Defra appoints interim chief for Office of Environmental Protection

Defra has appointed Natalie Prosser as interim chief executive officer designate of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).

Prosser (pictured) is currently general counsel at the Gambling Commission. Her previous roles have included director of legal at Ofqual and regulatory and policy lead on the independent Farm Inspection and Regulation Review.

She will start her role in February alongside the chair designate, Dame Glenys Stacey. The interim chief executive post will exist until December and will be focused on setting up the new body pending the appointment of a permanent chief.

The OEP will be created by the Environment Bill as a new, independent statutory body to contribute to environmental protection and the improvement of the natural environment. It was announced this week that the Environment Bill is being carried over to the next parliamentary session, with its report stage recommencing early in the second session, with Royal Assent expected in the autumn.

Environment minister, Rebecca Pow, announced this week that the OEP headquarters will be in Worcester saying this reflected the government’s commitment to ensure that opportunities are spread fairly across the country.