DESNZ: business appointment rules advice, April to June 2026
Published 24 September 2026
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Transparency information about outside appointments or employment taken up by former members of the the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
This covers former staff at Senior Civil Service payband 1 (SCS1) and payband 2 (SCS2) levels. It also covers special advisers of equivalent level.
Kirsty Marie Austin-Abrahamson
Title of former Civil Service role
Deputy Director SZC Shareholding and HMG Target Operating Model
Date left/retired from the Civil Service
31 July 2026
New employer
SZC Ltd
New appointment/employment (including when taken up)
Chief of Staff (3 August 2026)
Department’s decision on application (including details of any waiting period or other conditions or restrictions applied)
On reviewing your application, the department has approved the above appointment subject to the conditions that;
For the remainder of your time in Crown Service, you should not be involved in commercial decisions that could, in future, involve your prospective employer (including parent companies, subsidiaries, partners and clients).
It is advised that you continue to review the Business Appointment Rules guidance before accepting any new appointment or employment for two years after leaving the Civil Service to ensure that there is no cause for justified public concern, criticism or misinterpretation.
For 12 months from your last day of service, you should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK government or its arm’s length bodies on behalf of the new employer (including parent companies, subsidiaries, partners and clients) on matters that extend beyond supporting Sizewell C’s successful delivery, in line with the established legal frameworks and policies agreed with HMG. Noting this an HMG ‘mega project’, it is recognised that you will make use, directly or indirectly, of contacts in the government and/or civil service for this purpose.