Melanie Dawes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Melanie Dawes
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|---|---|
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| Chief Executive of the Office of Communications | |
| Assumed office 12 February 2020 |
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| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson Liz Truss Rishi Sunak Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Sharon White |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Melanie Henrietta Dawes
9 March 1966 |
| Spouse |
Benedict Brogan
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Alma mater | New College, Oxford Birkbeck, University of London |
| Awards | Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (2020) |
Dame Melanie Dawes was born on March 9, 1966. She is a British expert in economics and a top government official. Since February 2020, she has been the Chief Executive of Ofcom. Ofcom is like a referee for TV, radio, and internet services in the UK. Before this, she worked in other important government roles, including leading the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. She also worked at the UK's Treasury, which manages the country's money, and in other government departments.
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Early life and education
Melanie Dawes grew up and went to school in England. She attended Malvern Girls' College, which was a private school just for girls in Malvern, Worcestershire. After finishing school, she went to New College, Oxford, a famous university. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. She then continued her studies at Birkbeck College, London, where she focused on economics. She earned a Master of Science (MSc) degree from Birkbeck.
Career in government
Melanie Dawes started her career in the Civil Service in 1989. The Civil Service is made up of people who work for the government to help run the country.
- She spent two years working for the Department for Transport.
- For the next 15 years, she worked at HM Treasury. This is the part of the government that handles the UK's money and economy. By the time she left in 2006, she was the Europe Director, dealing with financial matters related to Europe.
- From 2006 to 2011, she worked at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC is responsible for collecting taxes in the UK. She was the Director General for Business Tax, meaning she was in charge of taxes paid by businesses.
- From 2011 to 2015, she was a Director General in the Cabinet Office. This office helps the Prime Minister and the Cabinet make decisions.
In 2015, Melanie Dawes became the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Communities and Local Government. A Permanent Secretary is the most senior civil servant in a government department. They make sure the department runs smoothly and carries out the government's plans. She was the first person chosen for this role under a new system where the Prime Minister had the final say in who got the job.
On February 12, 2020, Melanie Dawes was chosen to be the new Chief Executive of Ofcom. Ofcom is the UK's communications regulator. This means it makes sure that TV, radio, mobile phones, and internet services work well and are fair for everyone.
Other important work
Besides her main government jobs, Melanie Dawes has also been involved in other important activities:
- She was the Chair of the Alcohol Recovery Project from 2003 to 2005.
- She was a member of the Council for Which?, a consumer organization, from 2011 to 2015.
- She worked as the Civil Service Gender Champion from 2015 to 2019. In this role, she helped make sure that men and women had equal opportunities in the Civil Service. Later, she became the overall Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Champion, promoting fairness for everyone.
- She is a trustee for the Patchwork Foundation, which helps young people from different backgrounds get involved in politics.
Personal life
In 1992, Melanie Dawes married Benedict Brogan. They have one daughter together.
Awards and recognition
Melanie Dawes has received special honors for her work in public service:
- In 2013, she was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). This award recognizes excellent service in the Civil Service.
- In 2020, she was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCB). This is a very high honor, and it means she can use the title "Dame" before her name.
