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Appointments to Natural England Board

   

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Ref: 119/09
Date: 27 May 2009

Ministers have reappointed five members of the board of Natural England, the body responsible for enhancing and managing the natural environment.

Poul Christensen is reappointed as member and Deputy Chair for four more years until 30 September 2013. He is currently Acting Chair of Natural England.

David Hill is reappointed as a board member for three more years until 30 September 2012, while Peter Allen is reappointed for two more years until 30 September 2011. Lynn Crowe and Christopher Pennell are reappointed for a further year until 30 September 2010.

Two other members, Sarah Burton and Michael Depledge, will stand down when their terms expire on 30 September 2009.

Notes to editors

  1. Natural England is an independent statutory Non-Departmental Public Body. 
  2. The Board of Natural England consists of the Chair and not less than eight nor more than 15 members, all appointed by the Secretary of State.
  3. For more information about Natural England go to www.naturalengland.gov.uk
  4. The reappointments have been made in accordance with guidance issued by the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). Further details about the Commission and it’s Code of Practice are available at www.ocpa.gov.uk
  5. All appointments and re-appointments to Natural England are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However in accordance with the Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activities of appointees to be made public. Mr Pennell is a member of the Liberal Democrat Party. Mr Christensen, Mr Allen, Professor Crowe and Professor Hill have not declared any political activity.
  6. Remuneration for the Deputy Chair is £32,575 for 1.5 days a week (78 days a year).Board members receive £10,984 for 34 days a year. As Acting Chair, Poul Christensen receives £71,665 for 3 days a week.

Biographical details

Poul Christensen CBE - An Oxfordshire farmer and founder of the Tenant Farmers Association. He is a board member for Agricultural Central Trading, Chair for Defra's Sustainable Livestock Production Link programme, and has served as a non-executive director on the Defra management board since June 2007.

Peter Allen - Chairman of the North West Regional Management Board of the National Farmers' Union, Responsible use of Medicines Alliance and the EU Sheep Advisory Committee. Peter also holds membership of the Moorland Access Advisory Group, NOAH Code of Practice Committee, North West REPAC and Standing Conference for Country Sports.

Lynn Crowe – Professor of Environmental Management at Sheffield Hallam University and responsible for the management of the Countryside Recreation Network. Chair of the Social Science Research Advisory Group at the Forestry Commission.

David Hill – He runs an ecological consultancy company, is Chair of the Environment Bank Ltd and previously Chief Scientific Adviser to RPS Group plc. David is a Fellow and past President of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, and a Director of the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust.

Christopher Pennell – Chairman of the East Midlands Committee of the Heritage Lottery Fund. A Secretary of State nominated member of the Peak District National Park Authority and the Vice-Chair of its Services Committee, and Chair of the CPRE Countryside Awards Panel (Peak District and South Yorkshire).

End

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Page published: 27 May 2009