has been appointed as
the Permanent Secretary for the Department for International
Trade (DIT), following the creation of the department to promote
British trade across the world and lead, coordinate and deliver a
new trade and investment policy for the UK.
Antonia is currently Her Majesty’s Consul General and Director
General Economic and Commercial Affairs US, where she is
responsible for the economic and trade relationship between the
UK and North America. Previously she was Head of the Economic and
Domestic Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. Her appointment
follows an open international competition. She will take up post
on 27 March, based partly in the US until the summer.
This appointment has been made by the Prime Minister on the
recommendation of the Cabinet Secretary, , and in agreement with
the Secretary of State for International Trade, The Rt Hon
MP.
To support the establishment of a world-class trade negotiation
function and lead this new profession within the Civil Service, a
new expert Second Permanent Secretary post will also be
established in the Department for International Trade, reporting
to the Permanent Secretary. The global search for an
international trade negotiating expert to fill this post will
open soon.
The Secretary of State The Rt Hon MP said:
Across the world my department continues to bang the drum for
the UK as an attractive place to trade and do business with,
and the Permanent Secretary has a vital role in leading the
department to deliver the UK’s trade agenda at home and abroad.
We are harnessing the very best of homegrown and international
talent and I’m delighted to welcome Antonia who brings with her
extensive leadership and policy expertise that will help the UK
to take advantage of the many global trading opportunities
before us.
The Cabinet Secretary, , said:
I would like to congratulate Antonia on her appointment to the
Department for International Trade. Antonia has done an
excellent job in a number of roles across government and will
bring a strong blend of leadership and Whitehall skills at an
exciting time for the department. I am very much looking
forward to working with her.
Commenting on her new role, Antonia said:
It is a privilege to have been appointed to lead the department
as we work to promote the UK as an outward-facing, free-trading
global nation. International trade and investment are central
to UK prosperity and growth as we exit the European Union. I
look forward to working with the Secretary of State, Ministers
and staff of the department as well as colleagues across
Whitehall, on this challenging agenda.
Notes to editors
is Her Majesty’s Consul
General in New York, and Director-General Economic and Commercial
Affairs USA.
As Director-General Economic and Commercial Affairs USA, Antonia
directs the trade, business and prosperity work of the UK
Government across the United States, including oversight of the
North American operations of the Department for International
Trade, the foreign commercial arm of the UK government. As Consul
General, she is responsible for promoting the UK’s economic
profile, foreign policy, and national security priorities in New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut’s Fairfield
County. She is also the Government’s Special Envoy to the US
technology companies.
Previously, Antonia was Director-General and Head of the Economic
and Domestic Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, responsible for
coordinating policy advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet,
and for the operation of the Implementation Task Forces to
deliver the Prime Minister’s top policy priorities.
Antonia began her career in the private sector, at strategy
consultancy firm Oliver Wyman. She joined the Civil Service in
2000 as an economist. She has held many high-ranking posts in Her
Majesty’s Government, including:
- Director-General, Criminal Justice at the Ministry of Justice
(MoJ), responsible for
all criminal justice policy and major programmes
- Director-General, Transformation at MoJ, responsible for reform and
savings programmes, strategy, digital services, communications,
Group HR and Group estates
- Executive Director, Enterprise and Reform at Cabinet Office,
responsible for reforming the government’s governance and board
model, working with businesses
- Director (Policy) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Principal Private Secretary to the Lord Chancellor and
Secretary of State for Justice at MoJ
Antonia holds an MA (PPE) from Oxford University, an MSc
(Economics) from the London School of Economics, and an Advanced
Management diploma from Columbia Business School. She is a member
of the BritishAmerican Business International Advisory Board.
