Chief Executive of Citizens Advice

Policy Leaders Fellow Alumna, Centre for Science and Policy

Clare was appointed Chief Executive of Citizens Advice in April 2021 having been a civil servant for nearly 35 years, latterly as Permanent Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2015 to 2019, and of the Department for Exiting the EU until its closure in January 2020. She held senior roles in the Department for Transport, as Director General for Corporate Services and Director General for Rail, and in the Ministry of Justice as Constitution Director.

Her early career was spent mainly in policy roles in the Department of Health and the NHS, including as Principal Private Secretary to both Conservative and Labour Secretaries of State for Health. She participated in the Cycle International of the École Nationale d’Administration, gaining the Diplôme International d’Administration Publique.

Clare studied maths at university and has a long-standing interest in science, technology and digital. She introduced Civil Service leaders to ‘unconferencing’ and championed the One Team Gov initiative dedicated to achieving reform through practical action.

As Chair of the Civil Service Leadership and Talent Board Clare led work on growing the next generation of Civil Service leaders, including through the Leadership in Action framework. She champions diversity and inclusion with a focus on felt experience, speaking about the importance of valuing emotion and creating space for difference.

Clare left the Civil Service in March 2020 and is currently pursuing projects related to her interests in public policy, organisational change and leadership. She chairs the Health Foundation’s Covid-19 Impact Inquiry and is undertaking a review of the Bank of England’s central services.

Clare is a member of numerous advisory and governance boards including the Westminster Abbey Institute Council of Reference and the Rail Connected Leaders Governance Board. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2020 Birthday Honours.

To read about Clare's experience as a Policy Leaders Fellow click here.