Institute for Government (IfG) founder Sir Michael Bichard has been elevated to the peerage, it was announced today.

The former education department permanent secretary – who also serves as chair of the Design Council – has been an increasingly prominent voice on Whitehall reform since the IfG was set up in 2008.

He became a permanent secretary in 1995 after a period leading the Benefits Agency and a long career in local government, including stints as chief executive of Gloucestershire and Brent local authorities.

During his time in Whitehall, Bichard oversaw the merging of the departments of education and employment, becoming permanent secretary of the enlarged Department for Education and Employment.

After leaving government, he served as rector of the University of the Arts London, and conducted an inquiry into the infamous Soham murders in 2004.

The other crossbench peers nominated today by the House of Lords Appointment Commission include Gold medal-wining  paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Royal Opera House chief executive Tony Hall and surgeon Ajay Kakkar.