Charity Commission chair to offer ‘certainty the sector needs’

Dame JULIA UNWIN has been confirmed as chair of the Charity Commission for England and Wales by Culture Secretary LISA NANDY.

A veteran of the voluntary sector, Unwin was government’s preferred candidate for the position, and was last week endorsed by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, an approval that evaded the last two holders of the role, ORLANDO FRASER and TINA STOWELL.

Unwin has served on the boards of a number of regulatory and government bodies, including five years as a charity commissioner and nine years as a trustee of the Housing Corporation.

She was chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation from 2007 to 2016, and also chaired the Civil Society Futures Inquiry,

In her candidate questionnaire, Unwin said she was motivated to apply for the post by “a desire to ensure that charities in England and Wales can flourish” and “can rightly enjoy public trust”.

She said: “Currently, the charitable sector faces the most challenging time that I can recall. At the same time its ability to bridge divisions, strengthen the social fabric, and highlight need, has never been more required.

“A well-led, stable and forward-looking Charity Commission, able to forge deep connections both within and without government, respected by the sector it regulates, can and should provide the certainty the sector requires. It would be an honour to support this work.”

Unwin was one of 44 applicants for the role, eight of whom were interviewed, with her three-year term set to begin on 1 January 2026.

CMS Select Committee chair CAROLINE DINENAGE said: “It’s clear that Dame Julia has the skills and experience to take on the challenge of chairing an organisation that plays a vital role in ensuring that the public can support charities with confidence.”