Rt Hon David Heath CBE

Biography

David Heath combines high-level experience of regulation and governance, involvement at the heart of government, a record as an effective non-executive director in a number of roles, and high-level advocacy and ambassadorial skills working with groups and individuals in the UK and abroad.

A qualified optician with a first degree in physiological sciences, he has spent the greater part of his career in politics and, as a council leader, chair of a major police authority, a member of parliament, and as a senior minister in government, where he was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and Minister of Agriculture. In 2014 he was appointed the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria and to Angola.

Since retiring from the House of Commons in 2015 he has taken on a number of regulatory roles, including Senior Independent Director of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and Chair of an NHS commissioning body. He is currently Chair of the Costs Lawyer Standards Board, Chair of the Independent Funeral Standards Organisation, and the Independent Chair of Standards for MCS, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

He lives in the heart of rural Somerset, where he is President of the Frome & District Agricultural Society. He used to breed pedigree Tamworth pigs.

He was appointed CBE in 1988 and to the Privy Council in 2015.

Committee Membership

• Disciplinary Committee

Declaration of interests