EFRA and Environmental Audit committees to quiz incoming Chair of Office for Environmental Protection

Tuesday 28 April, 10.15, Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House

The EFRA and Environmental Audit committees will jointly hold a pre-appointment hearing with the Government's preferred candidate to become Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection(OEP), Dame Helen Ghosh.

The OEP's remit includes advising public bodies on environmental law, scrutiny of government policy and receiving complaints from whistleblowers about the activities of other public bodies. It can take legal action against government departments and other public bodies in severe cases.

Dame Helen will be questioned on her experience and suitability for the role. MPs will quiz the candidate on what her top priorities for the OEP will be, and about the organisation's performance and capacity. Dame Helen will be asked how she will provide leadership and strategic vision for the OEP's board, ensure good governance, independence, and hold the OEP's executive to account.

Environmental Audit Committee wrote to the Government in November to express concern that the job advert for this role placed too much emphasis on promoting infrastructure development. This “runs the risk of impinging on the independence” of the OEP Chair to “constructively criticise Government policy if they feel it runs contrary to the protection of the environment”. The Government's response is available here.

Dame Helen's previous roles include Director-General of the National Trust (2012-2018) and Permanent Secretary of the Home Office (2010-2012). She is currently Master of Balliol College at the University of Oxford.

The remuneration for the role is £56,784 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's 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.