The Welsh Assembly Government today announced that David Hawker has been appointed Director of the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.
Professor Hawker, who is currently Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services with Westminster Council in London, will take up his new role later this summer.
The appointment was announced by Permanent Secretary Dame Gillian Morgan, who said: “I am extremely pleased that David Hawker will be joining us in this very important role. David brings with him a wealth of experience in education and children’s services which I know is going to be of real value to the Department and the organisation.”
David Hawker said: “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed and I’m very much looking forward to working in Wales.
“For me it’s a dream come true. A single united education and skills service is what England does not have. But Wales has it. This is an absolutely fantastic opportunity to bring together the whole of my experience in a Welsh context and I will give my all to make a long-lasting contribution.
“It’s a very exciting time to be joining the Assembly Government because the new department brings everything together under one roof and has an ambitious programme for Wales.
“We are aiming for full employment and we have to make sure that our young people start life with a realistic chance of succeeding. I am looking forward to joining Team Wales.”
First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: “David Hawker is an excellent acquisition for us to head up our education department, and will play a leading role in helping the Assembly Government in developing an educational system fit for the Wales of the 21st Century.
“He has already proved in his career in teaching and in other children’s services a capacity for leadership that will enable him to translate our policy framework into action at the chalk face.
“Again this shows that our ability to put services together in new ways will allow us to attract the very best people to Wales to enrich our home grown talent.”
Education Minister Jane Hutt said: “We have an ambitious agenda here in Wales to provide world class education provision to children, young people and the community. I am delighted to welcome someone of David’s stature to the post, and look forward to working closely with him to turn this ambition into reality.”