King's College London

The School for Government at King’s College London is pleased to announce the appointment of three new Visiting Faculty members – Emma de Closset, Sir David Green KC, and Baroness Camilla Cavendish – as well as the continuation of Lord Peter Hain’s association with the School as a Visiting Professor.

Each brings substantial expertise and leadership experience across public service, policy, and governance. Their contributions will enhance our teaching, research, and public engagement as we continue to deliver rigorous, practice-informed education to the next generation of public leaders.

Emma de Closset is Chief Executive Officer of UK Community Foundations (UKCF), the national network of community foundations that collectively support local people to solve local problems in every postcode across the UK. She has extensive experience across public service, including strategy, policy, and operations. Prior to joining UKCF in 2025, Emma was a Senior Civil Servant in the Cabinet Office, where she held a range of leadership roles including Director of Transformation, Director of Strategy in the Cabinet Secretariat, and Chief Operating Officer for the UK’s G7 Presidency in 2021. She also served as the Prime Minister’s Deputy Representative for the 2023 AI Safety Summit.

Emma will contribute to teaching within the School for Government focused on civil society and its role in government.

Sir David Green KC served as Director of the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for six years, during which he oversaw high-profile cross-border investigations, the introduction of Deferred Prosecution Agreements, and prosecutions under the Bribery Act. His previous roles include Director of the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office, barrister specialising in criminal law, and service with the Defence Intelligence Staff. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2000 and knighted in 2018 for services to the criminal justice system.

Sir David has previously contributed to the School for Government, including designing an online course on corruption for UK civil servants, participating in panels, and guest lecturing on executive education programmes. Going forward, Sir David will contribute to our Government Policy Fast Stream Postgraduate Award, where he will support the development of a new module on Policymaking and the Law. His deep expertise will also support the School’s research interests in anti-corruption, offering valuable insight into areas such as bribery, fraud, and cross-border enforcement.

Baroness Camilla Cavendish is a crossbench peer, Research Fellow at Harvard University, award-winning writer, and non-executive director on the UK Department of Health and Social Care Board. She was the second woman ever to lead the Downing Street Policy Unit, where she played a central role in shaping major government policies, including the introduction of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.

Baroness Cavendish will contribute to the teaching of our policy process module on our Health and Social Care Policy MSc for the Department of Health and Social Care. She will also contribute to public events on healthcare policy and other subjects within her area of expertise, enhancing the School’s public engagement and thought leadership.

We are also pleased to announce that Lord Peter Hain’s Visiting Professorship at the School for Government has been renewed. Lord Hain, a senior minister for 12 years in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown – where he served as Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Leader of the House of Commons – continues to offer invaluable insight through his ongoing affiliation with the School.