His Majesty The King has approved the appointments of Tony
Harking and Sarah Pittam as Lay Commissioners of the Judicial
Appointments Commission (JAC) for 3 years commencing 1 October
2025.
His Majesty has also approved the appointment of Siwan Davies as
Lay Commissioner of the JAC with responsibility for Welsh matters
for 3 years commencing 1 December 2025.
The JAC is an independent body that selects candidates for
judicial office in courts and tribunals in England and Wales, and
for some tribunals with a UK-wide jurisdiction.
JAC Commissioners are appointed, under Schedule 12(1) of the
Constitutional Reform Act 2005, by His Majesty The King on the
recommendation of the Lord Chancellor.
These appointments were made in accordance with Regulation 9 of
the Judicial Appointment Commission Regulations 2013.
BiographiesTony Harking
Tony Harking was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and served
for 35 years in a wide variety of roles and Theatres including
the Gurkhas. He then spent 5 years in Industry working on
training projects before spending 6 years as the Under
Treasurer(Chief Executive) of the Honourable Society of Gray's
Inn.
Sarah Pittam
Sarah Pittam is a Civil Service Commissioner, independent
Non-Executive Director and governance specialist. Within the
state-funded and independent education sector, she has advised on
operations, finance, stakeholder management, governance and
capital projects. She has worked with and for the Department for
Education, academy trusts, local authorities and independent
schools' groups. She is on the Interviewing Committee for the
INSEAD Louis Franck Scholarship Award and has previously been a
trustee of The Knowledge Schools Trust and Bourne Education
Trust, where she Chaired the Audit and Risk Committee. She has
also chaired the Children's Trust Board in a Local Authority and
held other governance roles following her earlier career in
consulting.
Siwan Davies
After a distinguished international career in parliamentary
service, Siwan Davies has a portfolio career. Her expertise
is strategic leadership in political environments, with a focus
on governance, ethical leadership and organisational
change. Siwan has extensive experience of statutory and
senior appointments, Welsh matters, and has been the non-legal
director of lawyers in different organisations. A native
Welsh speaker, she lives in west Wales.
