Our governance
Details of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Boards and sub-committees.
FCDO Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board provides strategic direction, oversight, support and challenge for the department with a view to the long-term health, reputation and success of the FCDO. The Board reviews principal risk exposure and mitigation, offers challenge on how the department is performing against clear objectives and key performance indicators. It also ensures strategic clarity, results focus, commercial sense and talented people.
The Management Board and Audit and Risk Assurance Committee support and report directly to the Supervisory Board.
Board members
- David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chair)
- Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary
- Nick Dyer, Second Permanent Under-Secretary
- Anneliese Dodds, Minister of State for Development
- Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories
- Catherine West, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific
- Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan
- Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa
- Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Latin America and Caribbean
- Corin Robertson, Director General, Finance and Corporate
- Tim Jones, Finance Director
- Beverley Tew, Lead Non-Executive Director
- John Coffey, Non-Executive Director
- James Bilefield, Non-Executive Director
FCDO Management Board
The Management Board ensures the organisation delivers departmental priorities and objectives set by Ministers. It makes strategic choices for long-term departmental management where a cross-departmental view, impact or action is required. The Board manages risk, oversees performance and stewards the department to maintain its health and reputation. It takes important decisions on changes in management approach and communicates the FCDO’s purpose, priorities, vision and values to staff and other stakeholders.
Board members
- Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary (Chair)
- Nick Dyer, Second Permanent Under-Secretary
- Christian Turner, Political Director
- Corin Robertson, Director General, Finance and Corporate
- Jonathan Allen, Director General, Defence and Intelligence
- Melinda Bohannon, Director General, Humanitarian and Development
- Jenny Bates, Director General, Economics, Climate and Global Issues
- Owen Jenkins, Director General, Indo-Pacific, and Middle East and North Africa
- Peter Wilson, Director General, Europe
- Harriet Mathews, Director General, Africa and the Americas
- Sally Langrish, Legal Adviser
- Janine Lloyd-Jones, Director of Communication
- Tim Jones, Finance Director
- Kate White, Strategy Director
- Mervyn Thomas, Chief People Officer
- Colin Martin-Reynolds, Director, Organisational Improvement
- Laure Beaufils, Overseas Network Representative
- Joanna Roper, Overseas Network Representative
All Non-executive Directors (NEDs) are invited.
Audit and Risk Assurance Committee
The Committee supports the Board and Accounting Officer to review decisions and processes designed to ensure sound systems of internal control. This includes the overarching control framework and related assurance mechanisms, risk management and financial reporting including internal controls over financial accounting, internal and external audit, arms-length bodies and counter-fraud and safeguarding. The Committee also reviews other aspects of corporate governance as required.
To ensure its independence, the Committee has no executive responsibilities and obligations. It meets 5 times per year, chaired by a Non-Executive Director, supported by Non-Executive Members.
FCDO Senior Leadership Board
The Senior Leadership Board reviews recommendations and agrees appointments for senior staff in the UK and overseas at and above Senior Civil Service/Senior Management Service grade 2. It also considers future requirements, oversees performance and talent management, pay and allowances for senior staff. A sub-committee of the Board decides appointments to Senior Civil Service/Senior Management Service grade 1.
Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service, chairs the Senior Leadership Board.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee reports to the Management Board. It takes decisions on strategic choices or challenges, relating to sensitive or time-bound issues, the day to day running of the department, emerging issues and risks where early steers or a cross-departmental view, impact or action is required.
Committee members
- Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary (Chair)
- Nick Dyer, Second Permanent Under-Secretary
- Christian Turner, Political Director
- Corin Robertson, Director General, Finance and Corporate
- Jonathan Allen, Director General, Defence and Intelligence
- Melinda Bohannon, Director General, Humanitarian and Development
- Jenny Bates, Director General, Economics, Climate and Global Issues
- Owen Jenkins, Director General, Indo-Pacific, and Middle East and North Africa
- Peter Wilson, Director General, Europe
- Harriet Mathews, Director General, Africa and the Americas
- Sally Langrish, Legal Adviser
- Adnan Khan, Chief Economist
- Charlotte Watts, Chief Scientific Adviser
- Janine Lloyd-Jones, Director of Communication
- Tim Jones, Finance Director
- Kate White, Strategy Director
- Mervyn Thomas, Chief People Officer
- Colin Martin-Reynolds, Director, Organisational Improvement
For more information on each of our boards and committees, see pages 19 and 109 to 111 of our Annual Report and Accounts 2022 to 2023.