New chief executive for the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts today (4th June 2013) announced the appointment of Dr Jackie Hunter CBE as chief executive and deputy chair of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Funded by government, and with an annual budget of around £500 million (2012-2013), the BBSRC supports research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people it funds are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. The appointment is for four years. Dr Hunter will take up post on 21 October 2013 as the permanent successor to Professor Douglas Kell.

Dr Hunter is currently Chief Executive of OI Pharma Partners. From 1989-2010 she worked for GlaxoSmithKline and its predecessor companies and earlier in her career for Astra (now AstraZeneca). Dr Hunter received her degree and doctorate from the University of London. She was made CBE in 2010 for services to the pharmaceutical industry. She sat on the BBSRC Council from 2004-2010.

For more informationvisit www.bbsrc.ac.uk.