Richard Pengelly seconded from the Department of Justice to the Education Authority as Chief Executive Officer

Department of Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the secondment of Richard Pengelly as the new Chief Executive of the Education Authority.

Richard Pengelly has been Permanent Secretary at the Department of Justice since April 2022, and before that was in the same role at the Department of Health.

In a statement released by the Department of Education today, Paul Givan said: “The Education system is facing a period of unprecedented challenges and requires a senior leader to build on the positive work carried out to date and to continue to take forward critical transformation to meet the needs of all of our children and young people.

“I am pleased the Board has agreed to the appointment of Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly as CEO of the Education Authority and I am grateful to the Head of the Civil Service for agreeing to release Richard to undertake this important role.”

“Richard is an experienced senior leader with a track record of delivering transformation in complex multi-disciplinary public sector organisations. The Education system is facing significant operational challenges, not least in terms of the delivery of Special Educational Needs provision, and while I recognise that it will take time to address such issues, Richard has the experience and skill, working with the EA Board, to deliver real change.”

He will begin at the Education Authority on 15 April 2024.

Richard Pengelly is married to Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.