The EFRA and Environmental Audit committees have endorsed the Government\u2019s chosen candidate to become the next Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), Dame Helen Ghosh, with qualifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
UK Parliament writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A joint report published today by the committees follows a pre-appointment session held on 28 April. MPs quizzed Dame Helen Ghosh on her experience and suitability for the role, and asked how she will maintain independence from the Government and scrutinise the OEP\u2019s executive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whilst endorsing Dame Helen\u2019s appointment, the committees also state in the report: \u2018It is essential that Dame Helen continues to reinforce her and the OEP\u2019s independence from Government, given our concerns about the timing and nature of the recruitment process. Dame Helen must also continue to build and improve relationships with key external stakeholders such as environmental groups and farmers, and further increase public awareness of the organisation.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Environmental Audit Committee wrote to the Government in November 2025 to express concern that the job advert for this role placed too much emphasis on promoting infrastructure development. This \u2018runs the risk of impinging on the independence\u2019 of the OEP Chair to \u2018constructively criticise Government policy if they feel it runs contrary to the protection of the environment\u2019\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The OEP\u2019s remit includes advising the government on environmental law, scrutiny of government policy and receiving complaints from whistleblowers about the activities of government departments and other public bodies. It can take legal action in severe cases. Dame Helen\u2019s previous roles include Director-General of the National Trust (2012-2018), Permanent Secretary of the Home Office (2010-2012), and Permanent Secretary of Defra (2005-2010). She is currently Master of Balliol College at the University of Oxford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The remuneration for the role is \u00a356,784 for a time commitment of up to two days a week.?The duration of the role is expected to be four years. The previous Chair of the OEP, Dame Glenys Stacey, finished her term in January 2026. She was succeeded by an Interim Chair, Jullie Hill MBE, who is an OEP board member. Pre-appointment hearings are held by select committees for certain public appointments before the appointment is formally made. The hearings assess the candidate\u2019s suitability for the post. They are usually followed by a report that either endorses or raises concerns about the appointment. Committees do not have the authority to stop a candidate from being offered a post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Toby Perkins MP, said: \u2018Dame Helen is an experienced civil servant with an impressive career since leaving the civil service. The committees were impressed with her unflappability and commitment to the environment. Our questions about the need to build relations with stakeholders and her answers demonstrate that this will rightly be a priority in the early days of her appointment.\u00a0 We were convinced that she was an appointable candidate and we look forward to working closely with her to ensure the government takes the actions needed to get back on track with the Environment Act targets.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n To read the report click here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n