Mark Adam

As the most senior HR leader in the Justice System and one of the top HR professionals in the Civil Service, Mark Adam has delivered strategic transformation and high-impact results across a workforce of nearly 100,000. His leadership is defined by a focus on service excellence, professional development, and system-wide collaboration.

Under Mark’s leadership, the Ministry of Justice met ambitious hiring goals—recruiting 5,000 Prison Officers, 1,000 Operational Support staff, and 500 Probation Officers—while maintaining top-five Civil Service performance for time-to-hire. MoJ was awarded the Civil Service Commission Mark of Excellence in 2023/24 for recruitment innovation and best practice. Mark has also delivered £27 million in efficiencies, introduced a high-impact HR performance hub, and supported major structural changes within HMPPS.

Mark’s vision has extended beyond MoJ. He led the expansion of HR casework to serve 49 government organisations, influencing shared service models across departments. He secured CIPD People Development Partner status for MoJ, and his internal HR leadership programme drove a 54% increase in targeted leadership behaviours, according to stakeholder feedback.

A passionate advocate for inclusion, Mark has expanded MoJ’s Social Mobility Programme, engaging over 130,000 pupils from low-income backgrounds through staff-led outreach. MoJ also regained Disability Confident Leader status in 2024 under his direction.

Mark is a respected, values-driven leader whose work is reshaping the MoJ’s people capability and influencing the wider Civil Service. His impact is enduring, system-wide, and exemplary of modern public service HR leadership.