Lord Forbes of Newcastle CBE
Biography
Nick Forbes, The Lord Forbes of Newcastle CBE, joined the Board of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 29 September 2025. He is an experienced local government leader and policy strategist with over two decades of experience in public service.
Forbes served as Leader of Newcastle City Council from 2011 to 2022, Vice Chair of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority from 2007 to 2022 and was Senior Vice Chair of the Local Government Association from 2016 to 2022.
A passionate advocate for devolution, inclusive growth, and regional empowerment, he played a key role in negotiating one of the first City Deals and chaired the Core Cities UK network. Forbes now works as an independent consultant, advising on national and regional policy.
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) are senior leaders from outside government who sit on the Departmental Board. They bring independent expertise, insight and challenge to help shape strategy, monitor performance, and ensure strong governance. While they do not take part in daily operations, their advice and oversight support ministers and officials in delivering the Department’s priorities effectively for the public.