Dinah Nichols

Dinah Nichols CB (born 1943) is a retired British civil servant and public administrator. She is known for her 35-year career in the UK Civil Service, including senior roles in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), leading the UK delegation to the Kyoto Climate Conference and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and as Chair of Keep Britain Tidy.

Early life and education Nichols studied history at Bedford College, London from 1962 to 1965, becoming the first in her family to attend university. She was awarded the Reid Arts Scholarship as an undergraduate, sang in the Imperial College Choir, performed with the ULU Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and served as Treasurer of the Students’ Union.

Honours and recognition Nichols was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).