New Chief Executive announced for the Natural Environment Research Council
Source: BISPublished Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 11:03
Business Secretary Vince Cable today announced the appointment of Professor Duncan Wingham as Chief Executive and Deputy Chair of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
Vince Cable said:
“I am very pleased to welcome Professor Wingham as the new Chief Executive of the Natural Environment Research Council. His expertise will be of great benefit as he builds on NERC’s achievements and leads the organisation over the next four years.
“NERC tackles the world’s major environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity and natural hazards, providing independent research and training in the environmental sciences.”
Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said:
“I’m delighted to welcome Professor Wingham as the new Chief Executive of the Natural Environment Research Council. His knowledge and expertise will be vital in leading an organisation that funds world-class science and increases knowledge and understanding of the natural world.”
Professor Duncan Wingham said:
"It is an honour to be offered the role of NERC Chief Executive. Environmental science lies increasingly at the heart of many of the challenges and opportunities that face us today, and NERC must continue to play a leading role in developing this science, and ensuring the widest possible impact of its work. I am very much looking forward to the exciting possibilities and challenges that lie ahead.”
NERC Chair Ed Wallis said:
"I am delighted to welcome Professor Duncan Wingham as the new Chief Executive of NERC. Duncan’s international scientific contribution and reputation, strategic science leadership and vision make him ideally suited to drive forward the delivery of NERC strategy. He has demonstrated his wealth of knowledge across the environmental sciences as the current Chair of our Science and Innovation Strategy Board, and will lead NERC to the next stage in our strategic development."
The appointment is for four years. Professor Wingham will take up post on 1 January 2012 as the permanent successor to Professor Alan Thorpe who stepped down from NERC on 30 June to take up the position of Director General of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Dr Steven Wilson is the current interim Chief Executive.
