Dr Patsy Richards has been confirmed as the interim Chief Executive Officer of the Restoration & Renewal (R&R) Sponsor Body and will start in post in the coming weeks.   

Dr Richards takes on this role on an interim basis in light of the potential changes to the Restoration and Renewal programme, outlined by the Commissions of the Commons and Lords in March 2022.  

Patsy joins the Sponsor Body from the House of Commons, where she has held a number of senior roles including Director of Workplace Transformation and Director of the Moves Programme.  

Chair of the Sponsor Board, Liz Peace CBE said:  

“Dr Richards brings a huge amount of senior Parliamentary and programme experience, and I’m pleased to welcome her to the Restoration and Renewal programme as we move through this crucial period. I’d like to thank Sarah Johnson, our outgoing CEO, for her leadership of the work done to date to develop a restoration plan for the Palace, and her commitment to preserving the iconic and beautiful buildings for future generations.” 

Dr Patsy Richards commented:  

“It’s a huge honour to take on this role at a pivotal time for the restoration and renewal of Parliament. Anyone who visits or works in Westminster is struck by its beauty and historical significance and we must do the work necessary to ensure this remains the case in future.  

I want to build on the significant progress to date in preparing for the restoration and renewal of Parliament, and play my part in ensuring we take forward a scheme that properly meets the needs of parliamentarians as well as the wider Parliamentary community and the public.”  

Further information  

Dr Patsy Richards has extensive experience within and outside of Parliament. Most recently as Director of Workplace Transformation and Director of the Moves Programme, Dr Richards has led major and complex organisational change programmes.  Past roles in the Commons have included Customer Director, and Director of Operations in Estates.   

She has also served on the board of the Scottish Parliament as Head of Research and Information Group and has experience in the private sector where she led evaluations of national pilots to improve inclusion for victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system.  

Dr Richards’ initial training was as a scientist with an academic career at Bristol and Cambridge Universities. She is also a trustee of the Scout Association. 

About the Restoration and Renewal Sponsor Body 

The independent Restoration and Renewal Sponsor Body was established as the single client accountable to Parliament for the R&R Programme, and oversees a Delivery Authority which carries out the work on the Programme.  

On 18 March 2022 the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions issued a joint statement relating to proposed changes to the future of the R&R Programme. Subject to the agreement of both House Commissions, a revised mandate for the works and changes to the sponsorship function will be sought from the two Houses.  This is currently planned to take place before the summer recess.