On 18 May 2000, Dame Valerie Strachan was appointed by the Lord Chancellor as Assessor to the Review of Tribunals, under the chairmanship of Sir Andrew Leggatt. Dame Valerie retired as Chairman of the Board of HM Customs and Excise earlier this year.

Born in 1940, Dame Valerie was educated at Newland High School, Hull and Manchester University. She joined HM Customs and Excise as an Assistant Principal in 1961. She was promoted to Principal in 1966, to Assistant Secretary in 1974 and to Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Under Secretary in 1980).

As Head of the Treasury/Cabinet Office Joint Management Unit she supported the top management of the Treasury and Cabinet Office in leading the programme of management reform in the Civil Service.

Dame Valerie was promoted to Deputy Chairman, Customs and Excise (Deputy Secretary) in 1987, and was appointed Chairman of the Board of HM Customs and Excise in 1993.

Dame Valerie was awarded the title of UK Woman of Europe in November 1992 for her work towards the completion of the Single Market.

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