Cabinet Secretary’s Outstanding Leader Award Shortlist

A Modern Civil Service

Emma Morris

Government Legal Department

Emma Morris has excelled at navigating the Infected Blood Inquiry from evidence gathering to final publication of Sir Brian’s final report. Since being promoted to Solicitor to the Inquiry in December 2022, she has demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment bringing together, leading and motivating a large diverse team to offer above and beyond support to the Secretary, Lead Counsel and Chair enabling an exceptionally challenging publication timetable. The landmark Report, welcomed by the Infected and Affected community, led to an immediate apology from the Prime Minister and legislation establishing the Infected Blood Compensation Authority was pushed through before Parliament’s dissolution.

Kevin Clark

HM Prison and Probation Service

Governor Kevin Clark transformed HMP Wayland from a struggling institution into a model of excellence. Under his leadership, the prison achieved a 49% reduction in violence and self-harm, boosted staff morale, and significantly reduced attrition rates. As a champion of Gender Equality in the BCN region, he uplifted female staff and set new standards for inclusivity. His innovative approach to workforce development and operational efficiency established benchmarks in prison management. Kevin’s adherence to the Civil Service Code, commitment to professional development, and ethical governance make him an exemplary candidate for the Outstanding Leaders Award.
 

Myron Stevenson

Department for Transport

Myron maintains strong, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders. His communication skills and negotiation experience enable successful engagement with senior leaders and UK bus operators, balancing private sector incentives with value for money outcomes. He demonstrates exceptional leadership by managing and inspiring his specialised finance, commercial, and analytical team within DfT’s Bus Funding Division, delivering over £2bn to the bus sector. His supportive leadership style fosters innovation and continuous improvement. His dedication to public service and technical skills in financial modelling, procurement, and contract management make him invaluable, consistently delivering successful outcomes under tight timeframes and complex scenarios.