A new Director of Operations and Executive Chaplain to the Bishop of Carlisle has been appointed.

Ali Ng will take up the high-level advisory role in May, having been Acting Bishop’s Chaplain to Bishop Rob Saner-Haigh since December 2023, following the retirement of the Rev Canon Cameron Butland.

It means Ali will stand down entirely from her other current roles as the Diocese of Carlisle’s Head of Human Resources and Governance and Deputy Diocesan Secretary.

She said: “On my part, there has been much prayer and discernment to get to this point, and I feel hugely blessed and thankful to be offered this position.

“It has been an honour to work alongside Bishop Rob, both when he was acting Bishop of Carlisle and following his appointment to the role. It was a joy to be so heavily involved with his enthronement service in November and to see the close ties he has with clergy and laity across Cumbria. I am committed to helping him grow those relationships further as together we all look towards a flourishing of mission and ministry in God’s name throughout this wonderful county.”

The new role will see Ali provide high-level support to both the Bishop of Carlisle and the Bishop of Penrith. She will manage pastoral matters and complaints and support communications as well as overseeing operations at the Bishop’s House offices in Keswick. She will continue to be a member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team and will hone research and briefings, agendas and correspondence for meetings and episcopal duties.

The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, said: “I am delighted that Ali has been appointed to this new role. She brings a great range of skills, but most of all a prayerful commitment to Jesus and to the life and flourishing of churches and people across the county.

“Although she has been acting chaplain for the past two years, this is a significant change of role for her as she leaves behind her governance and HR responsibilities for the Diocese and focuses on this new role supporting both Bishops and the Bishop’s Leadership Team in our care for the clergy, ministers and churches of this diocese. Please pray for Ali as she readies herself for the challenges and work ahead.”

In 2010, Ali was jointly appointed by the Diocese of Carlisle and Diocese of Blackburn (the Church of England in Lancashire) as HR Adviser. When Ali returned from maternity leave in 2016, she became HR Manager (part time), solely for Carlisle Diocese. In January 2021, Ali became Head of HR and Governance and her role as deputy diocesan secretary was added to this in January 2023.

Previously, she worked in HR for East Coast Main Line. She lives with her husband, Kai, and their son, Noah, and black labrador, Amy, in Longridge in north Lancashire. She is active in her parish church, St Lawrence with St Paul serving as children's church leader and duty warden. She has previously served as a Churchwarden and Parochial Church Council member.

ENDS

For further information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications on 07469 153658 or at communications@carlislediocese.org.uk.