Reflecting on Excellence: I&I Award Previous Winners

Donal Galligan (CEX) sits down with two exceptional previous recipients to reflect on their achievements and experiences within the ombudsman community.

This special podcast episode brings together:

• Evan Lerwill – Assistant Ombudsman, Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO)
• Ruth Gray – Operations Manager, Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)

Both guests discuss the work that earned them their nominations, the highlights of serving the public through their respective schemes, and the professional challenges that have shaped their journeys.

🎧 Click here to listen to ‘OCA Winners: reflect on highlights and challenges’ on Spotify.

2023 Previous Winner: Evan Lerwill

Read about the 2023 winner, Evan Lerwill, who was recognised for his influential work embedding a human rights‑based approach across LGSCO’s investigations. His dedication to strengthening fairness, rights awareness, and investigative quality has contributed to significant improvements in the way local government complaints are understood and resolved.

📄 Read the full article on the 2023 winner: Evan Lerwill

2022 Previous Winner: Ruth Gray

Explore the achievements of the 2022 winner, Ruth Gray, who received the award for her leadership of the PHSO’s academy team.
Ruth’s work has had a lasting impact on capability building, training, and the professional development of colleagues across the ombudsman service, strengthening the delivery of high‑quality public service.

📄 Read the full article on the 2022 winner: Ruth Gray

As we look ahead to the launch of the Impact and Innovation Award nomination process, these reflections from Evan and Ruth offer valuable insight into the dedication, innovation, and impact that the OCA celebrates each year. Their contributions continue to inspire and elevate standards across the ombudsman sector.