Environment Agency unveils board appointments

Environment secretary Michael Gove, has appointed Judith Batchelar, Robert Gould, John Lelliott and Caroline Mason for first terms on the board of the Environment Agency. And he has reappointed Lynne Frostick and Gill Weeks for second terms to the board.

Gould’s and Lelliott’s appointments will run from 1 February 2018 until 31 January 2021. Batchelar and Mason’s appointments will run from 1 April 2018 until 31 March 2021. Weeks reappointment will run from 8 September 2017 until 7 September 2020 while Frostick’s term will be 6 March 2018 until 15 March 2021.

There is a requirement for appointees to declare any significant political activity. All the appointees have confirmed that they have not undertaken any significant political activity during the past five years apart from Robert Gould, who is a member of West Dorset District Council and a former leader of Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council.

Judith Batchelar OBE is director of Sainsbury’s brand, corporate responsibility and public affairs at J Sainsbury’s where she has worked since 2004. She previously worked for Safeway, Marks and Spencer, Mars Confectionary and Bass. She was appointed OBE in 2015 for services to farming and the food industry.

Professor Lynne Frostick is a chartered geologist and a geographer with an academic background in environmental science. She was Professor of Physical Geography at Hull University from 1996 to 2014 and is now Professor Emerita. She joined the Board of the Environment Agency in 2015.

Robert Gould was leader of Dorset County Council from 2014 to 2017 and a member from 2009 to 2017. He has been a member of West Dorset District Council since 2004 and was Leader from 2004 to 2014. Robert was a member of the Local Government Association’s Improvement and Innovation Board from 2015 to 2017. He previously managed the family farm after working in industry and property management.

John Lelliott OBE retired as chief financial officer of the Crown Estate in 2016. He is currently a board member of the Covent Garden Market Authority where he chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. He is also chair of the Natural Capital Coalition and a non-executive director of the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital Foundation Trust where he chairs the finance committee and is a member of the audit committee. John was appointed OBE in 2017 for services to the Crown Estate and the voluntary sector.

Caroline Mason CBE is chief executive of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, one of the UK’s largest independent grant-making foundations. She was previously chief operating officer of Big Society Capital and chief operating officer of Charity Bank. She is also a board member of the European Venture Philanthropy Association. She was appointed CBE in 2013 for services to social investment.

Gill Weeks OBE is an expert in waste and resource management. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and a Chartered Environmentalist. Gill joined the Board of the Environment Agency in 2014. She currently chairs the Environment and Business Committee and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. Gill is also the board lead on waste and industrial processes. From 2006 to 2013 Gill was regulatory affairs director at Veolia Environmental Services and was acting policy director at Environmental Services Association 2010-11. She was appointed OBE in 2011 for services to the waste management sector.