The Head of the Public Service has appointed four new permanent secretaries.

David Kendell has been made Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health, while Lisa Smith-Clarke was made Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education.

Kirk Outerbridge was appointed the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Works and Andrew Pettit became the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs.

All appointments come as a result of retirements and promotions within the service and took effect on Monday.

Mr Kendell has developed a strong background in leadership, human resources management and project management during his time in the public health sector.

His most recent role as the Director of the Government’s Department of Health highlighted his skills in strategic and operational planning, legislative projects and responding to challenges brought on by a pandemic.

Mr Kendell also has a vast amount of experience in environmental health and built several programmes and partnerships between the government and community groups.

He also holds a master of science degree in environmental health and has a history of volunteer work and board memberships.

A Public Service spokeswoman described Mr Kendell as “a skilled communicator and negotiator, with a proven track record of building relationships and achieving results”.

Mrs Smith-Clarke, a former educator and principal, brings 31 years of experience to her new role.

She previously served as the strategic project and policy officer for the Ministry of Education and was responsible for managing two complex education projects.

She has also served as the governance chair for the first phase of education reform, where she provided project management, technical advice and guidance.

Mrs Smith-Clarke has also served as the president of the Association of School Principals.

She holds a master of science in education and has won leadership awards from Harvard’s Institute for Superintendents and Cornell University’s School of Public Policy.

Mrs Smith-Clarke has completed coursework and credentials with the Project Management Institute and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

She is also adept in the Project Management Institute’s Talent Triangle, which outlines qualities to ensure success in a changing professional world.

Mrs Smith-Clarke has further been approved by the PMI Board to sit the Project Management Professional examination.

A Public Service spokeswoman said: “Mrs Smith-Clarke has extensive technical skill development and experience that she will bring to the role of Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education.”

Mr Outerbridge will bring 25 years of experience across several sectors to his new position.

He started off as a trainee at the Tynes Bay Waste-to-Energy Facility in 1998 before working in Canada’s oil and gas sector and returning to Bermuda to manage the facility for 13 years.

Mr Outerbridge worked as a chief engineer in 2019, where he oversaw Bermuda’s infrastructure and capital project delivery.

A Public Service spokeswoman said: “With his wealth of experience and proven leadership, he hopes to bring stability and increased service delivery to a very complex and dynamic ministry, filled with professionals who serve our community daily.”

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a professional engineering designation with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.

Mr Pettit will bring more than 23 years of experience to his new post alongside a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning and a master’s in landscape architecture.

He worked as the park planner for the Department of Parks for ten years, where he helped to enhance the protection of Bermuda’s green spaces and historical sites.

Over the past 12 years, Mr Pettit served as the Director of Conservation Services and as Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Public Service spokeswoman said: “In these roles, he demonstrated leadership and expertise in developing and implementing comprehensive environmental policies, spearheading critical conservation initiatives and overseeing the sustainable management of natural resources.”

• UPDATE: this article has been corrected to remove the suggestion that Mr Pettit was the first Director of Conservation Services