Assistant Chief Officer Lisa Stitt

Lisa was appointed Assistant Chief Officer in June 2023 and is responsible for the support services (ICT, Finance, Payroll and Procurement, People Services, Estates and Transport & Logistics) for both North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. Lisa is also the senior member of Staff for both organisations.

Born in Scarborough, Lisa read Business and Management at Hull University, graduating in 2002 with a 1st class honours degree. Joining the Ministry of Defence in 2003, Lisa began her career as a Commercial Officer responsible for various large-scale Defence procurement contracts. Diversifying her career, Lisa carried out roles in finance, programme and project management, as a Chief of Staff for the MOD’s global logistics and support function and Private Secretary to the Chief Operating Officer.

A policy professional since 2008, Lisa specialised in operational policy and has deployed overseas to work alongside the military on a number of occasions including on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Lisa has worked at the tactical and operational levels, as well as strategically in Whitehall working with Ministers and No.10, as well as internationally for NATO. In 2017, she was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service for her work facilitating humanitarian assistance into Syria.

Lisa became a Senior Civil Servant in 2017 and was appointed as Head of Policy & Strategy for the Middle East, Levant and North Africa at the Ministry of Defence. She completed a year’s academic and leadership study at the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies in 19/20 and also finished her Masters in Public Policy at the London School of Economics, graduating with distinction. During Covid, Lisa was parachuted into the Department of Health and Social Care to takeover the delivery of the antibody and testing programme. During this time, she led the team who challenged current regulation on vaccine development by conducting concurrent, rather than sequential clinical trials. This proof of concept let the UK to become the first western nation to develop a Covid vaccine, something Lisa was personally commended for by the Prime Minister.

Following this, Lisa was tasked with devising the plan for rolling out the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for the Ministry of Defence, including holding to account the senior leadership across Defence for their delivery of the strategy. Promoted to Director in 2021, Lisa created and led the Directorate responsible for relocating and resettling Afghans to the UK, working across government departments, with local authorities, Ministers and the international community to ensure the safe and secure evacuation of those Afghans and their dependents who supported the UK in Afghanistan over two decades, a humbling role she was proud to hold.

Passionate about supporting women into leadership roles, Lisa also coaches and mentors those from a lower socio-economic background into a career of public service. As a Diversity & Inclusion advocate, ensuring everyone can bring their whole self to work is of particular importance to her.

Lisa also holds a Masters in Procurement, has completed both the Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme for high potential Civil Servants in government and holds the Certificate in Company Directorship from the Institute of Directors.

Lisa is married to Peter and they have a two-year-old son who keeps them both on their toes. They enjoy spending time outdoors in the great Yorkshire Dales.