, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary
for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Following the resignation
of Natural Resources Wales' Board member Kathleen Palmer, I am
pleased to announce that I have directly appointed Karen Balmer
as a temporary Board member for the interim period 1 July 2025 to
31 March 2026, ahead of undertaking a full Public Appointment's
exercise.
Paragraph 3.3 of the Public Appointment's Governance Code allows, in
exceptional circumstances, for Ministers to appoint a candidate
without competition, provided the Commissioner for Public
Appointments is consulted. I can confirm the Commissioner has
agreed the temporary appointment of Karen.
The role will be remunerated at £350 per day for a maximum of 48
days per year (pro rata for the term of appointment).
Karen served as a previous Natural Resources Wales' Board member
between November 2015 and March 2023. Karen is a CIPFA qualified
accountant with over 35 years' financial experience, along with
extensive human resources and governance experience.
Natural Resources Wales' Board has accountability for ensuring
Natural Resources Wales exercises its legislative functions
appropriately and effectively. The Board is also responsible to
Welsh Ministers for the ways in which it delivers against the
Ministerial remit letter.
I thank Kathleen for delivering significant contributions during
her time as a Board member and for her commitment to Natural
Resources Wales' work particularly in her role as Chair of the
Board's Audit, Risk and Assurance sub-committee.
