Senior Civil Service profile
Head of Diversity and Equality, Programmes and System Delivery
Name: Louise Wright
Time at DWP: 14 years
Before DWP: Studied Politics and Economic and Social History at the University of Leicester.
I joined the Department as a benefits adviser and applied externally for the Civil Service Fast Stream programme at the same time.
Leadership role
My role has originated from the new public authorities’ duty to promote equality. The IT we provide to enable customer service and to help staff do their jobs is a fundamental enabler to equality – for example, it promotes access to employment for disabled people and can help with flexible working practices such as home working. So, I see what I am doing now as extremely important.
“I have been privileged to work with colleagues who are clever and committed ”
I have done a variety of exciting roles including heading up communications around DWP's IT programme, and a Parliamentary Bill to obtain new powers for fraud investigators. I have changed job every couple of years or so, which has kept me interested and challenged by what I do.
I also feel that, personally, I have been privileged to work with colleagues who are clever and committed, willing to listen and talk through issues to help each other.
