The EFRA and Environmental Audit committees have endorsed the
Government's chosen candidate to become the next Chair of the
Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).
A joint report published
today by the committees follows a pre-appointment
session held on 28 April. MPs quizzed Dame on her experience and
suitability for the role, and asked how she will maintain
independence from the Government and scrutinise the OEP's
executive.
The session is available to watch on Parliamentlive.tv
Whilst endorsing Dame Helen's appointment, the committees also
state in the report: “It is essential that Dame Helen continues
to reinforce her and the OEP's 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.”
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 “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.
The OEP's 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's 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.
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.
Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, MP, said:
“Dame 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.
“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.”
