Deborah Williams

Job Title: Chair
Country: United Kingdom

Deborah Williams became chair of the Professional Accountantcy Organizations (PAO) Committee in 2011 after serving on the committee, as a member and deputy chair, since its creation in 2004. She was mominated by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

Ms. Williams is an independent government and international development advisor who has worked in a wide range of countries, including advising the parliaments of Uganda and Bangladesh, the Presidential Review Commission of South Africa, the Tax Authority in Mozambique, and donors in Nigeria.

Ms. Williams is a member of the CIPFA in the UK and spent her early career at the UK National Audit Office, the Audit Commission, and Price Waterhouse before being appointed Financial Adviser to the House of Lords. She has held a number of non-executive roles, including Board member and chair of the Group Audit Committee for the UK Department for Transport. Other UK non-executive board roles have included government programmes, Cranfield University, two healthcare trusts, and a not-for-profit. She was also an executive support service director for the Prime Minster’s Mission Critical projects.