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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

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

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.

Alena

Dr Alena Buyx

Assistant Director

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.

Harald

Harald Schmidt

Assistant Director

Harald is part of the senior management team, organises Working Parties and other activities, and represents the Council to the public and professional bodies. His background is in philosophy and he previously worked at the Research Centre for Bioethics, University of Muenster; the European Parliament; and the German Ministry of Health. Harald is currently on secondment having taken up a 12 month Harkness Fellowship awarded by the Commonwealth Fund.

Caroline Rogers

Caroline Rogers

Programme Manager

Caroline runs working parties and other Council activities. Prior to this she managed two national clinical audits at the Royal College of Physicians. Caroline was previously a Research Officer for the Council from 2003-08. Her background is in biomedical sciences and public policy.

Carol Perkins

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.

Cath

Catherine Joynson

Communications Manager

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

Sarah Bougourd

Communications Officer

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

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

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

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.

Audrey Kelly-Gardner

Audrey Kelly-Gardner

Secretary

Audrey joined the Secretariat in May 2006 and is responsible for providing administrative support for the group. She previously worked as a secretary at GlaxoSmithKline.

Last Updated Fri, 30 January 2009

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