DoJ Permanent Secretary

Hugh Widdis was appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Justice on 15 April 2024.

Hugh was the ‎Head of the Government Legal Service for Northern Ireland, and Departmental Solicitor for the ‎Northern Ireland Executive. He has 22 years of experience in parliamentary services and government legal services. Prior to joining the Northern Ireland Executive, Hugh was Director of Legal and Governance Services for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

He has previously worked in research, as a barrister in private practice and as an in-house lawyer in a leading financial services provider. 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 Welsh Assembly Commission’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ACARAC) from 2012 until 2019.

Hugh is a barrister and member of the Bar of Ireland and the Bar of Northern Ireland.
Hugh was appointed to the Independent Remuneration Board in June 2020.