Our governance
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-04)

The main decision-making, executive and managerial bodies at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Corporate governance

We’re governed by a unitary agency board with an equal number of executive and non-executive directors, and non-executive chair, supported by three board assurance committees.

The board

The unitary board is responsible for advising on the strategic direction of the agency, ensuring that targets set out in the business plan and agreed with ministers, are met.

The board supports the Chief Executive in the effective delivery of services and overall performance by providing leadership, developing strategy, advising on the delivery of policies, maintaining high standards of corporate governance, scrutinising performance and ensuring that controls are in place to manage risk.

The board does not have involvement in any regulatory decisions affecting medicines or medical devices. These are the responsibility of the Chief Executive and Executive Committee.

Members

The structure of the Board remains unitary, comprising 13 members: six executive members, six non-executive directors, and a non-executive Chair. The Director of Communications and Engagement and the Chief People Officer have a standing invitation to attend Board in a non-voting capacity. Other executives will be invited to attend on an ad-hoc basis to present relevant items.

Members are:
- Professor Anthony Harnden (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/anthony-harnden) (Chair)
- Lawrence Tallon (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/lawrence-tallon) (Chief Executive)
- Dr Junaid Bajwa (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/junaid-bajwa) (Non-Executive Director)
- Professor Graham Cooke (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/graham-cooke) (Non-Executive Director)
- Dr Paul Goldsmith (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/paul-goldsmith) (Non-Executive Director)
- Mercy Jeyasingham MBE (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mercy-jeyasingham) (Non-Executive Director)
- Raj Long (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/raj-long) (Non-Executive Director)
- Michael Whitehouse OBE (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/michael-whitehouse) (Non-Executive Director)
- Julian Beach (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/julian-beach) (Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access)
- Rose Braithwaite (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/rose-braithwaite) (Chief Finance Officer)
- Alison Cave (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/alison-cave) (Chief Safety Officer)
- Chief Scientific and Medical Officer (currently vacant)
- Chief Digital and Technology Officer (currently vacant)
The Board is supported by three assurance committees:
- Audit and Risk Assurance committee, chaired by Michael Whitehouse OBE
- Regulation and Safety committee, chaired by Dr Paul Goldsmith
- People and Public Engagement committee, chaired by Mercy Jeyasingham MBE
Board members’ declarations of interest

Board members' list of declarations (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68e77a96cf65bd04bad76683/MHRA_Board_Declarations_of_Interest_-_July_2025.pdf) (PDF, 197 KB, 4 pages)

Conflicts of Interest policy (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68e77728dadf7616351e4fb9/COI_policy_for_the_Board_-_14_August_2025.pdf) (PDF, 215 KB, 8 pages)

MHRA Board terms of reference

MHRA Board Terms of Reference (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d25cbdca266424b221b152/MHRA_Board_ToR_V4.2.pdf) (PDF, 249 KB, 13 pages)

MHRA Board minutes

Previous minutes and recordings are available on the National Archives website (https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20250902155435/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency/about/our-governance#mhra-board-minutes).

Previous Board meetings and public sessions

MHRA Board meeting held on 8 July 2025

MHRA Board Meeting held in public on 8 July 2025 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/688a25d3048fff613a4d5bd2/MHRA_Board_Held_in_Public_8_July_2025.pdf) (PDF, 1.5 MB, 68 pages)

Recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUo7vFntRZg&feature=youtu.be)

MHRA Board meeting held on 18 March 2025

MHRA Board Held in Public Pack 18 March 2025 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67f4d707c2fea2548f4eff58/MHRA_Board_Held_in_Public_Pack_18_March_2025.pdf) (PDF, 2.01 MB, 64 pages)

Recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLOz4RNRX0E)

MHRA Board meeting held on 17 September 2024

MHRA Board Meeting Pack 17 September 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6703bbc8080bdf716392eed5/MHRA_Board_Held_in_Public_pack_-_17_September_2024.pdf) (PDF, 2.64 MB, 117 pages)

Recording (https://youtu.be/8-A9cXzla50)

MHRA Board meeting held on 9 July 2024

MHRA Board Meeting held on 9 July 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66aa4f4d49b9c0597fdb08ea/MHRA_Board_meeting_held_in_public_pack_9_July_2024.pdf) (PDF, 10.4 MB, 98 pages)

Recording (https://youtu.be/ISgkho56XSc)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 21 May 2024

MHRA Board Meeting held in public on 21 May 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66aa4f17ab418ab055593113/0524_-_21_May_2024_Board_Meeting_Held_in_Public_pack.pdf) (PDF, 2.79 MB, 98 pages)

Recording (https://youtu.be/PyenOy70MPE)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 19 March 2024

MHRA Board Meeting held in public on 19 March 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66151cbc2138738e3b031bfc/MHRA_Board_Held_in_Public_Pack__19_March_2024.pdf) (PDF, 2.7 MB, 81 pages)

Recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1OU5tECj9s)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 16 January 2024

MHRA Board Meeting Pack January 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c35888a6838e001349d5b1/0124_MHRA_Board_Held_in_Public_Pack__16_January_2024.pdf) (PDF, 1.73 MB, 66 pages)

Recording (https://youtu.be/eVy4fpIQLBc)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 21 November 2023

MHRA Board Meeting Pack November 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/658190cc23b70a0013234bea/1123_MHRA_Board_Held_in_Public_pack_-_November_2023.pdf) (PDF, 3.89 MB, 114 pages)

Recording (https://youtu.be/NtajqyTH5g8?si=Fkm-edUjSQdXoJek)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 19 September 2023

MHRA Board Meeting Pack September 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/651aee8e6a423b0014f4c717/MHRA_Board_Meeting_Pack_September_2023.pdf) (PDF, 3.19 MB, 99 pages)

Recording (https://youtu.be/eq2kOXOBh6c)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 11 July 2023

MHRA Board Meeting Pack July 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c141531e10bf000e17cf99/MHRA_Board_Meeting_Pack_July_2023.pdf) (PDF, 1.21 MB, 72 pages)

Recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWFl2QrX7Z0)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 16 May 2023

MHRA Board Meeting Pack May2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/646f2729243157000c6f4246/0523_MHRA_Board_Meeting_in_Public_pack_May_2023_-_for_gov.uk.pdf) (PDF, 2.7 MB, 80 pages)

Recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLU2LM7--1w)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 21 March 2023

MHRA Board Meeting Pack March 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/648331b4103ca60013039cae/MHRA_Board_Meeting_Held_in_Public_Pack_-_March_2023.pdf) (PDF, 2.04 MB, 107 pages)

Recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za9MLMHSksE)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 17 January 2023

Agenda and board papers: 17 January 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63d8d46cd3bf7f2522b98c1d/Agenda_and_board_papers_17_January_2023.pdf) (PDF, 1.74 MB, 62 pages)

Recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSlqoTQKjQM&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=MHRAgovuk)

MHRA Board meeting held in public on 15 November 2022

Agenda and board papers: 15 November 2022 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63a1cc2f8fa8f5390e56042f/1122_MHRA_Board_Meeting_Held_in_Public_Pack_November_2022.pdf) (PDF, 2.72 MB, 81 pages)

Recording (https://youtu.be/adW2KYSe4C4)

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is the highest executive decision-making body of the agency and is chaired by the Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/lawrence-tallon). The Executive Committee ensures that the decisions which are critical to the agency are taken in a timely way, at the right level in the organisation, by the right people with the right evidence. This ensures clear accountability for delivery, strong management of risk, transparent priorities and that business is conducted in a smooth and predictable fashion. It is comprised of:
- Lawrence Tallon (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/lawrence-tallon) (Chief Executive)
- Alison Cave (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/alison-cave) (Chief Safety Officer)
- James Pound (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/james-pound) (Interim Executive Director of Innovation and Compliance)
- Julian Beach (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/julian-beach) (Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access)
- Tasneem Blondin (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tasneem-blondin) (Chief People Officer)
- Nicola Rose (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/nicola-rose) (Interim Executive Director of Science and Research)
- Rachel Arrundale (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/rachel-arrundale) (Interim Director of Partnerships)
- Rachel Bosworth (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/rachel-boswoth) (Director of Communications and Engagement)
- Rose Braithwaite (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/rose-braithwaite) (Chief Finance Officer)
- Dr Ed Middleton (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/dr-ed-middleton) (Interim Director of Strategy)