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Our Commissioners

Our Commissioners are leaders in their fields who contribute their expertise and resources to the full range of UK Commission activities.

The Commission is a Non Departmental Public Body and also a company limited by guarantee. The Commissioners are Directors of the Company.

Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of State and represent the interests of large, small and medium enterprise; the public, private and voluntary sectors. The Ministers of each of the Devolved Administrations of the United Kingdom are also entitled to appoint a Commissioner.

Our Chairman is:

Sir Charlie Mayfield, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership

Our Commissioners are:

Barbara Spicer, Interim Chief Executive, Skills Funding Agency
Dr Bill McGinnis CBE, Northern Ireland Adviser on Employment and Skills
Dave Prentis, General Secretary, UNISON
David Fairhurst, Chief People Officer, McDonald’s Europe
Dr Deirdre Hughes, OBE, Chair of National Council for Careers
Douglas McCormick, Managing Director, UK rail business, Atkins
Fiona Kendrick, Chairman & Chief Executive, Nestlé UK & Ireland
Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC
Gail Cartmail, Assistant General Secretary (AGS), Unite the Union
Grahame Smith, General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress
Iqbal Wahhab, Founder, Roast Restaurant
James Wates, CBE, Chairman, Wates Construction Limited
Jeremy Anderson, CBE, Chairman, Global Financial Services, KPMG Europe LLP
Professor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby
John Cridland, CBE, Director-General of the CBI
Julie A Kenny, CBE, DL, Managing Director, Pyronix Limited of Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Liz Sayce, OBE, Chief Executive, Disability Rights UK
Lucy Adams, Director of Business Operations, BBC
Nigel Whitehead, Group Managing Director Programmes & Support, BAE Systems
Paul Mckelvie, OBE, Training and Development Professional
Scott Johnson, Chief Executive, Chas Smith Shopfitters Ltd
Scott Waddington, Chief Executive, SA Brain & Co Ltd
Sean Taggart, Owner and Chief Executive of The Albatross Group
Seyi Obakin, Chief Executive of Centrepoint
Toby Peyton-Jones, Director of HR, Siemens UK & North West Europe
Tony Lau-Walker, CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Eastleigh College
Valerie Todd, Director of Talent and Resources at Crossrail Ltd
Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive of Turning Point
Will Butler-Adams, Managing Director, Brompton Bicycle Ltd

Please find the register of commissioner interests (PDF, 253 Kb) here

For further information or if you have a question for one of our Commissioners please email

Commissioner appointments

Commissioners are appointed in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This is an open process and an advertisement will appear when any vacancy occurs.

The Terms and Conditions of Appointment (PDF, 101 Kb) set out the role and duties of our Commissioners.
The Commission’s Conflict of interest Policy (PDF, 104 Kb) sets out the basis on which Commissioners should carry out their responsibilities.
Also, like others who serve in public our Commissioners are required to follow the Seven Principles of Public Life (PDF, 6 Kb) which are Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership.

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Our Commissioners

Commissioner appointments