David Hill
Biography
David Hill was appointed Interim Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 30 June 2025.
He was Director General Strategy and Water from June 2024 to June 2025, Director General Environment from October 2020 to June 2024, and interim Director General Environment Rural and Marine from December 2019 to October 2020. Before that, he was Director of Environmental Quality.
He has held senior roles at Essex County Council, and within central government leading on apprenticeship reform at the Department for Education, and communications and strategy at the then Department for Communities and Local Government. He has served as Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and as Private Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Permanent Secretary
Responsible for the overall management of the Department.
- Principal Accounting Officer for Defra
- Member of the Defra Board
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Civil Service Board
Previous roles in government
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Director General for Strategy and Water
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Director General for Environment
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Director, Strategy, Communications and Private Office