Professor Guy Poppy has been appointed to the role of Deputy Executive Chair of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Professor Poppy will take up the role, which is a 0.6 FTE appointment, from 1 July 2022, on secondment from the University of Southampton. He will continue in his role as Programme Director of the interdisciplinary UKRI Food Systems Programme alongside some University responsibilities.
On his appointment, Professor Poppy commented:
“I am looking forward to becoming the Deputy Executive Chair of BBSRC.
“Bioscience has never been so central to everyday life and the challenges we all face in trying to improve human and planetary health.
“It is an exciting time to be joining BBSRC, with the recent publication of the UKRI strategy and the key role bioscience will play in delivering its ambitious and important objectives.
“I am also very pleased to be able to combine the role with my continuing responsibilities at Southampton, which will focus on transforming the food system to improve the health of people and the planet. There are a number of complex grand challenges facing mankind and I will collaborate with colleagues across the university to help shape a more positive future across the globe.”
Vice-Chancellor Mark E. Smith congratulated Professor Poppy:
“I am delighted that Guy has been appointed to the role of Deputy Executive Chair at the BBSRC. This reflects Guy’s significant expertise and standing, along with his experience in Government as a Chief Scientific Adviser contributing to some of the most critical issues facing us today.”
Professor Melanie Welham, Executive Chair at BBSRC said
“Professor Poppy brings excellent scientific credentials, strong links to our wide network of researchers in Universities and Institutes and importantly, at this time for bioscience and biotechnology, to government policy.
“Guy will play an important role in supporting strategic developments, linking bioscience to other disciplines and working collaboratively with partners across UKRI and more broadly, where his expertise in relation to food will be particularly valuable.
“I am delighted that Guy will be joining BBSRC’s Executive Leadership team and look forward to working with him on many of our vital activities.”
