Meet our senior leaders
Dr Gemma Harper OBE – Chief Executive
The main responsibilities of this post are to:
- Manage JNCC on a day-to-day basis and oversee the delivery of its work.
- Act as Accounting Officer for JNCC, with responsibility for the efficient and effective use of resources.
- Work with the Chair and Committee Members to set strategic direction for JNCC, and translate this into annual business plans.
- Develop and maintain sound working relationships at a senior level with key stakeholders in government and elsewhere.
Professor Christine Maggs – Chief Scientist
The main responsibilities of this post are to:
- Lead JNCC’s science, evidence and advice functions, ensuring JNCC's work is underpinned by high-quality science and evidence.
- Promote learning and development and build JNCC’s scientific and technical capability in critical areas.
- Champion innovation to test new techniques and approaches.
- Encourage activities that diversify and increase income and leverage resources through collaboration with partners.
- Be a high-profile and influential advocate for JNCC’s science, evidence and advice, promoting JNCC’s reputation as a scientific authority on UK and international nature conservation.
- Develop relationships at a senior level within the environmental science and policy communities, including UK and devolved governments, the wider public sector, NGOs and research organisations.
David Collins – Director of Finance and Resources
The main responsibilities of this post are to:
- Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and provide leadership to the JNCC Support Company.
- Ensure effective development and delivery of JNCC’s work programmes and manage corporate risks.
- Manage Finance and Procurement, Human Resources, Facilities, Communications and Business Development teams.
- Maintain and develop systems of control, including policies and procedures.
- Support the Chief Executive and Chairman in managing and developing the Committee and Company Board, including acting as Company Secretary.
- Provide advice to the Chief Executive, Chair and Committee on corporate strategy.
- Represent JNCC externally at a senior level with key stakeholders (including country nature conservation bodies, UK Government departments and devolved administrations, non-governmental organisations and others).
Dr John Goold – Director of Marine Evidence and Advice
The main responsibilities of this post are to:
- Oversee JNCC's work on marine protected areas, marine species, marine monitoring and evidence, marine ecosystems, offshore industries advice, and certain elements of JNCC's international work.
- Serve internally as a member of JNCC’s Science Management Board, Resource & Planning Board, and Executive Leadership Team.
- Serve externally as a member of the offshore wind programme board, established out of the cross-government cost reduction task force recommendations.
Dr Steve Wilkinson – Director of Ecosystem Evidence and Advice
The main responsibilities of this post are to:
- Lead the development of nature-based solutions through integration of ecosystem assessment, analysis and monitoring to provide support across the UK.
- Explore how approaches developed within the UK can be implemented elsewhere internationally, including within the UK Overseas Territories.
- Oversee work on JNCC's international advice function.
- Support the integration of these themes within JNCC's strategy including development of funding sources.
- Promote JNCC externally at a senior level with key stakeholders to identify and develop opportunities where JNCC can provide support.
- Provide strategic advice to the Chief Executive and Committee and internal governance groups.
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