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Executive
Swindon Office
The BBSRC Executive is based in Swindon, Wiltshire. It is led by the Deputy Chair and Chief Executive to whom day-to-day responsibility is delegated from the Council.
Chief Executive
The Chief Executive is Professor Douglas Kell [ Chief Executive's biography].
The Chief Executive is supported and advised by:
- Deputy Chief Executive & Chief Operating Officer - Mr Steve Visscher
- Executive Group - meets fortnightly alternating between operational (chair - Director of Communications and Information Management) and strategic issues (chair - Deputy Chief Executive) and is responsible for taking forward actions on all matters emanating from Council and its Boards. It also ensures that relevant business is laid before Council in a timely manner and reviews business associated with BIS and RCUK. Executive Group comprises the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and Directors.
- Office Administration Group - deals with operation of the BBSRC Office; reports to Executive Group
Executive structure
Directors
Deputy Chief Executive & Chief Operating Officer – Mr Steve Visscher
Steve has extensive experience of the UK Research Councils. He has worked for BBSRC since 1994 and previously for predecessor Research Councils and associated institutes.
Before becoming Deputy Chief Executive, Steve was BBSRC's Executive Director, with particular responsibility for funding policy, including the Research Councils UK project on reform of the Dual Support system, resource management, large capital projects and operations. His professional background is in finance and audit; he is Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
As Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer, Steve's responsibilities include:
- chairing BBSRC's Strategic Executive Group and guiding policy and implementation
- deputising for CEO and ensuring effective and efficient operations
- overseeing international strategy and leading formation of international consortia
- management of institute relationships with governing bodies and institutes' members
- representing BBSRC on the Rothamsted Board of Trustees and Director of Babraham Bioscience Technologies Board and Norwich Research Park LLP
Science – Professor Melanie Welham
Melanie was Professor of Molecular Signalling at the University of Bath before she took up her BBSRC role on 1 October 2012.
Melanie is a leading researcher in molecular signalling and stem cell science. Until September 2011, she was co-director of the Bath Centre for Regenerative Medicine where she oversaw the activities of this interdisciplinary centre which unites work programmes across university departments.
Earlier in her career, she was awarded a BBSRC Research Development Fellowship, which enabled her to develop and pursue new research directions. She moved from the study of signalling in white blood cells to seeking to understand the fundamental mechanisms controlling the behaviour of embryonic stem cells.
Melanie has a well-developed understanding of the requirements and demands of delivering BBSRC research and the interface between the Council and the research community. For more than four years she has served on BBSRC peer review committees, including periods as either chair or co-chair. Prof Welham also served on the advisory committee for the UK National Stem Cell Network from 2009-11.
Innovation & Skills – Dr Celia Caulcott
Celia trained initially in microbiology. Following her PhD she joined Celltech Ltd, and progressed her career with ICI Pharmaceuticals and the WellcomeFoundation/GSK. Celia then became an independent bio-pharmaceutical consultant, working on projects for government departments and agencies including BBSRC and the Medical Research Council. She also worked for the Wellcome Trust, particularly the Sanger Institute. Before joining BBSRC, Celia was Research Manager at Imperial College. Celia’s expertise is primarily in management of R&D programmes and technology transfer between academia and industry, particularly in the areas of genomics, biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals.
As Director, Innovation and Skills at BBSRC, Celia has responsibility for:
- Developing and leading BBSRC's innovation strategy, including the strategy around the BBSRC campuses and the support for knowledge exchange and commercialisation
- Leading on BBSRC engagement with industry, interactions with the Technology Strategy Board and the funding of collaborative research with a variety of partners
- Strategy and policy in relation to the training of young scientists through PhDs and postdoctoral places, plus the development of the cohort of early career Fellows
- Currently Senior Responsible Officer on the Babraham £44M capital project
Corporate Policy and Strategy – Dr Paul Burrows
Paul trained as a plant scientist and his post-doctoral research focused on plant/pathogen interactions, working for a period at Rothamsted Research. His career developed into science policy and strategy working in the UK Government Department for the Environment Transport and the Regions and latterly in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Much of Paul’s policy work was around the high profile area of regulation and use of genetically modified organisms.
Paul joined BBSRC in 2002 to lead corporate policy and strategy, which covers a range of high-level planning, foresight and performance evaluation activities to help set the Council’s broad strategic direction and priorities. Paul also holds the lead responsibility for oversight of BBSRC's food security ‘grand challenge’.
As Director, Corporate Policy and Strategy, Paul has responsibility for:
- Leading development of BBSRC’s Strategic Plan and input to spending reviews
- Delivering effective evaluation and case studies programmes as evidence of impact
- Leading BBSRC’s Strategic Partnerships with key universities
- Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for BBSRC’s food security strategic ‘Grand Challenge’ (£100M investment)
- Chair of the cross-council/cross-Government Global Food Security Programme Board
- Delivering BBSRC’s policy evidence base
- Representing BBSRC on the Board of Trustees for Institute of Food Research and BBSRC SRO for the Institute of Food Health and the Gut
Communications & Information Management – Mr Paul Gemmill
Paul studied modern history at Oxford before gaining an MBA from London Business School. Before joining BBSRC he was Director of Regulation at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, and in 2000 he was a founding Director of the Disability Rights Commission. Paul also has considerable experience in the voluntary sector including fundraising with The Prince's Trust and strategy with the British Red Cross Society. Paul is a Fellow of the Society of Biology.
As Director of Communications and Information Management Paul's responsibilities include:
- Leading BBSRC's communications and public engagement activities working with key partners in the industry, academic community, government and beyond in the UK and internationally
- Acting as the Senior Responsible Officer for the UK Research Councils’ £75M investment in the European Molecular Biology Laboratory's ELIXIR programme
- Overseeing BBSRC's project management of a range of major projects
- Delivering modern information systems and management to BBSRC
- Chairing BBSRC’s Operational Executive Group
- Representing BBSRC as a member of the Corporate Trustee Board for The Pirbright Institute, formerly the Institute for Animal Health
Finance – Mr David Parfrey
David has over 20 years' experience of leading significant business transformation, gained while working for organisations such as British Gas and QinetiQ during their periods of major change. David joined the Research Councils in 2006, initially leading Finance in EPSRC, and for a short time leading Finance in both EPSRC and AHRC before joining BBSRC late in 2008.
In addition to his Finance responsibility David also has executive responsibility for estates and responsibilities for major capital programmes; he also hosts the Group that provides internal audit and funding assurance to eleven clients. On a wider stage David is a member of a number of strategic Boards at the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, and has been Chair of Board of BBSRC's Joint Venture in Norwich, CIL, during its formative years. David is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
As Director of Finance David is:
- Responsible for leading on the management of corporate risk within BBSRC
- Heavily involved in guiding BBSRC campus strategies
- The Senior Responsible Officer for the Babraham Institute Campus Transformational Project
- The investment decision maker for the Pirbright Development and ELIXIR programmes
People & Development – Ms Jan Juillerat
Jan studied for a degree in English Literature and Linguistics before beginning her career in Human Resources. She is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and holds an MA in HRM and an MBA. Jan spent most of her early career in Further and Higher Education, joining the Research Councils in 2003 and BBSRC in 2005. Jan has a broad role and interests in governance, management and organisational development; and a commitment to delivering organisational performance through people.
Jan’s current responsibilities include:
- Leading and directing all areas of people and development, including health, safety, biosafety and security
- Executive lead for corporate governance (institutes)
- Strategic lead for The Pirbright Institute, formerly the Institute for Animal Health, development
- Board Observer for The Genome Analysis Centre
- Chair of the BBSRC HR Advisory Group and oversight of HR and Health & Safety networks
- Chair of the Research Councils Pension Scheme Management Board
Contact
External Relations Unit
external.relations@bbsrc.ac.uk