13 Facts About Helen Ghosh

Dame Helen Frances Ghosh, DCB is a former British civil servant who has been Master of Balliol College, Oxford since 2018.

Helen Ghosh was previously Director-General of the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty from November 2012 to April 2018.

Helen Ghosh was Permanent Secretary at the Home Office from January 2011 to November 2012, and prior to that was Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from November 2005 to the end of 2010.

Helen Ghosh was educated at Farnborough Hill, an all-girls private Catholic school.

Helen Ghosh studied modern history at St Hugh's College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976.

Helen Ghosh then undertook postgraduate study at Hertford College, Oxford, graduating with a Master of Letters in 1980; her thesis concerned the history of Italy in the 6th century.

Helen Ghosh was private secretary to the Minister for Environment and Housing from 1986 to 1988, and was head of the Housing Policy and Home Ownership Team from 1992 to 1995.

Helen Ghosh left the post in May 1997 to become director of the London East and European Programmes at the Government Office for London.

Helen Ghosh then joined the Department for Work and Pensions as director of the Children's Group.

Helen Ghosh was appointed permanent secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in November 2005.

Helen Ghosh replaced David Normington as permanent secretary at the Home Office in January 2011.

Helen Ghosh was a board member of the National School for Government, and a committee member and former chair of the Blackfriars Overseas Aid Trust, based in Oxford.

Helen Ghosh was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June 2008.