LONDON, March 18, 2008  –  Jonathan Rees has been appointed as the first Director General of the Government Equalities Office (GEO) which has responsibility for policy on gender equality, issues around gay and lesbian orientation and for integrating work on race and religion or belief into the overall equality framework.

Mr Rees will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of work in the new department, including delivering the new Equality Bill, co-ordinating delivery of the Equality PSA (Public Service Agreement), setting out the strategic framework for the equality agenda, and progressing the Ministers for Women’s priorities published last year.

He was previously Deputy Chief Executive and Director-General (Policy) at the Health and Safety Executive. Prior to this Mr Rees worked at the DTI, three years in the Prime Minister's Policy Unit, Cabinet Office, and spells in Brussels with the Foreign Office and the European Commission.

“I am delighted to be joining the Government Equality Office at such an exciting time,” Mr. Rees said this morning.

“Now that the GEO has been set up as a separate Department – a sign of the Government’s commitment to the equality agenda – I want to help ensure that we engage effectively within Government and outside, so we make a lasting difference to people’s lives.

“We have a challenging agenda over the next couple of years,” he continued.

“I look forward to shaping the new Department, working closely with key stakeholders, including the new Equality and Human Rights Commission, Women’s National Commission, and a wide range of other partners across the country.”

The GEO was established as a stand-alone department last year. Mr Rees is the first Director General of the new department.

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