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05 September 2008

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has today announced the appointment of new Authority members by the Appointments Commission. Most of the new appointments will take effect from 1 September 2008 for a period of three years.

Six new members have been appointed to the Authority. They are: Dr Mair Crouch, Ms Jane Dibblin, Ms Gemma Hobcraft, Ms Lillian Neville, Mrs Debbie Barber and Professor Lesley Regan. In addition, three current Authority members have been re-appointed for a further term. Ms Clare Brown, Professor Neva Haites and Professor Emily Jackson have been appointed for a further three years.  Read biographies of the new members.

Three members will step down from the Authority this year when their appointments come to an end. Ms Sharmila Nebhrajani will step down on 31 October 2008.  Walter Merricks and Dr Maybeth Jamieson will step down on 30 November 2008.

Professor Lisa Jardine, Chair of the HFEA, said:

"I welcome these new members to the Authority at an important and exciting time for the HFEA. I am delighted we have been able to attract people of such great talent and diverse experience to join us. Their broad range of skills and expertise will make a valuable contribution to the Authority, complementing those of our current and reappointed members.

"With new legislation in its final stages in Parliament and continuing developments in fertility treatment and embryo research, the Authority faces many challenges. I look forward enormously to working with these new members to make sure that the HFEA takes full advantage of the opportunities these challenges present.

“Of course it is always sad to lose members who have served the HFEA as well as Sharmila, Maybeth and Walter have. They leave us knowing that they have made a contribution of the highest calibre and with our warm good wishes for the future.”

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 new members has taken part in political activity over the last five years. The appointments have been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.

Ends

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Notes to editors

• Read more information about HFEA members (including short biographies).
• The HFEA is the independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research. Our role is to protect patients and the public interest, to drive improvement in the treatment and research sectors and to provide information to the public and policymakers about treatment and research.
• The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.  The HFEA’s principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), artificial insemination (AI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.
• The HFEA publishes a free Guide to Infertility for people considering or starting fertility treatment.

Page last updated: 11 March 2009

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