MBE for Alumnus David Rigal

David Rigal has had an enormous impact on government policy throughout his 16 year Civil Service career and has made a significant contribution to diversity and inclusion. He was Vice-Chair of the DEFRA Ethnic Minority Network from 2004 to 2008. He was also Vice-Chair of the Religion and Ethnic Minority Network in DECC from 2008 until 2014 and, in that role, provided leadership to the 200 plus members, most notably extensive and sensitive one-to-one support to staff on bullying and harassment. He identified concerns with the performance management framework and its impact on ethnic minority staff and was integral to seeking a review of the Performance Improvement Plan approach in DECC. 

He also has extensive voluntary experience spanning over 40 years, with a focus on the Jewish community in the UK, serving on the Jewish Board of Deputies and most recently as Honorary Secretary of the Jewish Aged and Needy Pension Society. He is the senior steward of the synagogue and has, for over 20 years, run the cemetery effectively and as CEO of a major business in charge of 4 staff and a large piece of land. This involves managing high profile funerals, security and staff issues and negotiations with the local council and donors.