BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The InCrops Enterprise Hub is operated by InCrops Ltd, a not for profit company wholly owned by the University of East Anglia. Established in August 2008, the company has seven directors from a range of different backgrounds who govern and manage the strategic direction of the InCrops Enterprise Hub. The work of the Board of Directors is supported by the
InCrops Strategy Group which has representatives from our 13 partners.
Non-Executive Chair: Marie Francis, OBEPreviously Rural Board Member for EEDA, agricultural journalist and arable farmer, Marie has had key roles in the agricultural and food industry from trade organisations to Defra and levy boards. In 2004, she was awarded an OBE for services to agriculture and the rural economy. Marie provides a strong link between the InCrops Enterprise Hub and both the research and business communities.
Managing Director: Dr John FrenchJohn initially created the original concept for the InCrops Project and, in 2008 after gaining funding from EEDA and ERDF, the project became live and the InCrops Enterprise Hub was born.
With a BSc in Applied Biology from London University and a PhD from Cambridge, John has enjoyed a diverse and exciting career in both academia and business including Head of Science and Dean of Science & Technology. In the past decade he has specialised in the fundraising for major infrastructure projects and to date has raised over £8 million in external funding.
UEA Directors:
Professor Trevor Davis, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Enterprise and EngagementPrior to being appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Davis had a six year term as Dean of the School of Environmental Studies and was Director of the Climatic Research Unit (CRU). The Headquarters of the Tyndall Centre, the UK’s research centre for the identification of sustainable options for climate change, was set up in the School of Environmental Sciences during his Deanship and he also founded CRed, the carbon reduction programme based at the UEA.
Professor David Richardson, Dean of ScienceDavid Richardson is Dean of Science and Professor of Microbial Biochemistry in the School of Biological Sciences at UEA.
Mr Stephen Donaldson, Company Secretary As Director of Finance, Stephen leads the Finance Division at the University of East Anglia.
Industry Representatives:
John Casey, Platform Leader Bioscience, Nutrition & Health, UnileverAfter a PhD in biochemistry, John Casey went into industrial research for the Distillers Company in Scotland. In 1984 he joined Unilever where, after a few years, he became the lead for the Speciality Chemicals Research Group. In 2008 Unilever reorganised its R&D function to reflect its growth ambitions. In the new system John took the role of VP Bioscience, Nutrition and Health.
Beyond Unilever he was a team member of the last government Science and Technology Foresight Survey. Additionally John was a founder member of the East of England Science and Industry Council.
Lydia Smith, Novel and Non Food Crops lead, NIAB – InCrops Partner RepresentativeDr Lydia Smith has led the Novel and Non Food Crops area at NIAB for the past seven years. A plant ecologist by training, with a particular interest in reclamation of damaged or contaminated land to agricultural or amenity use, Dr Smith has extensive experience in plant microbial interactions and in the application of ecological principles to the farming environment. Lydia has a particular interest in diversification of farm species and has sought to foster interaction with both academics and business within the East of England, particularly through the Cambridge Partnership of Plant Scientists.
INCROPS STRATEGY GROUPThe InCrops Strategy Group is advisory to the Board and is made up of representatives from the InCrops partners. Emphasis is placed on discussing InCrops activities, strategic initiatives and how the project can be moved forward. Chaired by InCrops Managing Director, John French, the members of the strategy group are:
NIAB – Lydia Smith
University of Cambridge, Department of Plant Sciences – Alison Smith
Forestry Commission – Steve Scott
Rothamsted Research – Stephen James
BRE – Niall Trafford
Easton College – David Lawrence/Clive Bound
UEA, School of Biological Sciences – John Turner
LCIC – tbc
Renewables East – Richard Parker
NRPe – Matt Hills
JIC – Jon Clarke
IFR – Keith Waldron
University of Essex – Paul Thomas