Pia Sinha appointed new director of PRT
Pia Sinha, director of women at HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), has been appointed as the new director of the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) following a competitive recruitment process.
Pia will take up her new position at PRT at the beginning of April 2023 on the retirement of the current director Peter Dawson.
Pia joined the prison service in 1999 as a higher psychologist at HMP & YOI Holloway. After joining HMP Wandsworth as a senior psychologist, she took up the post of head of safer prisons, followed by head of reducing re-offending at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. She then took up her first deputy governor role at HMP Send, and subsequently Downview and Liverpool.
In 2013 Pia was appointed to her first governing role at HMP & YOI Thorn Cross. She has since governed at both HMP Risley and HMP Liverpool.
In 2020 she became acting deputy director of the probation reform programme, then the workforce programme at HM Prison and Probation Service. She took up her last post as director of women in November 2021 taking responsibility for the 10 public sector women’s prisons and oversight of the two private prisons as well as leading the women’s team who are responsible for women’s policy and strategic delivery.
Commenting on her appointment, Pia Sinha said:
“I have spent 23 incredible years in HMPPS, enjoying a variety of roles and taking on exciting, challenging and stretching projects. I have worked with some of the most committed and dedicated people in the service, people that have helped me learn and grow and shaped me into the person I am today. Prison reform is in my DNA and I am looking forward to using my experience and knowledge to build on the amazing work being done at the Prison Reform Trust. It is truly an honour and privilege.”
James Timpson, chair of the Prison Reform Trust, said:
“We knew that finding a replacement for our current director would be challenging, but the advertisement attracted a very strong field and an outstanding candidate in Pia. She will join us in April at what is certain to a very important time for all the people who live and work in our prisons, and the people who care about them. The trustees and I are delighted to welcome Pia to PRT and look forward very much to working with her.”
Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust said:
“I really couldn’t be any more pleased or excited about the appointment of Pia Sinha to be the next leader of the Prison Reform Trust from the beginning of April 2023.
“I’ve known Pia for many years, and I have dined out on being one of the panel of people who helped select her to become a Governor when she decided to take up that challenge.
“When I visited her years later and she was busy resurrecting HMP Liverpool from the ashes of a catastrophic inspection, I found myself wishing that I could have done the job with half of her skill and imagination.
“She brings so much to PRT — a profound knowledge of working at the front line, in prison management and also in senior and hugely important roles in Whitehall. But she also brings an instinctive understanding of what we are about, and the values which have sustained us for over 40 years.
“She inherits a brilliant team, and they are going to feel very lucky to be joined by her, as will all PRT’s many partners and supporters. Our reputation for independent, fact driven advocacy, championing the participation of the people who live in prison, could not be in better hands.”
