Written Ministerial Statement

The content of this written ministerial statement is as received at the time from the Minister. It has not been subject to the official reporting (Hansard) process.

The Executive Office - Head of the Civil Service

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Published on 10 June 2021.

The First Minister and deputy First Minister: We are writing to update members on the process to appoint a new Head of the Civil Service (HOCS).

Following the successful completion of the recent recruitment competition, we are pleased to inform members that Jayne Brady has been appointed and will take up post shortly.

She is currently the Digital Innovation Commissioner within the Belfast City Council and will succeed Jenny Pyper, who has been serving as Interim HOCS since December 2020.

We wish to put on record our thanks to Jenny for the leadership she has shown during one of the most challenging times the organisation has faced.

Jayne Brady is an experienced and highly skilled leader who has much to bring to the role.

She is an engineer with extensive, board experience and a track record of success that transcends blue-chip corporations, start-ups and funding ecosystems. She has over 20 years’ leadership experience and a diverse skillset including venture capital, due diligence, corporate governance, setting strategy, leading teams, technical ownership and finance across complex organisational structures internationally.

Recent roles include Partner in Venture Capital firm with £100Mn+ funds under management and co-founder of an Artificial Intelligence start-up.

She is deeply committed to delivering economic and social development through harnessing innovation and was recently recognised for services to the economy with both an MBE and honorary doctorate. Jayne has a strong, established professional network and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Irish Academy of Engineers; she sits on the NI Committee for the IoD and the Engineering Policy Group, is a board director on Queen’s University Belfast Spinout Fund, QUBIS, and is a Trustee for Young Enterprise NI.

As leader of some 23,000 civil servants, and chief policy adviser to the Executive, the HOCS is central to the development and delivery of public services.

After a tumultuous year for the public sector, as society has grappled with the impacts of the pandemic, there is a need now for a renewed focus on rebuilding and delivering for the entire community.

Our focus over the last 15 months has rightly been on responding to the pandemic; and we are now embarking on the monumental task of recovery and renewal to improve the lives of all our people.

Jayne will play a crucial part in guiding the Executive and leading the NICS to ensure improved outcomes for the public. They will also support the delivery of the Executive’s immediate priorities, and longer-term strategic objectives.

The HOCS will lead the work to develop and modernise the civil service and she will drive continued reform to maximise capability and capacity within the organisation.

This is a hugely significant appointment for the Northern Ireland Civil Service and for the institutions of government.

We trust members will join us in congratulating Jayne on their appointment, and look forward to welcoming them to the role.