The UK 皇冠体育国际娱乐 for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new chair and two new trustees.
Judith Batchelar OBE appointed chair
Judith Batchelar OBE will take up the role of chair of the UKCEH board in December 2024. Judith has 40 years鈥� experience in the food and drink industry, notably as Sainsbury鈥檚 brand director from 2004-2021, where she was instrumental in driving product quality and innovation, corporate responsibility, sustainability, and public affairs. She is currently deputy chair of The Environment Agency and a trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
A biochemist and nutritionist with an honorary doctorate in agriculture, Judith chaired the UK Government鈥檚 AgriTech Leadership Council from 2013 to 2018. She received an OBE in 2015 for services to farming and the food industry. Today she co-chairs Defra鈥檚 Food Data Transparency Partnership eco working group, serves as a commissioner on the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, and is an ambassador for Farm Africa and the Woodland Trust.
Reacting to her appointment, Judith said: 鈥淚 am honoured to take on the role of chair of this brilliant research institute, which has so much to contribute to tackling the urgent environmental challenges of our time. I am passionate about applying science to decision-making, and believe I can bring my experience to bear to help make a real difference.鈥�
Judith will succeed Lord Cameron of Dillington, who announced his retirement late last year.
Victoria McMyn joins as finance trustee
Victoria McMyn will join the board as finance trustee in July 2024. Victoria is currently chief change officer at UK Shared Business Services and was previously chief operating officer at the Natural Environment Research Council. She brings extensive experience in leading operations, business change and transformation programmes. A chartered accountant, Victoria will chair the finance and audit sub-committee of the board, succeeding Neil Scragg, who is stepping down after five years in the role.
Professor Emily Shuckburgh OBE appointed as science trustee
Professor Emily Shuckburgh OBE will join the board as an additional science trustee. A world-leading climate scientist and science communicator, she is the director of Cambridge Zero, the University of Cambridge鈥檚 climate change initiative. Emily is a mathematician and professor of environmental data science at Cambridge鈥檚 Department of Computer Science and Technology.
She leads the UKRI 皇冠体育国际娱乐 for Doctoral Training on the Application of AI to the Study of Environmental Risks and is a director of the 皇冠体育国际娱乐 for Landscape Regeneration. Her experience includes over a decade working at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), and she is a Fellow of鈥疊AS, the Royal Meteorological Society, and Darwin College. Emily was awarded an OBE in 2016 for services to science and the public communication of science.
Dr Stuart Wainwright, chief executive of UKCEH, said: 鈥淚 look forward to working with our new chair and trustees, who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the board. These appointments mark a significant step forward for UKCEH, strengthening its governance and leadership as it continues to address critical environmental issues.鈥�