Heather Jane Hancock (born 1973) is a British civil servant and business executive. She is most prominently known for her appointment as chair of the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) in June 2022, a position in which she oversees the governance of the Office for National Statistics and the promotion of trusted official statistics in the United Kingdom.
Early life and education
Heather Hancock was born in 1973 in the United Kingdom. Details of her early education and university qualifications are not widely publicised in reliable encyclopedic sources.
Career
Civil service
Prior to her UKSA appointment, Hancock held senior roles within the UK civil service. She served as Director General for Business and Industrial Strategy at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), where she was responsible for policy development and delivery across the department’s business, energy and industrial portfolios. In this capacity she contributed to the formulation of policies related to economic growth, energy security, and industrial innovation.
Private‑sector and non‑executive roles
In addition to her civil‑service duties, Hancock has undertaken a number of non‑executive directorships and advisory positions in the private and public sectors. These appointments have included board memberships with organisations involved in finance, infrastructure, and public administration, allowing her to apply her experience in governance, strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
Chair of the UK Statistics Authority
Appointed chair of the UK Statistics Authority in June 2022, Hancock succeeded Sir John Pullinger. As chair, she leads the authority’s board, which is responsible for the governance of the Office for National Statistics, the protection of the independence and integrity of official statistics, and the promotion of statistical literacy among the public and policymakers. Her term commenced on 1 July 2022 and is subject to the standard statutory appointment period for UKSA board members.
Honours and recognitions
Heather Hancock’s contributions to public service and statistical governance have been recognised through various professional accolades, though specific honours and dates are not comprehensively documented in publicly available encyclopedic sources.
Personal life
Publicly available information about Hancock’s personal life, including family and non‑professional interests, is limited, and no verifiable details are recorded in reliable reference works.
References
- UK Government press release, “Heather Hancock appointed Chair of the UK Statistics Authority,” June 2022.
- Official UK Statistics Authority website – Board members profile.
Note: Information presented reflects data available from verified governmental and institutional publications up to the cut‑off date of 2024‑06. Additional biographical details may exist but are not presently documented in widely recognized encyclopedic sources.