As a ‘portfolio’ worker Baroness Rennie Fritchie DBE has a number of jobs and positions. Her main substantial post is Commissioner for Public Appointments, in addition she is a consultant on Strategy and Leadership working out of Mainstream Development. The Baroness is an Honorary Visiting Professor with a chair in Creative Leadership at York University, Vice Chair of the Stroud and Swindon Building Society, Vice President of the British Lung Foundation and Pro Chancellor of Southampton University. She is the recipient of honorary degrees from the Universities of York, Southampton, Oxford Brookes, St Andrews and The Open University, Queens University Belfast and a Fellow of the University of Gloucestershire and City and Guilds.

On 1 March 1999 Baroness Fritchie was appointed Commissioner for Public Appointments and a Civil Service Commissioner, and in March 2002 Baroness Fritchie was appointed for a further 3 year term of office. Her appointment has since been extended until December 2005. As independent Commissioner her role is to regulate, monitor, advise and report on ministerial appointments. In addition she is Gloucestershire Ambassador for Gloucestershire First, Companion of the Institute of Management, Patron of the Pied Piper Appeal for a Children’s Hospital and Ambassador for Winston’s Wish, a grief support charity for children, and a St Andrew’s Ambassador.

Her work in the area of conflict resolution has involved action research over five years. She is co-author of a number of books and publications: most recently ‘Resolving Conflicts in Organisations’ co-authored with Malcolm Leary and published by Lemos & Crane. Dame Rennie is also a producer and presenter on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.