Experience

Greater London Authority
• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee
• Policy and Programmes Manager, Waste and Circular Economy

  • Sep 2022 - Present


Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Head Of Science, National Biodiversity

  • Feb 2017 - Sep 2022

  I lead a team of natural scientists to deliver a programme of research to support biodiversity policy, which is broad in remit and highly reactive. The job includes overseeing the commissioning, management and communication of research projects, providing advice to policy and ministers; and influencing the activities of ALBs, as well as other teams and disciplines across the Defra group. Ensuring monitoring and evaluation activities are fit for purpose and using innovation to develop new approaches to assessing and communicating progress on biodiversity, including monitoring, indicators and targets. In addition, I oversee the evidence budget, prioritisation of evidence needs and development of evidence spending review and budget bids. Show less

• Senior Scientific Officer, Plant Health Policy

  • 2013 - 2017

  My role as research coordinator for Tree Health, included management and commissioning of research with specific emphasis on control and resilience to pests and diseases; to meet the departments strategic objectives and support capability and capacity within the research community.I produce research reviews, written and verbal briefings and strategy documents for policy colleagues, stakeholders and ministers to communicate our activities and inform policy decision making. Working to tight timescales in the event of disease outbreaks, often with media scrutiny.I oversaw the development of an £10m interdisciplinary research call with three research councils and the devolved administration as well as a multi-million pound research consortium in response to ash dieback. Show less

• Sceintific Officer

  • Sep 2009 - 2013

  My role was to commission and manage scientific research on sustainable farming, crop production and integrated pest management. As well as individual projects I represented Defra and the UK on collaborative research initiatives with research councils, industry funding bodies and with other member states at the European level.This role gave me experience of the process of initiating and managing small projects as well as multi-million pound initiatives. I developed skills in leading and influencing experience at the interface between policy, stakeholders and the scientific community.Other relevant experience includes: research prioritisation and quality assurance, peer review, budget management, providing secretariat to numerous groups and organisation of workshops and small conferences. Show less



AHDB - Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

• United Kingdom
• Farming
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Research and Development Project Manager

  • 2007 - 2009

  My role was to manage and monitor a programme of levy-funded R&D relevant to the needs of the UK cereals and oilseeds industries, with a particular emphasis on integrated pest management, crop nutrition and physiology, soil management; liaising with research contractors, levy payers and other industry stakeholders. The varied role required simultaneous progression of multiple activities including research development and knowledge exchange. Knowledge exchange activities included representation and communication of research at trade events and development of newsletters and leaflets. Show less