Chief Executive for Natural England appointed (1 Viewer)

[Chris Monk]

From English Nature web site:

Chief Executive for Natural England appointed

Dr Helen Phillips has been appointed as the CEO Designate of Natural England, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett, announced today.
Natural England is the new statutory body that will have responsibility for conserving, enhancing and managing the natural environment.

Announcing the appointment, Mrs Beckett said: "Dr Helen Phillips has a strong vision for Natural England and a proven track record in managing change programmes. I am confident that, together with Sir Martin Doughty, the Chair Designate, she will provide the leadership to make Natural England a success.”

Dr Helen Phillips said: "I am delighted to take this appointment. My earliest priorities will be to establish good relationships with national, regional and local partners. I believe that the time is right to put land managers centre stage to improve biodiversity, landscape, access, recreation and sustainable food and farming. I intend that Natural England will be a trenchant champion for the environment, putting people at the heart of our decision making."

Sir Martin Doughty, who has recently been appointed Chair Designate of Natural England, warmly welcomed the appointment: “Helen comes to Natural England after a very successful spell as Director of the Environment Agency in Wales. Her obvious passion for, and commitment to, the natural environment will be of huge benefit in leading the work of Natural England.”

Dr Helen Phillips will step down as Director for Wales at the Environment Agency and will initially become CEO Designate of the new body. She will play a leading role in assisting the Chair in setting up Natural England before it assumes its full statutory responsibilities.

For more information visit the Defra website: www.defra.gov.uk

 

[savethebirds]

I believe that the time is right to put land managers centre stage to improve biodiversity, landscape, access, recreation and sustainable food and farming. "

Sir Martin Doughty, “Helen comes to Natural England after a very successful spell as Director of the Environment Agency in Wales. " QUOTE]

Natural England. Interesting. Will she be talking to the wind industry? Will she tackle them and others about their dogged determination to destroy "natural" England with wind farms or has she inherited "Natural England" windfarms, warts and all?

I note she is stepping down from a position in Wales. Look what has happened to "Natural" Wales.

 

[Chris Monk]

New head for Natural England - the 'toughest' job in conservation

From the RSPB web site

New head for Natural England - the 'toughest' job in conservation

Dr Helen Phillips has been appointed Chief Executive of Natural England, which in October 2006 will take on the work of several existing conservation and administrative bodies.

The RSPB, Britain's largest conservation organisation with 1.05m members, believes Dr Phillips faces an enormous task.

Dr Mark Avery, Conservation Director at the RSPB said, 'Dr Phillips is taking on the toughest job in UK conservation. Natural England will have a multitude of responsibilities and not long to carry some of them out.

'It will have less than five years to hit 2010 government targets for improving Sites of Special Scientific Interest and increasing the number of Britain's farmland birds.

'Natural England will have a multitude of responsibilities and not long to carry some of them out.''And it must also persuade ministers to provide enough money to recreate our dwindling areas of habitats such as heathland, saltmarsh and reedbed, all three of which host specialised and often rare birds, insects and plants, and all of which are subject to government targets too.

'December's EU budget deal cut wildlife and countryside funds so Dr Phillips' job is hampered even before she starts. We wish her well in her challenge and will fully support her as she champions the wildlife cause.

'Defra and other government departments must now match that support with sufficient funding to enable Natural England to rise to its difficult challenge.'