Boardroom Insights: Non-Departmental Public Bodies
Details
Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) play a vital role in shaping public policy and delivering essential services across areas including health, culture, education, regulation and infrastructure. Serving on an NDPB board offers a distinctive opportunity to contribute to the public interest while developing a varied and impactful non-executive portfolio.
With over 200 NDPBs in the UK - from Ofqual and the Arts Council to the Committee on Climate Change - the sector is broad, varied and often misunderstood. NDPBs operate independently of government, while maintaining a unique accountability relationship with it, creating a governance environment unlike that of listed or private organisations.
This session will provide practical insight into what it is really like to operate on an NDPB board, the skills and experience typically sought, and how appointments are made. It will also explore how to position yourself as a strong, credible candidate, whether you are considering your first NDPB role or looking to broaden an existing board portfolio.
Join us to explore whether an NDPB board could be the right fit for you, and to gain practical guidance on how to secure these roles.
Speakers
Kate Denham
Kate was appointed as a non-executive director and Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee for the Coal Authority in April 2024 – her term has recently been extended to the maximum length of 10 years, to 2034.
Kate is an experienced non-executive and government advisor and secured her first role in 2014. She is currently a Non-Executive Advisor for the Evelina London Children’s Hospital; Chair of the Audit, Risk and Compliance committee for Transport Focus; and a member of the Office of Rail and Road Consumer Expert Panel. She also sits on the NHS Independent Reconfiguration Panel providing advice to the Minister of Health & Social Care on major, contested changes to NHS services in England.
She was previously a board member for a housing association supporting individuals with complex mental health needs, a nurse-led social enterprise delivering NHS services in East London, and Healthwatch – championing patient experience at local level.
Alongside her board roles, Kate works with the senior teams of central and local government, health and non-profit organisations on strategy and transformation projects. She is a trustee for Coeliac UK.
John Kerner
John is an independent Chartered Director, SME board trainer and adviser, with over 30-years public sector experience as a military officer and senior leader in a major government owned company.
His progress towards remunerated public sector board appointments has included interviews with NHS Trusts and DfT non-departmental bodies. With insights gained from 20 applications, John’s experience of “failing forwards” [his words not ours] will undoubtedly be of interest to anyone considering public sector opportunities.
John is also a regional ambassador for the Institute of Directors and has been a HighGround charity trustee since 2019.