States announce six new Directors

Friday 12 October 2018

The States have announced the appointment of six new Directors under the new ‘One Government’ regime – and five are from the UK.

Including a former Guernsey College principal, court manager and a NHS Foundation Trust worker, the appointments span four different departments.

A statement announcing their appointments said that all were approved by the Jersey Appointments Commission following face-to-face interviews and a series of technical and psychometric assessments. 

The new Directors are:

• Dr Megan Mathias – Group Director of Policy (Strategic Policy, Performance and Population)

• Steve Skelton – Director of Strategy and Innovation (Strategic Policy, Performance and Population)

• Dr Anuschka Muller – Director of Corporate Performance and Planning (Strategic Policy, Performance and Population)

• Saboohi Famili – Director of Young People, Further Education, Skills and Learning (Children, Young People, Education and Skills)

• Kate Briden – Group Director of Public Protection and Law Enforcement (Justice and Home Affairs)

• Mike Thomas – Director of Risk and Audit (States Treasury and Exchequer). 

Mark Rogers, Children, Young People, Education and Skills Director, said that Ms Famili would help drive forward the island's "university ambitions" as well as creating more opportunities for young people.

Director General for Strategic Policy, Performance and Population, Tom Walker, welcomed Dr Mathias, Dr Muller and Mr Skelton, stating that they would bring "more expertise" to the States, while Mr Thomas was described as States Treasurer Richard Bell as someone who would ensure the government will "review, test and assure" its processes.

Julian Blazeby, Director General of Justice and Home Affairs, said that Jersey-born Ms Briden would play a key role in the island's emergency planning.

The six new top-level appointments come amid a large-scale restructure of the public sector under new Chief Executive Charlie Parker's 'One Government' plans, which include the merging of some departments and creation of new ones.

While the Chief Executive promised to cut 22 senior level staff in a bid to save £1million, questions have been raised over the number of new staff having been recruited under the regime and the cost of doing so, as well as why many are not locally-qualified.

Deputy Mary Le Hegarat raised a question on the topic in the States Assembly this week, but was told that data would take until the end of the month to compile.

Read the new Directors' CVs...