Government announces preferred candidate for Chair of Equality and Human Rights Commission

• Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson announced as the government’s preferred candidate for the next Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
• Preferred candidate to appear in front of 2 Parliamentary committees – Women and Equalities Select Committee (WESC) and the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JHCR) – ahead of appointment confirmation.
• Current chair Baroness Falkner’s term is due to end on 30 November 2025.

The government’s preferred candidate for the new chair of the independent Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has been identified as Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson. This follows a full and open competition to recruit a new chair, in line with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

The current chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner’s term is due to end on 30 November 2025, after being extended an additional year to provide stability while a full recruitment campaign was undertaken.

Dr Stephenson will appear before WESC and JCHR as part of pre-appointment hearings. The committees will provide advice to ministers before she is formally appointed. 

The appointment of Dr Stephenson will not impact the timelines or process for the updated statutory code of practice for services currently being developed by the EHRC.

Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson said:

This government is clear that equality and opportunity are at the heart of our programme of national renewal.

With the depth of her expertise in human rights and equality, Dr Stephenson is exceptionally suited to leading the EHRC and ensuring it continues to uphold the equalities framework in this country.

I want to thank Baroness Falkner for her continued work throughout this time.

Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson said:

I am honoured to be named the Government’s preferred candidate to be the new chair for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The EHRC plays an integral role in protecting and advancing equalities and I am deeply committed to furthering this work as chair. With over 30 years working on equalities and human rights, I am confident that I will bring a breadth of experience and insight to the role. 

I look forward to working with the team in the EHRC as well as stakeholders and the government to ensure equalities are upheld and all people are treated with respect and dignity.

The government is committed to ensuring that people of all backgrounds can thrive. The EHRC plays a vital role in upholding and promoting equality and human rights across England and Wales.

The EHRC is independent of the government and makes its own enforcement decisions, including about any inquiries and investigations it decides to conduct.

The EHRC has launched a consultation on its updated draft statutory code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This opened on 20 May and will close on 30 June. The final draft code will be sent to ministers for approval before laying in Parliament. 

Notes to editors

Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson has 30 years of experience working on equality and human rights issues within the UK and internationally, over 20 of these at Board and CEO level. She also holds a PhD in equality law.

Positions she has held include:

• Director of the Women’s Budget Group
• Director of the Fawcett Society
• Chair of Early Education and Childcare Coalition
• Board member of Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC)  
• Board member of Coventry Police and Crime Board