Lesley Cowley OBE
Chair
Lesley is our Chair, having been appointed in January 2026.
She joined Public Digital in 2022 as a Non-executive director. In 2010 she was appointed OBE by The Queen for services to the internet and e-commerce.
Lesley said:
"My first real leadership role was as Sixer of the Pixies in my Brownie Pack. The Pixies became known for getting things done on time and succeeding at challenges. They had a fearless reputation for speedy tent erection and won the Pack award."
Using this experience, Lesley went on to lead people for a career.
She was previously Chair of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) which manages the records of 49 million drivers and 40 million vehicles in the UK. She also chaired Companies House, which incorporates and dissolves limited companies in the UK, and registers and makes available the information companies are legally required to supply. In addition, she previously chaired Airport Coordination, the world's leading airport coordinator, which manages airport slots for 4 million flights annually at 46 airports.
She is currently Chair of Building Digital UK (BDUK), the government body bringing broadband and mobile coverage to hard to reach places across the UK.