About
Hello.
I’m John Peart.
I’m originally from Devon, but grew up in North Lincolnshire and Somerset. I live in London now, having originally moved here for university.
I do “policy” in the UK Civil Service. That’s a fancy way of saying that I design, develop and deliver programmes of work to meet the objectives of the incumbent government.
I specialise in digital policy. I’m deeply fascinated by the social consequences of technology. I’ve also spent a long time working in equalities policy.
I currently work for the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes, a part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. We’re making it possible to trust digital verification services, so you can use them across the UK economy.
Career
Assistant Director, Market Oversight and Integrity
Office for Digital Identities and Attributes
July 2022 to present
About this organisation
The Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA) is part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
We develop quality standards for digital verification services and oversee a system of independent assurance, underpinned by legislation. Our work enables people to prove things about themselves in a trustworthy way, digitally, and across the economy, through a range of public and private sector services.
About this role
As the Assistant Director for Market Oversight and Integrity, I lead policy and delivery that supports the development of the digital verification services market in the UK.
I lead the development and maintenance of a UKAS-recognised conformity assessment scheme, aligned to ISO/IEC 17065:2012, that underpins the assurance processes that build trust in digital verification service providers operating in the UK.
I am also the service owner for a GOV.UK register of digital identity and attribute services; a statutory register of digital verification services that have been independently assessed as meeting UK government rules. As part of this, I lead a digital delivery team and associated operational teams responsible for building, running and maintaining the integrity of this statutory register.
Projects and publications
- Developing the business case for the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes
- Enabling digital identity blog
- GOV.UK register of digital identity and attribute services (Discovery to Public Beta)
- UK digital identity and attributes trust framework certification scheme (0.3.1 to 0.4.4)
- Digital Identity Sectoral Analysis Report 2025
Head of Design and Delivery, Safe To Be Me International LGBT+ Conference
Equality Hub, Government Equalities Office
January 2022 to June 2022
Bill Manager, Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
January 2021 to December 2021
Private Secretary, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
July 2019 to January 2021
Head of LGBT Safety Policy and Sector Sustainability
Government Equalities Office
October 2018 to July 2019
Projects and publications
Head of Sexual Orientation Policy
Government Equalities Office
January 2017 to October 2018
Projects and publications
Senior Digital Adviser
Government Digital Service
September 2015 to January 2017
Projects and publications
- European Union Directive on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies
- Discovery phase: digital operations team
Digital Adviser
Government Digital Service
April 2014 to September 2015
Volunteering
LGBT+ mentor
Just Like Us
October 2020 to present
Chair
Civil Service LGBT+ Network
October 2021 to October 2023
Projects and publications
- Civil Service LGBT+ mentoring programme
- Civil Service Awards: Developing and Supporting People Award – Civil Service LGBT+ mentoring programme
- Civil Service Pride 2023
- Civil Service Pride 2022
Vice-chair
Civil Service LGBT+ Network
October 2017 to October 2021
Projects and publications
- Civil Service LGBT+ mentoring programme
- Civil Service PrideON podcast
- Civil Service Pride 2019
- Civil Service Pride 2018
- Civil Service LGBT+ Impact Index
Board member and Communications Lead
Civil Service LGBT+ Network
October 2013 to October 2017
Projects and publications
- Civil Service LGBT+ Role Models guide
- Civil Service Pride 2017
- Civil Service Pride 2016
- Civil Service Pride 2015
National Executive Councillor
National Union of Students
July 2009 to June 2011
Education
Bachelor of Science in Government
London School of Economics and Political Science
September 2010 to July 2013