Secretariat
The Secretariat is the executive arm of the Council.
The Secretariat organises workshops, Working Parties and meetings of the Council, and assists with drafting the Council's publications. The senior staff brief the Council on the progress of its work programme, provide advice on future topics and represent the Council at professional and public meetings.
Hugh Whittall - Director
Katharine Wright - Assistant Director
Dr Alena Buyx - Assistant Director
Dr Peter Mills - Assistant Director
Laura Riley - Project Leader
Carol Perkins - PA to the Director and Secretariat Administrator
Catherine Joynson - Communications Manager
Sarah Bougourd - Communications Officer
Kate Harvey - Research Officer
Tom Finnegan - Research Officer
Varsha Jagadesham - Research Officer
Johanna White - Office and Communications Administrator
Hugh Whittall
Director
Hugh oversees all areas of the Council’s work and contributes to its long-term strategy. Before taking the role of Director in February 2007, he held senior positions at the Department of Health, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, and the European Commission.
Katharine Wright
Assistant Director
Katharine is part of the senior management team, organises Working Parties and other activities, and represents the Council to the public and professional bodies. Before joining the Secretariat in May 2007, she worked on health law and ethics in the NHS, the Department of Health and the House of Commons.
Dr Alena Buyx
Assistant Director
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Alena is part of the senior management team, organises Working Parties and other activities, and represents the Council to the public and professional bodies, particularly those abroad. Before joining the Secretariat in 2009, she worked at the Institute for Ethics, History and Philosophy of Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Germany; and The Harvard Program in Ethics and Health, Harvard University, USA. Her background is in medicine and philosophy.
Dr Peter Mills
Assistant Director
Pete is part of the senior management team, organises Working Parties and other activities, and represents the Council to the public and professional bodies. Before joining the Secretariat in March 2011, he worked on scientific development and bioethics at the Department of Health, where he led the Human Genetics Commission secretariat, and on assisted reproduction and embryo research policy for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Laura Riley
Project Leader
Laura Riley is Project Leader of Mitochondrial Donation: Ethical Issues. She has a background in health policy and communications and has previously worked at The King's Fund, The British Pregnancy Advisory Service and Progress Educational Trust. Prior to this, she researched TV documentaries for the BBC's Science and Religion and Ethics departments and has an MA in Medical Ethics and Law from King's College London.
Carol Perkins
PA to the Director and Secretariat Administrator
Carol supports the Director in planning the Council’s work programme and is responsible for the administration of the Council’s day-to-day operations. Prior to joining the secretariat in April 2005, she held roles in bioethics at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Department of Health.
Catherine Joynson
Communications Manager (on maternity leave until April 2013)
Catherine manages the Council’s external affairs activities with the aim of raising awareness and promoting discussion of the Council’s work. Prior to this she held several science communication roles, including Science Policy Advisor at the Institute of Biology. She joined the Secretariat in January 2005.
Sarah Bougourd
Acting Communications Manager
Sarah joined the Secretariat in November 2008 to work on external affairs activities with the aim of raising awareness and promoting discussion of the Council’s work. Prior to this she worked in development at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Sarah has a Masters Degree in Science, Culture and Communication from the University of Bath.
Kate Harvey
Research Officer
Kate undertakes research to support the Council’s work and contributes to the drafting of reports. She also monitors developments in areas of interest to the Council. Prior to joining the Secretariat, Kate completed an MA in Medical Ethics and Law at King’s College London.
Tom Finnegan
Research Officer
Tom undertakes research to support the Council’s work and contributes to the drafting of reports. He also monitors developments in areas of interest to the Council. Tom has a Masters Degree in biotechnological law and ethics from Sheffield University.
Varsha Jagadesham
Research Officer
Varsha joined the Secretariat in November 2008. She undertakes research and contributes to the drafting of reports. She also monitors developments in areas of key interest to the Council. Before joining the Secretariat, Varsha completed an MPhil in Molecular Biology at Cambridge University.
Johanna White
Office and Communications Administrator
Johanna joined the Secretariat in October 2011 to assist with the Council's day-to-day administration and external affairs activities. She completed a BA in Politics at the University of Nottingham and is currently studying towards a Graduate Diploma in Law at the College of Law.