The Government Cyber Security Strategy (GCSS) was launched in January 2022 outlining the vision to ensure that core government functions are resilient to cyber attack, strengthening the UK as a sovereign nation and cementing its authority as a democratic and responsible cyber power.

Please note we are no longer accepting Expressions of Interest (EoI) for membership of the Government Cyber Security Advisory Board (GCSAB). GCSAB will build on the success of the External Challenge Panel that brought industry and academic perspectives to support the development of the GCSS.

GCSAB will be a body comprised of independent external experts to build better links between government, the private sector and academia. It will provide independent perspectives and input from experts across industry and academia into providing solutions to the challenges of government cyber security, through rigorous challenge and driving best practices across government.

The objectives of the GCSAB will be to:

• support the government to keep on track to achieve the GCSS aim of ensuring all government organisations across the whole public sector being resilient to known vulnerabilities and attack methods no later than 2030
• aid the long-term improvement of government cyber security by providing advice, expertise and guidance, and where required additional programme resource
• bring depth and experience across multiple fields with a diversity of viewpoints to improve policy making by providing solutions to particular problems and challenges
• identify solutions and proposals on how to achieve the 24 GCSS outcomes
• ensure government is leveraging industry expertise to deliver on the goals of the strategy

Membership Requirements

Eligibility

The Government Cyber Security Advisory Board will gather individual expertise in cyber security from industry and academia. We are not seeking expressions of interest from organisations, although we welcome candidates who can leverage the knowledge and experience that comes from their organisations themselves.

Candidates must have specific cyber security professional expertise, competence or knowledge with regard to areas covered in the GCSS, including:

• cyber security strategy, standards and assurance
• governance, risk and management
• programme delivery
• cyber detection and response
• technology
• cyber skills and culture

The GCSAB will meet once every two months, excluding August, virtually, but there may be requirements to attend in person in London.

Diversity

HMG embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. We therefore encourage applications from the widest range of qualified groups.

Selection process

Applications are now closed.

In the cover letter, candidates should set out their reasons for applying for the Government Cyber Security Advisory Board, their suitability for membership and how they meet the requirements set out in Eligibility.

Applications are now closed. The deadline for receipt of applications was 11.59pm 6 June 2022.

Any queries about this process, should be sent to gsgcyber@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Next steps

Following the EoI campaign, we will determine membership while ensuring that membership is representative of the diversity of the United Kingdom.

We will publish the outcome of the EoI campaign as soon as possible and in any event ahead of the first meeting of the Government Cyber Security Advisory Board.

As we continue to celebrate the outstanding work being done across government, we are delighted to share that 3 GLD colleagues, and one former colleague, have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Virginia Bennett and Catherine (Cat) Gulliver, both senior lawyers in the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Legal Advisers, have been awarded O.B.E’s for services to climate change law. Virginia and Cat have both worked on a wide variety of climate change matters, in particular, climate and trade, the climate parts of the UK/EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement, and climate change and human rights. They also provide advice on international climate negotiations and both attended the COP26 climate summit where they supported and provided guidance to the UK Presidency team.

Virginia and Cat reflect:

“We are both thrilled to have been awarded O.B.Es. We’d also like thank everyone in our legal team, everyone in the COP26 Unit, and all of our other colleagues. Everyone we work with shows incredible passion and commitment to getting the UK and the world on track for net zero and we feel privileged to be part of the team. We also want to remember our dear colleague Clare Radcliffe who dedicated so much to the civil service, to GLD, and to climate work in particular.”

Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) Legal Advisers Deputy Legal Director Henry Ripley has been awarded a C.B.E for his services to the law, specifically for his work on supporting the government in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Henry led the DHSC team through the drafting of an immense amount of legislation that protected the public during the unprecedented time. Henry reflects:

“I am incredibly touched by this, not least because it recognises the astonishing work done by DHSC Legal Advisers during the COVID-19 pandemic. I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive, talented, can-do and good humoured group of colleagues to deliver so much of the government’s COVID-19 response – so this is for them.”

Finally previous Director General Stephen Braviner Roman who received a C.B also for his services to the law. Stephen was at GLD for over 25 years and led on EU Exit, COVID-19 and setting up the GLD office in Leeds.

Of these awards Director General Elizabeth Hambley said, “On behalf of my Board and Executive Committee colleagues I would like to offer many congratulations to Virginia, Cat and Henry. You have all played a pivotal role leading hugely important and at times challenging work in the civil service, and this recognition of your contribution is richly deserved. We are also delighted that Stephen’s public service has been recognised in this way and send him our best wishes and congratulations.”

People living and working in Headcorn on the River Beult are now able to register to receive free Flood Warnings from the Environment Agency by phone, text and email. Previously only flood alerts could be issued for this area.

To be able to provide this new Flood Warning Service, the Environment Agency has installed a new telemetry station in Headcorn to monitor local water levels. If you are a Headcorn resident, please check your flood risk and sign up for the new Flood Warning Service.

The Environment Agency has also improved the Flood Warning Service along the whole of the River Beult. The River Beult has been subject to flooding, most recently in the winter floods of 2013 and the summer floods of 2020.

A new arrangement to give more timely flood alerts now splits the River Beult at Stilebridge, near the A229:

• Properties upstream of the A229 are now in the River Beult from Pluckley and Bethersden to Stilebridge Flood Alert Area

• Properties downstream of the A229 are now in the River Beult from Stilebridge to Hampstead Lock at Yalding Flood Alert Area

If you are already registered to receive Flood Alerts from the Environment Agency, you do not need to take any action. Your flood warning registration will be automatically updated.

If you are not registered and wish to sign up to receive Flood Alerts or Flood Warnings for the River Beult or other locations, you can do so here.

Alex Francois, Flood and Coastal Risk Management Advisor, said:

We are pleased we have been able to make this these improvements to our free Flood Warning Service available. It lets us warn the local community when flooding is expected, giving them notice to protect themselves and their possessions.

Even if your property or business is not at direct risk of flooding from the River Beult and its tributaries, you can still sign up to the service to stay informed of the local situation.

The Environment Agency monitors river levels to assess the risk of flooding and, as necessary, issues one of 3 levels of warning:

• Flood Alert – Flooding is possible. Be prepared.

• Flood Warning – Flooding is expected. Immediate action required.

• Severe Flood Warning – Severe Flooding. Danger to life.

The River Beult Flood Warning Service is just one of almost 3,500 Flood Warning Areas throughout England covered by the Environment Agency.

Flood Warning and Flood Alert message information can be accessed at any time from Floodline, the Environment Agency’s dedicated flood information service, by calling 0345 988 1188 or visiting the website.

See information on preparing for flooding.