Our governance
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-03)

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
- The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ed-miliband), Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Chair)
- Ravi Gurumurthy (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ravi-gurumurthy), Lead Non-Executive Board Member (Deputy Chair)
- Sue Ferns, Non-Executive Board Member
- Vikas Shah (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/vikas-shah), Non-Executive Board Member
- Clive Maxwell (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/clive-maxwell), Interim Permanent Secretary
- Jonathan Mills CB (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jonathan-mills), Director General, Energy Markets and Supply
- Lee McDonough (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/lee-mcdonough), Director General, Net Zero, Nuclear and International
- David Thomas, Chief Financial Officer
- Minister White
See the Departmental Board terms of reference (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/desnz-departmental-board-terms-of-reference/desnz-departmental-board-terms-of-reference-and-operating-principles).

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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/vikas-shah), Non-Executive Board Member and Non-Executive Member (Chair)
- Andre Katz, Independent Member
- Anne Marie Millar, Independent Member
- Tristan Morgan, Independent Member
- David Scott, Independent Member
- Anthony Palmer, Independent Member
- David Isenegger, Independent Member
Also attending:
- Clive Maxwell (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/clive-maxwell), Interim Permanent Secretary
- David Thomas, Chief Financial Officer
- Joanne Ellman Brown, Director, Portfolio Data Directorate
- National Audit Office (NAO) representative
- Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) representative
See the ARAC terms of reference (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/desnz-audit-and-risk-assurance-committee-terms-of-reference/desnz-audit-and-risk-assurance-committee-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
- Ravi Gurumurthy (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ravi-gurumurthy), Lead Non-Executive Board Member (Chair)
- Sue Ferns, Non-Executive Board Member
- Clive Maxwell, Interim Permanent Secretary
- Alice Hurrell, Chief People Officer
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
- Clive Maxwell (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/clive-maxwell), Interim Permanent Secretary (Chair)
- Lee McDonough (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/lee-mcdonough), Director General, Net Zero, Nuclear and International
- Ben Rimmington (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ben-rimmington), Director General, Net Zero Buildings and Industry
- Ashley Ibbett (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ashley-ibbett), Director General, Energy Infrastructure
- Jonathan Mills (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jonathan-mills), Director General, Energy Markets and Supply
- Paro Konar (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/paro-konar) , Director General, Major Decarbonisation Projects
- Professor Emily Shuckburgh, Chief Scientific Adviser
- Donna Leong, Chief Economist
- Johanna Cowan, Director, Strategy
- David Thomas, Chief Financial Officer
- Alice Hurrell, Chief People Officer
Also attending:
- 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.

Investment Committee

The Investment Committee (InvestCo) is a sub-committee of ExCo. It is responsible for approving and appraising large departmental investments. InvestCo is supported by a number of project-specific Sub-Committees that are established, as necessary, to support the Department and the Committee.

Structure of our boards and committees

For more information on our boards and committees, see our annual report and accounts.
- DESNZ annual report and accounts, 2024 to 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/desnz-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025/accountability-report#our-governance-structure)
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.
- DESNZ register of board members’ interests (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/desnz-registers-of-board-members-interests)