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.