19 January 2010: Sylvia Perrins, CEO, National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS) has landed a role as a Public Appointments Ambassador in a new Government programme led by the Government Equalities Office and Cabinet Office to encourage more people to apply for public appointments. The Public Appointments Ambassadors programme was launched at a high profile event in Whitehall on 14th January by Government Equalities Office Minister of State Maria Eagle MP.
Sylvia Perrins is Chief Executive of NSAFS, an independent employer-led, charitable organisation which is a leading body for training and development in the financial services industry.
Public Bodies make decisions that affect our day to day lives, but too few women, people from ethnic minorities and disabled people sit on boards like the Arts Council, the governing bodies of local hospitals and the Competition Commission.
Sylvia Perrins said:
“There are many women in the financial services industry who have good experience in financial and business related matters and they have much to offer on public boards, where people with strong financial skills are often in short supply.
“Being involved in public boards provides an opportunity for women to gain different experiences and use their financial skills in another arena. The good news for women wanting to get involved is that people with strong financial skills are often in short supply.”
Sylvia joins over 180 ambassadors, who are current public appointees from across the UK, including playwright and Deputy Chair of the British Museum, Bonnie Greer, and Peter Cooke, Vice-Chair of the Independent Living Fund. As an ambassador Sylvia will show why it’s vital to have people with a wide range of skills and experience involved in the important decisions public boards make, playing a key role in highlighting the benefits of serving on a board and encouraging more people from under - represented groups to apply.
Two new public appointment mentoring schemes were also launched at the event.
To find out more about public appointments, current vacancies and how to apply for new mentoring programmes, visit www.direct.gov.uk/publicappointments