ESRC Council appointments

Friday, 6 May 2011 12:00 AM

David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science, has appointed four new members to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Dr Justin Davis Smith is Chief Executive of Volunteering England and a visiting Professor at Birkbeck, University of London. Formerly he was Director of the Institute for Volunteering Research. He has over 20 years experience in the volunteering movement and has advised the UK Government, the World Bank and the United Nations over the development of volunteering policy.

Dr Davis Smith has been appointed to Council for a period of three years from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2014.

Professor Simon Collinson sits on the Board of Directors for the Advanced Institute of Management and is Professor of International Business and Innovation at Warwick Business School. Previously he has been the Head of the Marketing and Strategy Group and Deputy Dean at Warwick Business School.

Professor Collinson has been appointed to Council for a period of three years from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2014.

Professor Stuart Croft is Professor of International Security at Warwick University and formerly Director of the ESRC's New Security Challenges Programme. Prior to this, he was at the University of Birmingham for 18 years, latterly as Professor of International Relations and also served for three years as the Head of the School of Social Sciences.

Professor Croft has been appointed to Council for a period of three years from 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2014.

Professor Glynis Breakwell is Vice Chancellor of the University of Bath. She is a social psychologist specialising in work on risk and leadership. She is a director of Universities UK where she chairs the Funding Policy Committee and is member of the HEFCE Leadership, Governance and Management Committee.

Professor Breakwell has been appointed to Council for a period of three years from 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT

ESRC Press Office:

Danielle Moore (Tel: 01793 413122, email:
Jeanine Woolley (Tel: 01793 413119, email: jeanine.woolley@esrc.ac.uk

Notes for editors

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues. It supports independent, high quality research which has an impact on business, the public sector and the third sector. The ESRC's total budget for 2010/11 is £218 million. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and independent research institutes.

2. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.

3. The Council appointments have been made in accordance with the requirements of the Code of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Dr Justin Davis Smith, Prof Simon Collinson, Prof Stuart Croft and Prof Glynis Breakwell have not been involved in any relevant political activities in the last five years. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public. None of the appointees have declared any political activity.

4. The appointees hold no other ministerial appointments.

5. An honorarium of £6,850 per year is currently paid to members and a higher rate of £9,110 is paid to members who chair Policy Committees.

Kind Regards

Jeanine Woolley
ESRC
Communications Manager
Communications Team
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1UJ

01793 413119

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