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New trustee for the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

DEPARTMENT FOR INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS News Release (NESTA Trustee 031208 final) issued by COI News Distribution Service.

Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation, has appointed Liam Black as a Trustee of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA). The term of appointment is for four years from 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2012.

Lord Drayson said:

"It is great news that Liam has agreed to serve on the NESTA Board. He comes highly recommended and has a fascinating CV.

"The knowledge and experience of the Trustees makes a vital contribution to NESTA. Its work to transform the UK's capacity for innovation makes it one of our key partners at the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills.

"Building on the recommendations of our Innovation White Paper, 'Innovation Nation', both DIUS and NESTA have a challenging and exciting future working together".

NESTA's Chairman, Chris Powell, said:

"Liam Black is widely seen as one of the UK's pioneering social business leaders. He knows how to run successful businesses with a conscience. His appointment to the NESTA Board of Trustees is an exciting addition to an already impressive and eclectic mix of trustees who possess the vision, skills and experience to lead NESTA in its quest to help the UK meet the innovation challenges of the 21st century."

Notes to Editors

1. Liam Black is a co-founder of Wavelength, a company connecting leading private sector business leaders with social entrepreneurs from around the globe. He is one of the UK's best known social entrepreneurs having led some of the country's most successful social enterprises. The most recent of these was 'Fifteen' which, with Jamie Oliver, he grew into a global brand with businesses in Europe and Australia. One of Gordon Brown's Social Enterprise Ambassadors, he is author of There's No Business Like Social Business and a sought after speaker on leadership, enterprise and social change. http://www.thesamewavelength.com. Mr Black has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

2. NESTA Trustees do not receive a salary but are paid an annual fee of £5,000 for serving on the NESTA board. Additional payments are made for chairing committees and for committee membership.

3. NESTA - the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts - is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body established by the National Lottery Act 1998 with a remit to 'support and promote talent, innovation and creativity in the fields of science, technology and the arts'. With endowed funds of over £300 million, NESTA works to transform the UK's capacity for innovation by investing in early-stage companies, informing and influencing policy, and delivering practical programmes to help innovation flourish. Further information can be found at http://www.nesta.org.uk.

4. Appointments to the Board of Trustees are made by the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, although the appointment of the Chair and the Arts Trustee are made in agreement with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

5. For further information, please contact Matthew Barker at the DIUS Press Office on 020 3300 8126 or Jo Oakes at NESTA on 020 7438 2643.