ONL Dame Antonia Romeo appointed as the UK’s first female Cabinet Secretary

We are so thrilled to share the wonderful news that ONL Dame Antonia Romeo (1992) has been appointed Cabinet Secretary and head of the Civil Service, the most senior civil servant in the United Kingdom and the first woman to hold the post in its history – a remarkable milestone, and we could not be prouder of her achievement.

Dame Antonia’s journey began here at NLCS, where she arrived aged six in 1981 and in her time at the school she developed a passion for maths (under the tutelage of Mrs Salter), which took her via Double Maths at A level to PPE at University of Oxford and an MSc Economics at the London School of Economics.

After beginning her career in the private sector, Dame Antonia joined the Civil Service in 2000 as a professional economist and has served with distinction ever since. Her career has spanned senior leadership positions across Government — from Principal Private Secretary to the Lord Chancellor, to Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Trade (2017-2021), and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice (2021-2025). In 2016, she made history as the first woman appointed Her Majesty’s Consul General in New York, a role dating back over two centuries. As Clerk of the Crown in Chancery while at the Ministry of Justice, Dame Antonia oversaw the production of the official record of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023. Most recently, she served as Permanent Secretary at the Home Office before taking on this new role.

Sir Keir Starmer described her as “an outstanding public servant, with a 25-year record of delivering for the British people.”

Vicky Bingham remarked “Dame Antonia Romeo’s appointment is a milestone for the Civil Service and for the country. It is also a moment of real pride for NLCS. Her example reminds us that leadership is, at its best, a form of service, and that excellence means using your abilities in the interests of others”.

Dame Antonia’s appointment is a source of immense pride for all of us at NLCS. Her leadership, commitment to public service, and path forging example continues to inspire us all.

Please join us in congratulating Dame Antonia Romeo on this historic achievement and wishing her every success in this vital national role.