Masters of the Bench

Helen Ghosh read Modern History at St Hugh's College, Oxford and completed an M.Litt. in 6th Century Italian History at Hertford College. She joined the Civil Service Fast Stream in 1979 and over a 30 year career, worked in a variety of Departments including the Department of the Environment, Cabinet Office, Inland Revenue and Work and Pensions. She was Permanent Secretary in two Departments: at the Department for Environment, Food and Farming from 2005-10, and at the Home Office from 2010-12. Throughout her civil service career, she particularly enjoyed the aspects of her role involving the law, defending numerous judicial reviews over the years, as well as being involved in the preparation and passage of many pieces of legislation.  She has an enormous admiration for the work of the Government Legal Service, and some of her happiest memories are of working alongside its staff. In 2012 she left the Civil Service to become Director General of the National Trust. Since April 2018, she has been Master of Balliol College, Oxford.