Dame Valerie Patricia Marie Strachan, DCB (née Nicholls; born 10 January 1940) is a retired British civil servant.
[1] She then studied politics at the University of Manchester, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
[1] From 1985 to 1987, Strachan was on secondment as head of the Joint Management Unit between HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office.
[1] In the 1991 New Year Honours, Strachan was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in recognition of her service as deputy chairman of the board of HM Customs and Excise.
[6] In 1995, Strachan was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree by the University of Manchester, her alma mater.