Dr Rannia Leontaridi OBE
Biography
Rannia Leontaridi started work as Director General, Asylum Group, in the Home Office in November 2025.
Rannia served as Director General Aviation, Maritime and Security Group in the Department for Transport (DfT) from June 2022 until November 2025.
She oversaw decarbonisation, growth, safety and security policies across aviation and maritime, as well as wider national security and resilience policy and operations in DfT and sponsorship of the Maritime Coastguard Agency.
She was also responsible for providing global leadership in international aviation and maritime organisations including the International Maritime Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Prior to this, Rannia served as Director for Aviation in DfT where she was responsible for the COVID-19 international travel response and wider aviation policy.
She has a wealth of experience in policy, strategy and commercial roles and has led teams across the UK Government.
Her previous roles include Director for Business Growth, leading the government’s policy on entrepreneurs, small businesses and new emerging high growth and technology businesses. She was the first Director of the UK’s Office for Artificial Intelligence (OAI).
Before entering the Civil Service, Rannia worked as an economics lecturer.
Rannia received an OBE for public service in 2016 and is a Carnegie Scholar in Economics and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts.
Director General, Asylum Group
The Asylum Taskforce, with support and resource from No.10, MoD, MHCLG, and the Attorney General’s Office, will carry out the government’s commitment to transform the asylum system by:
- ending the use of hotels to house asylum seekers
- reducing the number of people supported by the asylum system
It will bring together existing operational teams on decision making and running asylum support and will include a new cross-government team focused on providing alternative accommodation.
Previous roles in government
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Director General Aviation, Maritime and Security Group