Hugh Widdis is the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Justice.  He took up the position in April 2024. He has 24 years of experience in parliamentary, government and legal services.

Hugh served from 2015 to 2024 as the ‎Head of the Government Legal Service for Northern Ireland, and Departmental Solicitor for the ‎Northern Ireland Executive. During 2017-18 he served as Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance.

Prior to joining the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Hugh served as Director of Legal and Governance Services for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

He has previously worked in research, and as a barrister in private practice. He has also worked in the Scottish Parliament’s legal office, and on discrimination law in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. He was a member of the Senedd Cymru Commission’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee from 2012 until 2019.

Hugh is a barrister and member of the Bar of Ireland and the Bar of Northern Ireland. Hugh is a Governor at Banbridge Academy, a member of the Independent Remuneration Board for Senedd Cymru, and a member of the board of the Chief Executives’ Forum.