Hugh Widdis is the Permanent Secretary of the Department of
Justice. He took up the position in April 2024. He has 24 years of experience
in parliamentary, government and legal services.
Hugh served from 2015 to 2024 as the Head of the Government Legal Service for
Northern Ireland, and Departmental Solicitor for the Northern Ireland Executive. During 2017-18 he
served as Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance.
Prior to joining the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Hugh
served as Director of Legal and Governance Services for the Northern Ireland
Assembly.
He has previously worked in research, and as a barrister in
private practice. He has also worked in the Scottish Parliament’s legal office,
and on discrimination law in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First
Minister. He was a member of the Senedd Cymru Commission’s Audit and Risk
Assurance Committee from 2012 until 2019.
Hugh is a barrister and member of the Bar of Ireland and the
Bar of Northern Ireland. Hugh is a Governor at Banbridge Academy, a member of
the Independent Remuneration Board for Senedd Cymru, and a member of the board
of the Chief Executives Forum.
