Three new Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) have been appointed to the HRA Board to play a key role in the effective governance and leadership of the organisation.
We
are excited to welcome Andrew, Nicole and Richard who will be replacing the
three outgoing NEDs who came to the end of their term last year.
Professor Andrew George is an immunologist who brings a wealth of health research experience to the post and joined us on the 1 January this year. Andrew’s own research has benefitted patients with cancer or who have undergone organ transplantation. Outside the lab, Andrew is the interim Chair of Imperial College Health Partners. He has a good working knowledge of our organisation from his time as Chair for the National Research and Ethics Advisors' Panel (NREAP), for which he received an MBE in 2017.
- Professor Andrew George“Health and social care research are essential to improving the wellbeing of everyone in the UK and beyond. The HRA has a vital role in facilitating good quality research, and in ensuring that those who take part in research are protected. I am absolutely delighted to be able to support the work of the HRA, and in helping it think through how best to carry out its mission in the rapidly changing research environment.”
Dr Nicole Mather is Director of Life Sciences and Healthcare at Deloitte Strategy and also joined us at the start of last month. Nicole enabled the development of the first Life Sciences Industrial Strategy and Sector Deal and collaborated with organisations, large and small, to support life science investments into the UK. Nicole has developed policies to increase the testing and use of innovation in the NHS including responsibility for the delivery of the 100,000 Genomes Project. She also has a DPhil in neuroscience.
- Dr Nicole Mather“I am delighted to join the Board, to help build on the success of our research environment, enabling continuing investment in clinical trials in the NHS and more patients to benefit from innovative products. The scope of new health technologies and the approach to testing them is evolving rapidly. I look forward to working with the HRA and colleagues across the NHS to embrace these opportunities in an increasingly digital world”
Andrew and Nicole will be joined by Richard Cooper, who joins the other NEDs on 1 February. Richard has extensive experience of operating at Board level within complex organisations and worked with BT for over 10 years’ engaging in face-to-face dealings with the UK telecoms regulator and other communication providers. He is a lay member at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a Chair of West Suffolk Council Remuneration Panel and a NED at Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.
Andrew, Nicole and Richard will add huge value to the organisation and we look forward to working with them to promote and protect the interests of patients and the public, to better support researchers, and to help to make the UK the best place in the world for research.