Our governance
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-10)

Decision-making, executive and managerial bodies in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

Departmental Board

The Departmental Board forms the collective strategic and operational leadership of the department. Chaired by the Secretary of State for Justice, it brings together the Ministerial and Civil Service leaders with senior non-executives from outside government. It is responsible for setting strategic direction, including reviewing delivery against the business plan.

Members:
- David Lammy MP (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-lammy), Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice and Deputy Prime Minister (Chair)
- Sarah Sackman KC MP (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sarah-sackman) , Minister of State
- James Timpson OBE (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/james-timpson), Minister of State (Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation
- Alex Davies-Jones MP (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/alex-davies-jones), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
- Baroness Levitt KC (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/baroness-levitt), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
- Jake Richards MP (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jake-richards), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
- Jo Farrar (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jo-farrar), Permanent Secretary
- Nick Goodwin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/nick-goodwin), Chief Executive HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)
- James McEwen (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/james-mcewen), Director General, Chief Executive, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS)
- Amy Holmes (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/amy-holmes), Interim Director General, Chief Operating Officer
- Emma Churchill, Director General, Policy - Courts and Access to Justice,
- Vacant, Director General, Policy - Prisons, Offenders and International Justice
- Megan Lee Devlin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/megan-lee-devlin), Director General, Service Transformation
- Mark Rawlinson (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-rawlinson), Lead Non-Executive Board Member
- Paul Smith (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/paul-smith), Non-Executive Board Member
- Mark Beaton (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-beaton), Non-Executive Board Member
- Jennifer Rademaker (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jennifer-rademaker), Non-Executive Board Member
- Jonathan Spence (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jonathan-spence), Non-Executive Board Member
- Andrew Robb (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/andrew-robb), Non-Executive Board Member
Audit Risk and Assurance Committee

As a sub-committee of the Departmental Board, the Audit Risk and Assurance Committee supports the Board and the Principal Accounting Officer in their responsibilities to ensure that there are effective arrangements for governance, risk management and internal control in place for the department. It does this by focusing on assurance arrangements over governance, financial reporting, and the annual report and accounts, including the evidence for and content of the governance statement. The Committee ensures that there is an adequate and effective risk management and assurance framework in place to meet the Board and Accounting Officer’s assurance requirements.

Members:
- Paul Smith (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/paul-smith), Non-Executive Board Member (Chair)
- Jonathan Spence (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jonathan-spence), Non-Executive Board Member
- Jennifer Rademaker (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jennifer-rademaker), Non-Executive Board Member
- Jonathan Flory (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jonathan-flory), Independent Member
- Nicky Wilden (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/nicky-wilden), Independent Member
Nominations Committee

As a sub-committee of the Departmental Board, the Nominations Committee provides assurance on senior executive appointments within the department.

Members:
- Jo Farrar (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jo-farrar), Permanent Secretary (Chair)
- Mark Rawlinson (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-rawlinson), Lead Non-Executive Board Member
- Jennifer Rademaker (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jennifer-rademaker), Non-Executive Board Member
- Mark Adam (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-adam), Director General People and Capability
Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is chaired by the Principal Accounting Officer. It is the executive leadership team for the department and is comprised of senior officials. It ensures that the department is fully aligned with the strategic direction set by the Secretary of State, maintains and directs the capabilities to deliver, oversees the delivery of outcomes, and prioritises and allocates financial and other resources.

Members:
- Jo Farrar (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jo-farrar), Permanent Secretary (Chair)
- Nick Goodwin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/nick-goodwin), Chief Executive, HMCTS
- James McEwen (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/james-mcewen), Director General, Chief Executive, HMPPS
- Michelle Jarman-Howe (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/michelle-jarman-howe), Interim Director General Operations
- Megan Lee Devlin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/megan-lee-devlin), Director General, Service Transformation
- Amy Holmes (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/amy-holmes), Interim Director General, Chief Operating Officer
- Emma Churchill, Director General, Policy - Courts and Access to Justice, International Justice and Legal
- Vacant, Director General, Policy - Prisons, Offenders and International Justice
- Mark Adam (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-adam), Director General People and Capability
- Kelby Harmes (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/kelby-harmes), Director, MoJ Legal Advisors
- Simon Barrett, Director, Communications
Delivery Board

The Delivery Board provides assurance to the Principal Accounting Officer and the Departmental Board as to the delivery of the Department’s strategy, Outcome Delivery Plan, and Government Major Projects Portfolio. This includes oversight and scrutiny of the activities, and enabling projects and programmes, that drive agreed outcomes, ensuring that plans are well evidenced and strategic benefits are on track to be delivered.

Members:
- Mark Beaton (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-beaton), Non-Executive Board Member (Interim Chair)
- Amy Holmes (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/amy-holmes), Interim Director General, Chief Operating Officer
- Megan Lee Devlin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/megan-lee-devlin), Director General, Service Transformation
- Paul Smith (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/paul-smith), Non-Executive Board Member
- Jon Griffiths, Chief Project Delivery Officer
- Alison Baptiste (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/alison-baptiste), Infrastructure and Projects Authority
- Johanna Harston, HM Treasury, Director, Public Services
- Ian Blakeman (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ian-blakeman), Director, Planning and Performance
Investment Committee

The Investment Committee is a sub-committee of the Executive Committee. The Investment Committee has delegated powers to make investment decisions on the Executive Committee’s behalf, with oversight of the MoJ portfolio, including portfolio projects from inception through to implementation, ensuring they remain strategically aligned, affordable and deliverable. The Committee considers and, where appropriate, approves investment decisions on behalf of Executive Committee, including gated release of funds for change programmes, ensuring that investments deliver value for money, meet regularity and propriety considerations and are affordable and sustainable.

Members:
- Amy Holmes, Interim Director General, Chief Operating Officer (Chair)
- Adrian Hannell (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/adrian-hannell), Director, Financial Management, Control, Risk and Governance
- Catherine Blair (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/catherine-blair), Chief Financial Officer HMCTS
- Tim Snow, Chief Commercial Officer
- Chris Drane, Director, Data and Analysis
- Emma Churchill, Director General, Policy - Courts, Access to Justice, International Justice and Legal
- Jim Barton (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jim-barton), Executive Director, HMPPS Change
- Farhad Chikhalia, Interim Director, Financial Strategy and Partnerships
- Jon Griffiths, Chief Project Delivery Officer
- Kirsten Stewart, Infrastructure and Projects Authority Representative
- Megan Lee Devlin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/megan-lee-devlin), Director General, Service Transformation
- Richard McSeveney, Chief Property Officer
- Robert Nicholas, Deputy Director, Head of Portfolio and Assurance
- Thalia Baldwin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/thalia-baldwin), Director, Strategy and Innovation
- John Laverick (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/john-laverick), Chief Digital & Information Officer, HMCTS
Finance, Performance and Risk Committee

Finance, Performance and Risk Committee (FPRC) is a sub-committee of the Executive Committee. The Committee has responsibility for scrutinising, challenging, and supporting departmental delivery against the Outcome Delivery Plan (ODP) and the Department’s performance framework. It also informs management of the Department’s principal and secondary risks, examines in-year finances, and monitors compliance with functional standards and other government, legal or professional requirements.

Members:
- Amy Holmes (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/amy-holmes), Interim Director General, Chief Operating Officer (Chair)
- Ian Blakeman (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ian-blakeman), Director, Planning and Performance
- Mark Adam (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-adam), Director General, People and Capability
- Annabel Burns (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/annabel-burns), Director, Strategy, Analysis and Planning (HMCTS)
- Matthew Shelley, Director, Business Architecture and Transformation
- Thalia Baldwin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/thalia-baldwin), Director, Strategy and Innovation
- Richard McSeveney, Chief Property Officer
- Catherine Blair (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/catherine-blair), Chief Financial Officer HMCTS
- Adrian Hannell (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/adrian-hannell), Director, Financial Management, Control, Risk and Governance
- Farhad Chikhalia, Interim Director, Financial Strategy and Partnerships
- Hannah Meyer (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/hannah-meyer), Executive Director, Strategy, Planning and Performance (HMPPS)
- Jo Collins, Chief Risk Officer
- Chris Drane, Director, Data and Analysis
- Kate Shiner, Chief Operating Officer, Justice Digital
- Tim Snow, Chief Commercial Officer
People Business Committee

The People Business Committee is a sub-committee of the Executive Committee. It supports the Executive Committee in the development, delivery and evaluation of leadership and management of policies.

Members:
- Mark Adam (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-adam), Director General, People and Capability (Chair)
- Dave Mann, Director, People Services
- Diane Caddle, People Director, Centre of Expertise, People and Capability
- Allison Gerrard (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/allison-gerrard), HR Director, HMCTS
- Simon Barrett, Director, Communications
- Jane Harbottle (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jane-harbottle), Chief Executive, Legal Aid Agency
- Louise Alexander (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/louise-alexander), Director, Business Partnering MoJ HQ and HMPPS
- Ian Barrow (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ian-barrow), Interim Executive Director, Probation Workforce Programmes, HMPPS
- Claire Fielder, Director, Youth Justice and Offender Policy
- Sarah Coccia, Interim Chief Operating Officer Prisons and Executive Director for Central Operations Services, HMPPS
- Wayne Sumner, Deputy Director, Planning and Performance
- Ruth Duffin, Interim Public Guardian and Chief Executive for the Office of the Public Guardian
- Adrian Hannell (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/adrian-hannell), Director, Financial Management, Control, Risk and Governance
- Drew Morris, Deputy Director, Employee Experience, Inclusive Culture Centre of Expertise
- Dominic Herrington, Executive Director, Transforming Delivery, HMPPS
- Matthew Shelley, Director, Business Architecture and Transformation
- Steve Hodgson, Group Chief Internal Auditor
- Jo Collins, Chief Risk Officer
- Marcina Dunwell, Director, Corporate Service Transformation and SRO for MoJ Synergy
- Sarah Brooks, Deputy Director, Digital Capability & Engagement, Justice Digital
- Andrew Humphrey Interim Head of Public Bodies Centre of Expertise
Portfolio Committee

The Portfolio Committee provides oversight of our major change portfolio, with a reporting line into both the Executive Committee and Delivery Board. It ensures projects are set up for success, resolves issues that may compromise successful delivery and improves delivery confidence, further advising on prioritisation decisions regarding the deployment of expert resources. The Committee ensures that the portfolio is strategically aligned, affordable and deliverable and that project leaders comply with project delivery standards.

Members:
- Amy Holmes (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/amy-holmes), Interim Director - Megan Lee Devlin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/megan-lee-devlin), Director General, Service Transformation (Chair)
- Amy Holmes (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/amy-holmes), Interim Director General, Chief Operating Officer
- Jon Griffiths, Chief Project Delivery Officer
- Richard McSeveney, Chief Property Officer
- Ian Blakeman (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ian-blakeman), Director, Planning and Performance
- Rachel Hunt, HMCTS Director, Civil, Family and Tribunals Programme
- Adrian Hannell (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/adrian-hannell), Director, Financial Management, Control, Risk and Governance
- Farhad Chikhalia, Interim Director, Financial Strategy and Partnerships
- Jim Barton (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jim-barton), Executive Director, HMPPS Change
- Thalia Baldwin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/thalia-baldwin), Director, Strategy and Innovation
- Robert Nicholas, Deputy Director, Head of Portfolio and Assurance