CHURCH House, Westminster, announced on Monday that Dr Jacqui
Philips (above), who has a background in corporate public affairs,
had been appointed as the new Director of the Central Secretariat
and Clerk to the General Synod.
Dr Philips will succeed Dr Colin Podmore, who steps down at the
end of the month to become director of Forward in Faith (News,
19 October).
The director of the Central Secretariat, besides being the Clerk
to the Synod, manages the team at Church House that supports the
General Synod, the Archbishops' Council, and the House of Bishops.
The brief also includes overseeing the Church's safeguarding, its
research and statistics work, and ecumenical affairs.
Dr Philips will start at Church House on 8 April, and will be
"acting Clerk to the Synod pending the approval of her appointment
in July at General Synod", a statement from Church House said.
Dr Philips was director of European Government Affairs and
Industry Relations at MetLife, an insurance company, from 2008 to
2012. Before that, she was head of public affairs for the Royal and
Sun Alliance. Last year, "she took a short career break to explore
opportunities in the not-for-profit sector and to study for a
Certificate in Theology course at St Mellitus College," Church
House said.
The Secretary General of the General Synod, William Fittall,
said: "Jacqui brings to the role a wealth of experience and a
wholehearted commitment to the work of the Church of England. There
was a strong field of applicants for this senior post, and we are
delighted that, as the outstanding candidate, Jacqui has accepted
this role."