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New Sustainable Development Commission Chair appointed

Will DayThe Prime Minister has appointed Will Day as Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), to succeed Jonathon Porritt from 27 July 2009. 

Following his appointment, Will Day said: "I am delighted to be asked to Chair the SDC.  I take this on at a time of growing public and political understanding of the immense social and environmental pressures that are building up around the world and that affect us all.  These realities will require thoughtful and decisive action by government at all levels, business and our wider society.”

Will Day joins the SDC from a background in international sustainable development, having worked with aid organisations Care International UK, Save the Children and Oxfam; and in broadcasting with the BBC World Service.  He was instrumental in setting up Comic Relief, and has chaired the BBC’s Children In Need as well as advising Pricewaterhouse Coopers on sustainability.  He is also Special Advisor to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a Senior Associate of the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry, where he is a faculty member of the Prince of Wales’ Business and Environment Programme.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn welcomed Mr Day to the role, saying: “I look forward to working with Will on what is a challenging time to be the Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission.  I would also like to thank Jonathan Porritt, the outgoing Chair, for his valuable contribution over the last nine years.”

Further information

Page last modified: 25 June 2009
Page published: 25 June 2009