Patsy Wilkinson appointed new second permanent secretary at Britain’s Home Office
Patsy Wilkinson has been appointed as the new second permanent secretary for the British Home Office, replacing Olly Robbins who is now in charge of the government’s new Brexit department.
Wilkinson, who will begin work in late August, will have responsibility for immigration policy and oversight of the borders, immigration and citizenship communities.
She has previously held a number of senior posts in defence and national security, including director of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) where she led the delivery of protective security advice for the 2012 Olympics.
She said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Home Office, and to be working on some of the government’s top priorities.
“I am very much looking forward to taking up my new role, working with colleagues in the border and immigration services, across government and our many partner organisations.”
Permanent secretary Mark Sedwill said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Patsy to the Home Office.
“Patsy has the capability, leadership and resilience to make a success of this role, which is one of the biggest and most challenging jobs in government.
“I look forward to working closely with her to keep our country safe and borders secure.
Amber Rudd, the minister in charge of the Home Office, said: “I am delighted that Patsy will become our new second permanent secretary.
“This is a vitally important role, and has become even more so following the EU referendum.
“Patsy’s strong background in defence and national security and her proven leadership skills make her ideally suited to take on the challenge.”
Robbins was put in charge of the government’s new Brexit unit which was hastily put together under the leadership of the Cabinet Office after Britain voted to leave the EU last month.
When Theresa May became prime minister last week, following David Cameron’s resignation, it was announced that the unit would be turned into a separate ministry: the Department for Exiting the European Union, where Robbins is now permanent secretary, working with new Brexit minister David Davis.
About Winnie Agbonlahor
Winnie is news editor of Global Government Forum. She previously reported for Civil Service World - the trade magazine for senior UK government officials. Originally from Germany, Winnie first came to the UK in 2006 to study a BA in Journalism & Russian at the University of Sheffield. She is bilingual in English and German, and, after spending an academic year abroad in Russia and reporting for the Moscow Times, Winnie also speaks Russian fluently.
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