New interim Chair and Members for the HFEA
31 August 2006
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) can announce the appointment of the interim Chair and two temporary members selected by the NHS Appointments Commission. Lord Richard Harries of Pentregarth (formerly the Bishop of Oxford) will take up his position as interim Chair on 1st September 2006.
Lord Harries will be interim Chair for three months until a permanent successor is appointed. Jane Jeffs and Sara Nathan will be temporary members until December 2006.
Angela McNab, Chief Executive, HFEA said:
"We are delighted that Lord Harries will be our new interim Chair. He has already brought insight and wisdom to HFEA meetings and I'm sure that his considered approach will be valuable as we contemplate a number of important issues over the Autumn."
Lord Harries was the Bishop of Oxford since 1987 until his retirement earlier this year. He is also a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and is an experienced broadcaster. Lord Harries brings to the Authority an expertise in medical ethics and chaired the House of Lords Select Committee on Stem Cell Research. He has been a member of the Authority since 2003 and until this appointment was Chair of the HFEA Ethics and Law Committee.
Jane Jeffs is a retired military air traffic controller, and since leaving the Royal Air Force she has worked as Chief Officer of a Community Health Council, acting as an individual patient advocate and representing the more general needs and interests of the public in the NHS. She is a lay member of Carmarthenshire Local Health Board, a lay panellist of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and a member of the Human Tissue Authority.
Sara Nathan is a broadcast journalist by trade but now has a portfolio of positions from statutory regulation to tribunals. She worked at the BBC for 15 years culminating in helping to set up Radio 5live and then editing the morning programme there. Sara joined ITN as Editor of the award-winning Channel 4 News. She currently occupies several non-executive positions including Chair, Animal Procedures Committee; Member, Judicial Appointments Commission; Member of the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the Financial Services Authority; Member of ICSTIS the premium rate regulator; and Member, Ofcom.
Ends
Notes to editors
Below are details for each appointee regarding:
- Appointment details and any remuneration payable
- Declared political activity
- Details of Ministerial appointments any remuneration paid
Appointment: Interim Chair (1st September to 30th November 2006)
Remuneration: £24,000 pa pro-rata
Declared political activity in the last five years: None
Other ministerial appointments held: None
Appointment: Lay member (1st September to 31st December 2006)
Remuneration: £176 daily allowance
Declared political activity in the last five years: None
Other ministerial appointments held: Member of the Human Tissue Authority
Appointment: Lay member (7th August to 31st December 2006)
Remuneration: £176 daily allowance
Declared political activity in the last five years: None
Other ministerial appointments held: Chair, Animal Procedures Committee; Member, Judicial Appointments Commission; Member, Ofcom
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), donor insemination (DI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.
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.The appointments have been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice.
For further information please contact the HFEA press office.
Contact the press office
HFEA Press Office
Tel: 020 7291 8226
Email: press.office@hfea.gov.uk
Out of hours urgent press contact: 07771 981 920 (for media enquiries only.)
Page last updated: 11 March 2009
