Nick Joicey is Interim Chief Operating Officer at the Blavatnik School of Government. He joined the School in January 2025 on a one-year secondment from the UK Civil Service. Nick works closely with the Dean and senior faculty to set the School’s strategic direction. He leads the School’s professional staff in implementing the strategy and in supporting the teaching, research, and policy engagement activities of the School.

Nick has held a wide range of roles across Government, most recently as Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating officer at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). He has previously worked in HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, as a Director-General in the Department for Work and Pensions, and at the UK delegation to the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC. He brings a wealth of both operational and policy experience, strong UK networks and a global perspective and understanding.

Nick is also an Independent Trustee on the University of Bristol Board and Chair of the University’s Finance and Investment Committee. Nick is a graduate of the University of Bristol and University of Cambridge, where he completed a PhD in modern history.