Board announced for Government Equalities Office and also stakeholder group

Posted on August 28, 2008
Filed Under England, Equality, Government, Wales | Comments Off

Three new non-executive board members of the Government Equalities Office (GEO) have been announced by Director General Jonathan Rees.

GEO is a new self-standing Department, whose mission is to put equality at the heart of Government. It is responsible for the Government’s overall strategy on equality, (including a new Equality Bill and Public Service Agreement) as well as leading on women’s issues across Government, and sponsoring the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Women’s National Commission.

The new board members are:
* Peter Bungard – CEO of Gloucestershire County Council
* Janet Soo-Chung – CEO of North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust
* Judy McKnight – former General Secretary of NAPO

The Departmental board supports the Director General in providing strategic advice to Ministers Harriet Harman and Barbara Follett, and ensures high standards of corporate governance. It will also:
* Oversee management of GEO resources, and to monitor achievement of performance objectives;
* Advise, develop and oversee GEO’s capability, particularly focussing on human resources, learning and development, and encouraging innovation;
* Set GEO’s standards and values; and
* Ensure effective governance, including an effective process for assessing and managing risk.

Peter Bungard is the Chief Executive of Gloucestershire County Council and has fronted a number of initiatives on disability matters, racial equality, and zero tolerance of bullying and gay and lesbian issues. He has experience in the areas of civil engineering and the environment.

Judy McKnight, based in London, is currently a member of the Central Arbitration Committee and the European Economic and Social Committee and was awarded the OBE in 1999 for services to industrial relations and women’s issues. The Board, including the new non-executive directors, will meet for its first official meeting on 25 September.

Further details about the GEO Board can be found at: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/about/senior_management.htm

Edited version of COI ref 164770P at http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=377271&NewsAreaID=2

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Equality experts, business and unions to help make Britain fairer

The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has announced a new senior stakeholder group to support development of a new equality framework which will help make Britain a fairer and more equal place.

The group will provide advice to the GEO and its Ministers on how to further strengthen equality protection and to streamline the law. This will include both those measures to be included in the Equality Bill and accompanying non-legislative measures.

Representatives from across the equalities spectrum are members of the group, as well as senior figures from trade unions and business organisations including the CBI, Equalities and Human Rights Commission, TUC and Press for Change.

Notes:
1. The group will meet monthly, beginning in September until March 2009.
2. The group will be supported by other working groups looking at specific aspects of the Equality Bill package (for instance, the shape of the new public sector duty, procurement, and age).
3. GEO will act as Secretariat to the group.
4. The members of the Senior Stakeholder Group are
* Jonathan Rees (Government Equalities Office) – Chair
* Barney Leith Religion & Belief Consultative Group
* David Ruebain Equality and Human Rights Commission
* Diana Holland UNITE
* Dr Katherine Rake The Fawcett Society
* Gordon Lishman Age Concern/Help the Aged
* John Dodds Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
* Jonathan Finney Stonewall
* Katja Hall CBI
* Koku Adomdza The 1990 Trust
* Liane Venner Unison
* Liz Sayce RADAR
* Lucy de Groot IDeA (& LGA)
* Alastair Henderson/Sian Thomas NHS Federation
* Prof. Stephen Whittle OBE Press for Change
* Sarah Spencer CBE Equality and Diversity Forum
* Sarah Veale TUC
* Stephen Alambritis Federation Small Businesses
* Stephen Haddrill Association Of British Insurers
* Una O’Brien Department of Health
Biographies of the members can be found on the GEO website at: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/
5. The purpose of this group is to provide strategic advice (and support) to the government Equalities Office and its Ministers on the full range of measures designed to strengthen equality protection and to streamline the law. This will include both these measures to be included in the Equality Bill and accompanying non legislative measures.

Edited version of COI ref 164796P http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=377336&NewsAreaID=2

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