Lord Cameron of Dillington has announced that he will retire from his role as chair of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), after five years in the role.
Lord Cameron has worked with UKCEH since 2015, when he became chair of the organisation’s advisory committee, prior to its independence from UK Research and Innovation. In 2017, he became chair of the committee overseeing UKCEH’s successful transition to an independent, not-for-profit research institute; and then went on to become the first chair of the board of trustees in 2018.
Since becoming independent, UKCEH has continued to grow, enabling the organisation to invest in its people and research infrastructures, while maintaining its focus on research excellence and impact, in line with its core ethos of enabling people and the environment to prosper together. The organisation has also continued to expand its international reach through new collaborative partnerships, supporting sustainable development around the world.
Prior to his involvement with UKCEH, Lord Cameron served as Chairman of the Countryside Agency and the Prime Minister’s Rural Advocate, as well as a member of the Sustainable Development Round Table. He was knighted for services to the countryside in 2003. He currently serves as an independent crossbench Peer in the House of Lords and recently chaired the House of Lords Select Committee for Natural Environment and Rural Communities.
Announcing his retirement, Lord Cameron said: “It has been a privilege to chair UKCEH, and I am immensely proud of the organisation! I have learned so much from the wonderful colleagues I have worked with over the years, and I wish them every success for the future."
The process for recruiting a new chair will start in January 2024. Lord Cameron will continue to actively lead the board until a successor is in place.