Melvyn Gwynne Jeremiah
110 Ashley Gardens,
Thirleby Road,
Westminster, London
SW1P 1HJ
United Kingdom
Phone +44-207-828-1588
Fax +44-207-931-0102
Born 10 March 1939:
Newport, Monmouthshire, UK:
Education / Abertillery County School, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, UK
Professional experience / Public service 1958 – 1997
1995-1997 Chairman, Wage & Salary Commission, Republic of Namibia
- Produced Commission Report with over 50 recommendations on the restructuring and revaluation of public service posts in Namibia, from the President to unskilled workers. 49 recommendations accepted.
Responsible for the Department’s relations with the pharmaceutical industry, including the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme; the community pharmacy service; the General Dental Service; the optical service; and prescription charges (including remission and exemption).
1991-1992 Under Secretary, Department of Health, United Kingdom.
Senior management consultancy projects within the Department of Health, including the integration of Public Expenditure Survey and top level planning systems, the establishment of the NHS estates function as a Next Steps Agency, the creation of a new body to take over the supplies function in the National Health Service, and composing a set of guiding principles for the oversight of the Department’s fringe bodies and Next Steps Agencies.
1987-1991 Chief Executive, Disablement Services Authority, UK
Headed a Special Health Authority to overhaul the national artificial limb and wheelchair services. Changed the culture of the services from clerical routine to customer focus; introduced effective management at local (30 Centres) and Regional (14 Regions) levels; reduced the multi-disciplinary workforce from over 1100 to 850, increasing the proportion of health professionals; introduced new contracts with the suppliers of artificial limbs, breaking the previous monopoly and providing better value for money and quality of service; planned and brought about with Regional and District Health Authorities the integration of the services with the general National Health Service at 31 March 1991.
1979-1987 Principal Finance Officer (Under Secretary) Welsh Office, UK.
Controlled the Finance function for the Welsh Office. Established separate systems to make the Welsh Office responsible for its own resources (previously within the expenditure programmes of functional Whitehall Departments); established a separate Rate Support Grant system for Welsh local authorities (previously in the English system).
1976-1979 Assistant Secretary, Counter-Inflation Division, HM Treasury
Co-ordinated pay policy as part of the Government’s counter-inflation policy, working closely with other Departments throughout Whitehall.
1975-1976 Assistant Secretary, Cabinet Office.
Member of a small support team to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Government’s Special Financial Adviser.
1973-1975 Assistant Secretary, HM Customs & Excise
Provided support for the top management group and participated in a full Management Review of the Department.
1970-1973 Principal, UK Negotiating Team for entry to the EC.
Undertook direct negotiation with the European Commission and the existing Member States on the Customs aspects of the UK entry to the European Community.
1967-1970 National Secretary, Association of First Division Civil Servants.
Represented the top levels of the Civil Service in negotiation with management following the Fulton Report on the Civil Service. Member of the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council.
1963-1967 Assistant Principal and later Principal, HM Customs & Excise
Various posts, including Principal in charge of passenger and crew control policy, which included representing the UK at the Seventh FAL Session of ICAO and serving as the UK Member of the Council of Europe Committee on Frontier Formalities. During that period, introduced the “Red/Green” system of control in the UK. Also short period on loan as Joint Secretary of the Constitutional Conference for Basutoland (now Lesotho).
1962 Passed Limited (internal Civil Service) Competition for appointment to the Administrative Class of the UK Home Civil Service.
1958-1963 Executive Officer, Home Office
Immigration policy and casework.
1957 Passed Open Competition for appointment to the Executive Class of the UK Home Civil Service.
Interests and activities / Public administration : From early 1991 to the end of 1994 provided advice and undertook assignments on an ad hoc basis for the Overseas Development Administration and the British Council. Directed two British Council seminars for senior officials from over 20 countries on public administration issues in 1993 and 1994. Provided advice to the Office of the Prime Minister in Namibia and to the Presidency of Colombia, and acted as facilitator for ANC Conference of candidates for posts of Provincial Governor in South Africa. Founder Member of the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management.
Honorary Secretary of the Heraldry Society; Associate of the American Academy for Medieval and Chivalric Research, Member of the American Academy for the Promotion of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences. Member of Council of the White Lion Society, Trustee of the International Heraldry Society, member of the International Association of Amateur Heralds. the Harleian Society, the Society of Genealogists, and various Family History Societies.
Pursuivant Extraordinary of the Heraldische Gemeinschaft Westfalen.
Member of the Reform Club since 1969
Freeman, City of London; Liveryman, Worshipful Company of Scriveners
Justice of the Peace (Inner London)
Director, Ashley Gardens Freeholds Ltd (1986-89, 2001- )
Awards received
/ Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), 1994
Coat of Arms granted by Warrant of the Earl Marshal, 1994
Motto: Tolerant But Steadfast