Our governance
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-27)

Details of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Boards and sub-committees.

Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board provides strategic direction, oversight and challenge for the FCDO. It aims to maintain the reputation and success of the department. The Board reviews and manages risk. It offers challenge on how the department is performing against its objectives and key performance indicators. The Supervisory Board reviews departmental delivery priorities, resource decisions, and risk management. It supports the Accounting Officers in their duties to Parliament.

The Executive Committee and Audit and Risk Assurance Committee support and report directly to the Supervisory Board.

Supervisory Board members
- Yvette Cooper (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/yvette-cooper), Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chair)
- Baroness Chapman of Darlington (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/baroness-chapman-of-darlington), Minister of State, International Development and Africa
- Stephen Doughty (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/stephen-doughty), Minister of State, Europe, North America and Overseas Territories
- Hamish Falconer (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/hamish-falconer), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan
- Seema Malhotra (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/seema-malhotra), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Indo-Pacific (also Minister for Equalities in the Department for Education)
- Chris Elmore (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/chris-elmore), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean
- Oliver Robbins (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/oliver-robbins), Permanent Under-Secretary
- Nick Dyer (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/nick-dyer), Second Permanent Under-Secretary
- Jonathan Allen (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jonathan-allen), Director General Defence and Security
- Helena Vega-Lozano (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/helena-vega-lozano), Chief Operating Officer
- Edward Llewellyn (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/edward-llewellyn), Director General Political
- Melinda Bohannon (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/melinda-bohannon), Director General Global Issues
- Christina Scott (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/christina-scott), Director General Network
- Neil Wigan (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/neil-wigan), Director General Strategy and Delivery
- Sally Langrish (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sally-langrish), Director General Legal (Legal Adviser)
- Beverley Tew (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/beverley-tew), Lead Non-Executive Director
- Jon Watts (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jon-watts), Non-Executive Director
- James Bilefield (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/james-bilefield), Non-Executive Director
- Karen Blackett (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/karen-blackett), Non-Executive Director
View the FCDO register of interests for Supervisory Board members (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-register-of-interests-for-supervisory-board-and-management-board-members-and-special-advisers).

Executive Committee

The Supervisory Board delegates departmental management decision-making to the Executive Committee, which meets in 2 different formats:

Executive Committee (Organisational Performance and Reform) oversees both the department’s corporate strategy, policies, resourcing and the FCDO2030 reform programme

Executive Committee (Policy) is responsible for the short-to-medium term quality and coherence of the department’s policy formulation. It ensures the department’s capabilities and interests are considered in developing policy and delivery advice to the ministerial team

Executive Committee members

Members of both Executive Committee forms
- Oliver Robbins (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/oliver-robbins), Permanent Under-Secretary (Chair)
- Nick Dyer (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/nick-dyer), Second Permanent Under-Secretary
- Jonathan Allen (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jonathan-allen), Director General Defence and Security
- Melinda Bohannon (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/melinda-bohannon), Director General Global Issues
- Helena Vega-Lozano (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/helena-vega-lozano), Chief Operating Officer
- Edward Llewellyn (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/edward-llewellyn), Director General Political
- Christina Scott (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/christina-scott), Director General Network
- Neil Wigan (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/neil-wigan), Director General Strategy and Delivery
- Kate White (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/kate-white), Director Strategy
Members of Executive Committee Organisational Performance and Reform only
- Tim Jones (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tim-jones--2), Director Finance
- Sarah Russell (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sarah-russell), Director FCDO2030
- Mark Power (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-power), Interim Chief People Officer
Members of Executive Committee Policy only
- Sally Langrish (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sally-langrish), Director General Legal (Legal Adviser)
Non-Executive Directors and additional Directors will be invited to attend, subject to the agenda.

Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

The Audit and Risk Committee supports the Board and Accounting Officer to review decisions and internal control processes. This includes:
- the control framework and related assurance mechanisms
- risk management and financial reporting including internal controls over financial accounting
- internal and external auditing
- arms-length bodies
- counter-fraud
- safeguarding
To ensure its independence, the Committee has no executive responsibilities and obligations. It meets 5 times per year, chaired by a Non-Executive Director, supported by Non-Executive Members.

FCDO Senior Appointments Committee

Oliver Robbins (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/oliver-robbins), Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service, chairs the Senior Appointments Committee. This Committee advises and supports the Permanent Under-Secretary in making recommendations to the Foreign Secretary, the Prime Minister and His Majesty the King. These recommendations include:
- the FCDO’s most senior diplomatic appointments
- the FCDO’s senior leadership roles
- the Committee also supports the Permanent Under-Secretary in effective talent management and appointment management processes
Planning Committee

The Planning Committee, chaired by Oliver Robbins, Permanent-Under Secretary, takes a strategic and challenging view of the UK’s international strategy. It serves as a forum for high-level strategic reflection, horizon scanning, and the development of innovative approaches to international policy and strategy.

People and Operations Committee

The People & Operations Committee has a broad remit across a wide range of corporate policy issues, including people issues, estates and security. It is chaired by Helena Vega-Lozano (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/helena-vega-lozano), Chief Operating Officer.

Investment Committee

The Committee is responsible for ensuring value for money and impact across the FCDO investment portfolio, encompassing all Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA programmes and corporate spending. It is chaired by Helena Vega-Lozano (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/helena-vega-lozano), Chief Operating Officer.