About us
Our team
The FDA is led, first and foremost, by our members.
There are also hundreds of FDA activists in government departments and agencies who act as the union’s voice in the workplace every day.
The Executive Committee, made up of elected FDA members, meanwhile acts as the governing body of the union, providing oversight and ensuring that the priorities of our members are put into action.
Our members are also supported by a dedicated team of professional FDA staff – led by the General Secretary – at our head office. These include full-time National Officers, who provide expert advice and negotiate on behalf of members, and FDA support staff, who help with the day-to-day running of the union.
Dave Penman
General Secretary
Dave was elected as General Secretary of the FDA in May 2012, and took up office in July that year. He was re-elected in 2016 and 2021.
Lauren Crowley
Assistant General Secretary
Lauren joined the FDA as a National Officer in 2021 and was promoted to Assistant General Secretary in February 2024. She leads for the union on pay, equality, the SCS and legal. She also hold responsibility for UK government special advisers and manages six of the union’s national officers.
Lynne Gravatt
Assistant General Secretary – Head of Resources
Lynne joined the FDA as Head of Resources in September 2018. Lynne is responsible for managing the operational side of the FDA including finance, HR, premises, IT and admin.
Lucille Thirlby
Assistant General Secretary
Lucille joined the FDA as Assistant General Secretary in spring 2018, and leads the union’s organising, communications and learning functions of the FDA. She also holds responsibility for pensions and manages five of the union’s National Officers.
Matt Barrow
National Officer
Matt joined the FDA in June 2024 and represents the Department of Health and Social Care, Land Registry, ACAS and the Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC, which represents FDA members in HMRC).
Amelia Dowler
National Officer (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion)
Amelia joined the FDA in November 2023 and leads on the union’s equality work.
Robert Eagleton
National Officer
Robert joined the FDA in October 2024 and represents members in the Fast Stream, HM Treasury, Ministry of Justice and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Simon Hardcastle
National Officer
Simon joined the FDA in Spring 2011, and supports members in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Cabinet Office, the Government Commercial Organisation and the Association for Development and Diplomacy, which represents members in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Helen Kenny
National Officer
Helen is the FDA’s National Officer with responsibility for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department for Education, the Food Standards Agency and the Department for Transport. She is also secretary to the FDA Agenda Committee, which oversees the Annual Delegates’ Conference.
Robert Murtagh
National Officer
Robert joined the FDA in November 2024 and is the National Officer responsible for members employed in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
Matt Newman
National Officer
Matt joined the FDA in August 2023, and is the National Officer supporting members in Ofsted, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Budiness and Trade, and Ofgem.
Wynne Parry
National Officer
Wynne started working for the FDA in 2012 and is the National Officer covering the Home Office, and the culture institutions.
Jawad Raza
National Officer
Jawad Raza is the FDA National Officer covering members in the Government Legal Department and UK Parliament including the House of Commons. He also leads the union’s Lawyers’ Network.
Jane Runeckles
National Officer
Jane joined the FDA in May 2024 and is the FDA’s National Officer for Wales, covering employers both devolved and reserved there. Jane also covers the Ministry of Defence, the Office for National Statistics and the FDA’s Analysts’ Network.
Allan Sampson
National Officer
Allan is the National Officer with responsibility for employers both devolved and reserved across Scotland, as well as the Education Inspectors Network.
Duncan Woodhead
National Officer
Duncan is the National Officer for the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office, the Competition and Markets Authority and the Health and Safety Executive. He joined the FDA in 2018.
Deri Bevan
Head of Organising & Learning
Deri joined the FDA as the union’s Head of Organising and Learning in December 2022. This newly created role is designed to develop and coordinate organising activity across the union as well as overseeing the FDA Learn career development offer.
Kay Hender
Head of Communications
Kay heads up the FDA’s communications with its members, including editing the union’s Public Service Magazine. She also leads the FDA’s external-facing press work and the union’s social media.
Katherine Hutchinson
Communications Assistant
Katherine joined the FDA in March 2024 and supports all aspects of the union’s communications work, including press, member communications and digital.
Tom Nathan
Senior Communications Officer
Tom joined the FDA in summer 2022, helping to keep members informed of the union’s activity and working to enhance the FDA’s public profile.
Tommy Newell
Senior Communications Officer
Tommy joined the FDA in 2017, working in the communications team to raise the union’s external profile and keep members up-to-date. He also contributes to the FDA’s Public Service Magazine.
Diana Carberry
Finance Officer
Diana joined the FDA in 2006 and became a permanent fixture in 2007, holding a number of roles. Originally joining the FDA as a receptionist, Diana learnt the ins and outs of the union before going on to provide secretarial support to National Officers and then becoming the Membership Secretary. She is currently a Finance Officer, looking after accounts, payroll and HR Admin.
Michelle De-Kisshazy
Accounts Assistant
Michelle joined the FDA in October 2018 as an Accounts Assistant. She now also organises reps training and provides administrative support to the union’s equalities work.
Kerry Downes
Membership Secretary
Kerry is the Membership Secretary for the FDA, and has responsibility for looking after and maintaining our database and helping members with inquiries about their membership.
Esther Farnese
Office and Systems Manager
Esther started working for the FDA in November 1998, initially in the accounts and membership department, before becoming office manager.
Rachel Harris
Project Coordinator
Rachel joined the FDA in the summer of 2018 as part of the Admin Team, providing administrative support to the National Officers and FDA Learn.
Tamarin Richardson
Administrative Assistant
As well as providing administrative assistance, Tami manages the layout and use of the FDA’s suite of conference rooms, within and outside of the union.