05 November 2007 – Two new Equality and Human Rights Commissioners appointed

Minister for Women and Equality Harriet Harman today announced the appointments of Maeve Sherlock OBE and Joel Edwards as Commissioners for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Maeve Sherlock is Former Chief Executive of the Refugee Council and was previously a Treasury Adviser on employment, child poverty, and the Third Sector. Joel Edwards has served on a number of faith, government and public agency advisory groups and is currently, among other roles, the General Director of the Evangelical Alliance.

The two new Commissioners will join the fourteen strong team of Commissioners already appointed to the Commission led by Chair, Trevor Phillips and Deputy Chair Margaret Prosser.

Minister for Women and Equality Harriet Harman said:

“Both Maeve and Joel bring a wealth of expertise, commitment and a strong track record in dealing with equality issues. They will be assets to the EHRC in its important mission to champion equality and human rights for everybody.”

Trevor Phillips, EHRC Chair, said:

“I am delighted that Maeve Sherlock and Joel Edwards have been appointed to our team of Commissioners. They have exceptional experience in the field of equality and human rights and their skills will be a major asset to us. The new Commissioners will join a formidable team, whose expertise will be vital to fulfilling our mission.”

The EHRC launched on 1st October 2007 and acts as the central point of advice and guidance on all equality and human rights issues.

Notes to Editors

1. Under the Equality Act 2006, which established the EHRC, the Secretary of State shall appoint not less than 10 or more than 15 individuals as members of the Commission (to be known as Commissioners).  The Commissioners must include a Commissioner who is or who has been a disabled person, a Commissioner for Scotland and a Commissioner for Wales.  The Secretary of State shall also appoint a Chair and one or more Commissioners as Deputy Chair (who are all also Commissioners as well).
2. Under the provisions of the Act in appointing Commissioners the Secretary of State shall:
   • appoint an individual only if the Secretary of State thinks that the individual:
     • has experience or knowledge relating to a relevant matter, or
     • is suitable for appointment for some other special reason, and
   • have regard to the desirability of the Commissioners together having experience and knowledge relating to the relevant matters (this is defined as discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and human rights).
3. Commissioners in place already: Trevor Philips (Chair); Baroness Margaret Prosser (Deputy Chair); Kay Allen; Baroness Jane Campbell DBE; Kay Carberry; Baroness Sally Greengross OBE; Francesca Klug; ZIauddin Sardar; Ben Summerskill; Dr Neil Wooding (Wales Commissioner); Morag Alexander (Scotland Commissioner); Jeannie Drake (Transition Commissioner); Professor Kay Hampton (Transition Commissioner) and Sir Bert Massie CBE (Transition Commissioner).
4. The Equality and Human Rights Commission was established by the Equality Act, which gained Royal Assent in February 2006, and is one part of the Government’s wider programme of reform on equality. The EHRC will help to achieve a fairer, more inclusive Britain through its responsibilities to promote equality and human rights across our whole society and provide institutional support for the full range of discrimination legislation.  Others include the examination of the root causes of inequality in our society through the Equalities Review and a consideration of the current legislative framework in the Discrimination Law Review.
5. Further information on EHRC Commissioners can be found at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com
6. Maeve Sherlock biography
   Maeve Sherlock is currently at Durham University doing research for her doctorate on the subject of the interface between Faith and the State in modern Britain. Until October 2006, she was Chief Executive of the Refugee Council and previous to this, spent three years as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Treasury on issues including child poverty, labour markets and the Third Sector. During the 2007 Spending Review, she chaired an Advisory Panel advising ministers on the future role of the Third Sector in economic and social regeneration. Before moving to the Treasury, she was Chief Executive of the charity One Parent Families, director of UKCOSA (Council of International Education) and President of the National Union of Students.
7. Joel Edwards biography
   Joel Edwards has served on a number of faith, government and public agency advisory groups and is a regular broadcaster for UK and international media.  He is the current General Director of the Evangelical Alliance and is Chair of Micah Challenge International and the Churches Media Council.  He was a probation officer for 14 years with the Inner London Probation Service before his appointment as the General Secretary for the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance in 1988. Joel is an honorary Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral and has an honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews.

 

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