New Church of England National Public Policy Advisor appointed

Dilys Alam has been appointed as National Public Policy Advisor to the Church of England, with a particular focus on issues concerning justice and social policy generally.

In her new role, Dilys will join the Archbishop’s Council’s Public Policy Team based at Lambeth Palace to support and advise the Church of England on matters of public policy and ethics.

Until recently, Dilys Alam was Director of Work and Health at the Department for Work and Pensions where she was responsible for the design and implementation of policy and analysis to support disabled people and people with long term health conditions to move into, stay and thrive in work.

Dilys has also held senior positions at the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Energy and Climate Change. During this time she has worked on a range of issues including amongst others youth justice, social mobility and family support.

The Revd Canon Dr Malcolm Brown the Church of England’s Director of Faith and Public Life, said: “I am delighted that we shall soon be welcoming Dilys into the Public Policy Team within the Faith and Public Life department.

“The team’s role is not only about providing expert advice and policy analysis to the bishops and others on behalf of the church – a role for which Dilys’s extensive civil service experience will be an enormous asset – but also about seeking opportunities to contribute to the church’s ability to make a difference to the lives of the people of our parishes and communities.

“I know that Dilys will relish both these aspects of the job and will contribute her deep experience and personal commitment to the team’s collaborative and multi-disciplinary ways of working.”

Dilys Alam said: "I’m excited to be joining the Faith and Public Life department. We need more light and less heat in social policy debate and the Church has an important role to play in that. I’m looking forward to learning from my new colleagues and better understanding the vital work of parishes with communities in need."

Dilys will take up the role at the beginning of October.