Gem Walsh
Biography
Gem Walsh was appointed the Interim Director General and Head of Government Communications at the Cabinet Office in October 2026. She leads Government Communications, the professional body overseeing and coordinating communications across all government departments and public bodies.
Gem has spent 18 years working in government communications, in departments, in the centre, and briefly outside government before returning. Most recently, she served as Director General for Government Communications Transformation.
Interim Director General for Government Communications
The Director General for Communications is responsible for transforming how the UK Government communicates and builds trust with the public. It is also the head of the Government Communications profession.
Responsibilities include:
Delivering a government communication strategy that reflects the evolving media landscape and technological changes. Leading major cross-government communications to support the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, ensuring the public gets clear, timely and engaging information. Modernising how the government communicates by building capability, driving innovation and ensuring that Government Communications operates effectively and efficiently.