Press release

Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee Chair appointed

Sir Adrian Webb has been appointed as the new chair of the Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee and UK Board Member.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude is pleased to announce that Sir Adrian Webb has been appointed as the new Chair of Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee and UK Board Member.

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) will invest approximately £250 million in Wales’s communities between 2009 and 2015. This is around £1 million a week that is invested in those communities across Wales that need it most. 

BIG is the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding in the UK. Since June 2004, the BIG has awarded over £4.4 billion to projects supporting health, education, environment and charitable purposes across the UK. As Chair of BIG’s Wales Committee, Sir Adrian Webb will set the strategic direction for funding programmes in Wales.  

Welcoming the announcement, Francis Maude said:   

I am very pleased to welcome Sir Adrian Webb as the Chair of the Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee and UK Board Member. Sir Adrian will lead on setting the strategic direction and policy framework for funding programmes in partnership with other UK Board and Committee members that will make a distinct contribution to BIG’s mission in Wales.

Wales’ Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis said:   

I am delighted that Sir Adrian Webb has accepted this important position. I’m sure his experience will bring commitment to the role of Wales Chair to the Big Lottery Board. I very much look forward to working with him in the future.

Sir Adrian Webb is currently Chair of the Wales Employment and Skills Board, a Welsh Government Advisory Board, and Welsh Commissioner of the UK Commission for Employment Skills.  

Sir Adrian is also a member of the UK Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council. He has extensive experience of public life in Wales through roles on Welsh Government boards and committees as well as voluntary sector board roles. 

His earlier career included a role at Loughborough University as Professor of Social Policy and Administration and as First Vice-Chancellor, University of Glamorgan.    

Notes to Editors

  1. These appointments have been made in accordance with The Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations there is a requirement for appointee’s political activity (if any declared) to be made public.  Sir Adrian Webb has declared no political activity.
  2. The Wales Committee Chair appointment is for a four-year term, beginning on the 1st January 2012. The time commitment is expected to be an average of 6 days per month; the Chair’s remuneration is £18,000 per annum.  Sir Adrian Webb replaces Janet Reed whose term of office will expire on 31 December 2011 after temporarily serving as Wales Chair for 16 months.
  3. Further information about the Fund’s programmes and its strategic framework for 2009-2015 can be found at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Published 21 December 2011