 2012, Gillian was appointed a Board Member of the National Youth Justice Board for England and Wales by the Justice Secretary. She chaired the Performance committee and was a member of the Finance Audit and Risk committee and the National Youth Justice Oversight group to December 2021.
Gillian was appointed as Chairman of the Disclosure and Barring Service in 2018, and reappointed for a second term of office in 2022.
Gillian was appointed by the Home Secretary to lead an independent review of the Independent Office for Police Conduct in 2023 and reported in December 2023.
She is a member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body appointed in 2023 and was appointed as a member of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) Board on 10 October 2024.
AFPRB Member
The Member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body is responsible for providing independent advice to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence on the remuneration and charges for members of the Naval, Military and Air Forces of the Crown.
DBS Board Chairman
Some of the Chair’s responsibilities at the DBS include:
- formulating the DBS board’s strategy, discharging its statutory duties, and leading the board in overseeing the timely production of realistic business and forward plans
- monitoring in-year performance and examining change proposals with rigour to maintain focus on delivery
- ensuring that the DBS board, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of guidance provided by the responsible Minister and sponsor department
- ensuring that DBS board members adhere to the code of practice for members of Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies