Baroness Louise Casey appointed as Government Lead Non-Executive Director.
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-03)

The Government Lead Non-Executive will bring non executives from different departments together to ensure cross cutting delivery is pursued across government.

The Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock DBE, CB, has been appointed by the Prime Minister as the government’s Lead Non-Executive Director (NED).

Baroness Casey will oversee non-executives from across government to support the delivery of the Plan for Change (https://www.gov.uk/missions). Coordinating the substantial experience within departmental boards to deliver cross-government priorities – as we rebuild Britain in a decade of national renewal.

She will work closely with the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Cabinet Secretary, the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer, and other senior civil servants across government.

Baroness Casey will also play a key role in recruiting and coordinating non-executive directors, setting cross-cutting NED priorities. She will also support the Cabinet Office and other departments to deliver the Plan for Change: driving economic growth to put more money in working people’s pockets, getting the NHS back on its feet, securing our borders, and rebuilding Britain in a decade of national renewal.

Baroness Casey has had a varied career both within and outside of government, and currently sits as a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords. She left the Civil Service in 2017 to set up the international homelessness charity, Institute for Global Homelessness. She has a long track record of delivery in government, from tackling rough sleeping to pioneering approaches for helping vulnerable families, as well as leading a number of reviews, including most recently into the standards and culture of the Metropolitan Police.

Alongside her work as Government Lead NED, it has also been announced today that Baroness Louise Casey will chair an independent Commission to find long-term and sustainable solutions for adult social care in England.

The Commission, formally launched today by the Prime Minister, will form a key part of the government’s Plan for Change which will turn around health and care services so they are fit for the future.

Non-Executive Boards Members are drawn from outside government including from business, academia, think tanks and the voluntary sector, to sit on departmental boards. Their role is to support ministers and officials to strengthen the governance of departments, by bringing a commercial or independent perspective. They help provide constructive scrutiny and internal challenge to the work of government.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden said:

Baroness Casey will bring outstanding experience in tackling some of the most difficult issues facing the country. This will be crucial in coordinating Non-Executive Directors across government to deliver our priorities.

We have an ambitious programme ahead for us, and I welcome Baroness Casey’s appointment to the role, and look forward to working with her to deliver the Plan for Change.

Baroness Casey said:

I am pleased to be appointed by the Prime Minister to be the Government Lead Non-Executive Director.

I look forward to working with Ministers and senior Civil Service leadership to drive forward the delivery of this Government’s important commitments.

Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office, Cat Little said:

Government Non-Executive Directors provide vital scrutiny and challenge to departmental boards, guiding our work and helping us deliver for people across the country.

Baroness Louise Casey brings extensive experience from leadership roles in and out of the government. I look forward to working with her as Government Lead Non-Executive Director, as we focus all parts of government on delivering the Plan for Change.