James Quinault

Biography

James Quinault was interim Director General for Europe, international and constitution group from November 2020 to June 2021.

Before this James was:

  • interim Director General for Strategy and Change at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between July and October 2020
  • Executive Director of the Implementation Group at the Cabinet Office between 2015 and 2019
  • Director of the Government’s Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance, responsible for running the UK’s National Cyber Security Programme

He has also worked in a number of government roles, including:

  • Head of the HM Treasury team looking after defence and security spending until 2011
  • at HM Treasury on environment issues, ‘green’ taxes and public expenditure planning and control
  • in the Economic and Domestic Secretariat in the Cabinet Office
  • as private secretary to the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service
  • on secondment to the Home Office working on the overhaul of policy on criminal justice and immigration issues

James was appointed CBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2011.