Dame Helen Frances Ghosh, DCB (/ɡəʊʃ/; gauche;[2] née Kirkby; born 21 February 1956)[1] is a former British civil servant who has been Master of Balliol College, Oxford since 2018.

[8] She studied modern history at St Hugh's College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1976.

[9] She then undertook postgraduate study at Hertford College, Oxford, graduating with a Master of Letters (MLitt) in 1980; her thesis concerned the history of Italy in the 6th century.

[11][8] She rejoined the Cabinet Office in October 2001, as head of Central Secretariat,[8] and, in 2003, became director general for Corporate Services at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC),[13] where she played an important part in the transformation programme merging the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise to form the new department.

[18][19][20] In April 2018, Ghosh left that role to become Master of Balliol College, Oxford, succeeding Drummond Bone.