NO 5635 FOREST RESEARCH AGENCY TO GET NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

18 Feb 2003 01:15 PM

A leading microbiologist is to take the helm at Britain's principal forest research establishment.

Prof Jim Lynch (57) has been appointed new Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission's Forest Research Agency. The agency supplies research, development, surveys and other services to the forestry industry and provides scientific advice on the formulation of Government forestry policy.

Employing some 300 staff the agency has main bases at Alice Holt in Surrey and at Roslin just outside Edinburgh, as well as a number of smaller offices and fieldstations throughout Britain. The organisation has carried out ground-breaking work in areas such as Dutch Elm Disease and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. One of Prof Lynch's first tasks will be to implement the recommendations of the agency's first quinquennial review which is due to report shortly. Professor Lynch graduated in industrial chemistry from Loughborough University of Technology in 1968 and then gained PhD and DSc degrees from the University of London, which led to a distinguished career in agricultural research at universities and research institutes in the UK and USA. He is currently Professor of Biotechnology and Head of the 5 star, 'A' rated, School of Biomedical and Life Sciences at the University of Surrey, a post he has held since 1993. Since 1989 he has been Co-ordinator of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme on Biological resource Management and in 1993 he was awarded the UNESCO Microbiology Prize for his contributions towards the development of the ground and scope to allow the modification on the population balance of soil to the benefit of man. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Biology, the International Institute of Biotechnology, and the Royal Society of the Arts. He is also a director of the University of Surrey Environmental Body; Beacon Bio and Phytobial Technologies Inc.

Commenting on his appointment, Prof Lynch said:

"From the days when I taught microbiology to agriculture and forestry students in Oxford, I realised the scope for the natural science approach to forestry research. However, with the recognition today of the societal value of forests and the potential of forestry as a clean technology capable of reducing environmental contamination, it is clear that a fully interdisciplinary approach is needed to realise the full potential of forests.

"It is also clear from my experiences in OECD that the scope for international co-operation is enormous. I feel very privileged to be leading an organisation which has already demonstrated its competence at a time of such great opportunity, and also look forward to retaining my association with the University of Surrey as a Professor where the academic and entrepreneurial spirit is so strong."

Prof Lynch is married with four children. His personal interests include Victoriana, canoeing, sailing, cycling, gardening, walking and music. He will take up his new post in July.

Notes to Editors

1. This is a Senior Civil Service appointment following an open competition.

2. Forest Research has an annual budget of around £12 million.

3. Photographs of Prof Lynch are available on request.

4. Further information on Forest Research can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestresearch

Colin Morton: 0131 314 6249