Introducing: the main decision-making, executive and managerial bodies at Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Find their roles and structure of the board and committees.
Department for Business and Trade Board
The Departmental Board is the principal governance body of DBT and is chaired by the Secretary of State. The Permanent Secretary is also a member.
Its remit is to support the Secretary of State in the strategic and operational leadership of the department.
Members
Jonathan Reynolds MP – Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade (Chair)
Gareth Davies CB – Permanent Secretary
Crawford Falconer KCMG – Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser
Tara Smith – Chief Operating Officer
Bidesh Sarkar CBE – Chief Financial Officer
Stephen Hill OBE – Lead Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee
Peter Fleet – Non-Executive Director
Lord Syed Kamall – Non-Executive Director
Robert Leeming – Non-Executive Director
Karina McTeague – Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Assurance Committee
Sir Stephen O’Brien – Non-Executive Director
Robert Gillespie – Non-Executive Director and Chair, UK Export Finance (by right of office)
Other ministers, Director Generals and senior officials will be invited to board discussions as their priorities demand.
Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC)
The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) provides independent advice to support the Board and Accounting Officer in their responsibilities for issues of risk, control and governance.
Members
Karina McTeague – Non-Executive Board Member and Chair of the ARAC
Sir Stephen O’Brien – Non-Executive Board Member
Peter Fleet – Non-Executive Board Member
Hanif Barma – Independent Member
Jim Watson – Independent Member
Sharon Dean – Independent Member
Attendees
Gareth Davies CB – Permanent Secretary
Bidesh Sarkar CBE – Chief Financial Officer
Susan Clark – Financial Audit Director, National Audit Office National Audit Office (NAO)
Leena Mathew – Value for Money Audit Director, International Group, National Audit Office (NAO)
Gwen Williams – Head of Internal Audit, Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA)
Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC)
The Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC) is a subcommittee of the board that examines arrangements for:
- remuneration, talent management and capability arrangements for senior staff in DBT
- the appointments of senior Executive and Non-Executive leaders in DBT and its partner organisations
- effective governance within DBT
Members
Stephen Hill OBE – Lead Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee
Karina McTeague – Non-Executive Board Member and Chair of the ARAC
Gareth Davies CB – Permanent Secretary
Attendees
Rebecca Woodward – HR Director
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee:
drives the department’s overall performance and delivery against DBT’s mission, vision and objectives
ensures the effective management of the department
develops and implements operational strategy
plays a decision-making role on issues escalated from its sub-committees
Members
Gareth Davies CB – Permanent Secretary (Chair)
Crawford Falconer KCMG – Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser
Joanna Crellin – Director General, Domestic and International Markets and Exports
Amanda Brooks – Director General, Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations
Ceri Smith – Director General, Strategy and Investment
David Bickerton – Director General, Business Group
Gavin Lambert and Caleb Deeks – Director General, Competition, Markets and Regulatory Reform Group
Tara Smith – Chief Operating Officer
Kate Joseph – Director General, Economic Security and Trade Relations
Tim Reid – Chief Executive UK Export Finance
Nathan Phillips CBE – Strategy Director
Bidesh Sarkar CBE – Chief Financial Officer
Ben Cropper – Chief Economist
Becky Woodward – Director Human Resources
Jon Tunney – Director of Communications
Professional specialists, for example Legal Directors (Adrian Roberts and Jane Hill) will receive Executive Committee papers and be invited to comment and/or attend specific items when their expertise is required. Chief Scientific Adviser (Julia Sutcliffe) is free to attend official meetings but is not a full member of the Executive Committee.
Performance and Risk Committee
The Performance and Risk Committee monitors DBT’s performance and performs deep-dives into departmental risks. It ensures departmental business is conducted on budget, on target and on time.
Co-chairs
Tara Smith – Chief Operating Officer
David Bickerton – Director, Business Group
Investment Committee
The Investment Committee (IC) leads on investment decisions related to high value or high-risk projects and programmes in DBT’s portfolio.
Co-chairs
Amanda Brooks – Director General, Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations
Ceri Smith – Director General, Strategy and Investment
People Committee
The People Committee oversees all aspects of the workplace environment, including DBT’s strategic, policy, and operational approach to Human Resources, internal communications and diversity.
Co-chairs
Jo Crellin – Director General, Domestic and International Markets and Exports
Gavin Lambert and Caleb Deeks – Director General, Competition, Markets and Regulatory Reform Group