Culture Secretary—The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, announced on 3rd November the candidacy of Dame Julia Unwin as the government’s preferred nominee as chairperson to the Charity Commission for England & Wales.
Dame Julia Unwin
Dame Julia Unwin has a long career, primarily in the voluntary sector. She has also served on many boards of regulatory & government bodies. This stint includes 5 years as the Charity Commissioner during the late 1990s. Spanning a period of 9 years, I had been a member of the Board of Housing Corporation. Also, for a period of 9 years from 2017, served as the Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. She has gained experience as a speaker, mentor, advisor, and consultant in both the voluntary sector and the broader public sector.
The Civil Society Futures inquiry, which reported in 2018, was chaired by Dame Julia. In 2019, the award of a DBE recognized her services to civil society. While chairing the Board of Governors of York St John University, she is also the founder chair of Smart Data Foundry—an associate of Edinburgh University that is engaged with private sector data for public good.
For pre-appointment scrutiny, Dame Julia is expected to appear on November 27 before MPs on Culture, Media, and Sport.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy commented….
A wide range of experience & expertise in working with civil society & regulation is what Dame Julia carries with her. Lisa Nandy stated that Dame Julia became an outstanding candidate for this role because of her wide range of experience and expertise.
High levels of public trust & confidence in charities were expected from this vital public role in the Charity Commission’s independent regulation.
The appointment of chair for the Charity Commission is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. The Charities Act 2011 stipulates this specific requirement.
This panel consists of a departmental official and a senior independent panelist. They are approved by the commissioner for public appointments.
The decision-making of the ministers is assisted by an advisory panel.
