Oxfam UK chief executive Dame Barbara Stocking has been appointed as a non-executive board member for Whitehall's boards.

As one of 31 non-executive members of the various departmental boards Dame Barbara (pictured) will “play a key role in shaking up governance across Whitehall”, the Cabinet Office has said, taking the government through a “challenging reform programme” from within the Cabinet Office board.

Dame Barbara is the only paid member of civil society introduced to the boards this year although other members are active within the sector.

Lord John Browne of Madingley, chair of Tate galleries and former BP chief will lead the non-executive members of the Cabinet Office board. Chairman of the Art Fund, David Verey will lead the Department for Culture Media and Sport non-executive board members and trustee of the Windsor Leadership Trust and the Royal Opera House Dame Sue Street enters the board of the Ministry of Justice.