Dr Paul Golby reappointed as EPSRC Chair

Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson has today (26 May 2016) announced the reappointment of Dr Paul Golby as Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for a two year period. The Minister has also reappointed Professor Sir Richard Friend to a second term as a member of the Council. The EPSRC is the main funding agency for engineering and physical sciences research, covering a range of fields from healthcare technologies to structural engineering, manufacturing to mathematics, advanced materials to chemistry. It invests £800 million a year in research and postgraduate training.

Dr Paul Golby took up the post of Chairman of the EPSRC in April 2012. After gaining a doctorate in and training as a mechanical engineer, he held a series of management positions with Dunlop and BTR before becoming an executive director of Clayhithe plc in 1992. He joined E.ON UK plc (formally PowerGen) in 2001 where he held the position of Chairman and Chief Executive until his retirement in December 2011. A chartered engineer, Dr Golby is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Energy Institute.

He was awarded an honorary degree from Aston University in 2007 and Cranfield University in 2008. In January 2009 he was appointed Pro-Chancellor of Aston University and Chair of Council. He was appointed member of the Prime Ministers Council for Science and Technology in June 2011 and was awarded the CBE by HM The Queen in the same year. Dr Golby was also appointed Engineering UK Chairman in September 2010, appointed Non-Executive Director of National Grid plc in February 2012 and in October 2014 appointed Chairman of the Board for NATS. He became Non-Executive Chairman of Costain Group PLC on 05 May 2016.

Professor Sir Richard Friend is the Cavendish Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge. His reappointment to EPSRC Council is for 3 years from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2019.