Our governance
The main decision-making board and committees of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).
OPG board
The OPG board ensures that we meet the objectives in our business plan. It meets once a month.
OPG board members
OPG board members make decisions as a group, not as representatives of any business area. Current members are:
- Stuart Howard, interim Public Guardian
- Julie Lindsay, chief operating officer
- Ruth Duffin, deputy director of strategy and central services
- Martyn Burke, non-executive director
- Alison Sansome, non-executive director
- Karin Woodley, non-executive director
- Abigail Plenty, deputy director, vulnerability policy team
- Georgia Bottomley, deputy director of finance business partnering (MoJ)
OPG executive committee
The OPG executive management committee makes and reports on decisions in OPG. It meets once a month.
OPG executive committee members
Current members are:
- Stuart Howard, interim Public Guardian
- Julie Lindsay, chief operating officer
- Ruth Duffin, deputy director of strategy and central services
- Louisa Harrison, senior finance business partner
OPG audit and risk assurance committee
The OPG audit and risk assurance committee advises the principal accounting officer and the executive management board on:
- risk management, control and governance processes
- the statement on internal control
- accounting policy and the accounts for the Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
- planned audits
- the results of internal and external audits
- management responses to issues raised during an audit
- anti-fraud policies, whistleblowing processes and details for special investigations
- how well OPG meets the Ministry of Justice corporate governance rules
The committee meets 4 times a year.
OPG audit and risk assurance committee members
Current members are:
- Stuart Howard, interim Public Guardian
- Martyn Burke, non-executive director (chair)
- Karin Woodley, non-executive director
- Jackie Craissati, independent member