New Ethics and Integrity Commission Independent Members Appointed

Ijeoma Ajibade, Samuel Power, Nicola Driver and Katerina Hadjimatheou have been appointed as Independent Members of the Ethics & Integrity Commission, with their terms to commence on 1 August. 

The Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) was launched on 13 October 2025, replacing the Committee on Standards in Public Life. The EIC’s role is to promote the highest standards in public life, report to the Prime Minister on matters concerning ethical standards, and to advise public authorities on the development of clear codes of conduct with effective oversight arrangements. 

The new Independent Members announced today bring a wealth of valuable experience from a range of different sectors. They will join the Commission for a non-renewable term of 5 years. 

The biographies of the new Independent Members are:

Reverend Ijeoma Ajibade

Reverend Ijeoma Ajibade is an Independent Ethics Advisor to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Her extensive career includes serving as Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Regional Director at the Mission to Seafarers, and Assembly Scrutiny Manager at the Greater London Authority. She has managed complex governance, ethics, and policy portfolios across the public, voluntary, and faith-based sectors.

Dr Samuel Power

Dr Samuel Power is a Lecturer in Politics in the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies at the University of Bristol. He specialises in political financing, electoral integrity and ethical standards. As a Parliamentary Academic Fellow, he has provided expert advice and briefings to the House of Commons Library as a part of their Parliament and Constitution Centre. He has also consulted for the Committee on Standards in Public Life and numerous international bodies on political finance reform, anti-corruption and digital campaigning.

Nicola Driver

Nicola Driver is an Independent Complaints Assessor for the Department for Transport and an Ombudsman for the New Homes Ombudsman Service. She has over fifteen years of experience in public sector accountability through her work with the Ethical Standards Commissioner, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Her expertise focuses on standards, governance, and independent administrative review.

Dr Katerina Hadjimatheou

Dr Katerina Hadjimatheou is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Ethics at the University of Essex. She holds several independent advisory positions across the public and international sectors, providing ethical oversight to bodies including the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office. She also advises Essex County Council, policing organisations, and the European Commission. 

Editors notes –

• Further information about the Ethics and Integrity Commission is available on the Commission’s website 
• Appointments to the Ethics and Integrity Commission are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 
• These appointments were made following an open and fair competition in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. 
• Reverend Ajibade has been appointed to the Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) in an individual capacity, and not as a representative of the Church of England.
• Professor Gillian Peele’s existing term as an Independent Member of the EIC will come to an end in August 2026.