The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 December 2025.
The Government has appointed two interim commissioners to the Equality and Human Rights Commission to ensure continuity while a wider recruitment process is completed. The appointments are due to begin on 1 January 2026 and will run for a period of up to one year.
Ali Harris, chief executive of the human rights charity Equally Ours, and Professor Shazia Choudhry, a professor of law at the University of Oxford, have been named as interim commissioners. They will join the commission’s board during a transitional period as permanent commissioner roles are filled through an open competition.
The appointments are intended to support the ongoing work of the EHRC, which is responsible for promoting and enforcing equality and human rights law across Great Britain. The commission plays a key role in regulating the Equality Act 2010, advising public bodies and employers, and taking enforcement action where necessary.
The Minister for Women and Equalities said the interim appointments would help maintain stability at the regulator during a period of change, adding that both appointees bring significant experience in equality, human rights and legal expertise.
Alongside the interim roles, the Government has launched a recruitment campaign to appoint a number of permanent commissioners, including representatives for Scotland and Wales, with input from the devolved administrations. The process forms part of a broader refresh of the commission’s leadership.