Charles Banner KC’s appointment as Interim Chair has been extended by an additional six months, until 30 June 2024. Charles initially took up the post of Interim Chair on 21 June 2023, and will remain in post whilst Defra completes an open competition for a new Chair.
The interim appointment was made by the Environment Secretary as an exceptional appointment without competition, following consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Charles has been an Independent Member of the JNCC since 2017. He was Deputy Chair since 2021, as well as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Charles is a barrister at Keating Chambers. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2004 and to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2010. He practices across both jurisdictions and internationally, specialising in environment & planning law, commercial dispute resolution and public & regulatory law. He is regularly recognised by the legal press as one of the leading barristers in his fields of practice, and he has been the recipient of multiple legal industry awards.
Charles sits judicially on a part-time basis as a Justice of the Astana International Finance Centre Court in Kazakhstan.
For more information on the appointment, visit the gov.uk website.
Please note that Charles Banner KC stepped down as Interim Chair in March 2024, and Cath Denholm was appointed as new Interim Chair.