Professor Thomas Meagher

Role: Independent member
Date appointed: April 2022

Profile

Tom Meagher is Professor of Plant Biology at the University of St Andrews and served as Director of the St Andrews Global Challenges Forum.

Tom was previously a member of the Defra Science Advisory Council and the Natural Environment Research Council. Tom leads an international and interdisciplinary initiative developing novel remote sensing technology to aid assessment and conservation of plant biodiversity; and has worked with the British Council, the British Embassy Lima, and government agencies in Peru promoting the establishment of a national botanic garden / plant biodiversity initiative. He has been an active contributor to Scottish Government environmental and conservation science strategy growing from his former role as a Trustee of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Tom joined the board of the Joint Committee in April 2022 as an independent member and held the role of Independent Interim Chair between 1 January 2025 and 20 June 2025.