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
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 organises and runs Working Parties and other activities and is involved in representing 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.
Harald Schmidt
Assistant Director
Harald organises and runs Working Parties and other activities and contributes to representing 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, Germany; the European Parliament; and the German Ministry of Health.
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 & External Affairs 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
Communications Officer
Sarah joined the Council 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.
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 Tue, 7 August 2007