Open or Close Menu THIS SECTION About Us Leadership and Governance Overseeing our mission to Make Sense of Changing Seas and deliver Public Benefit from the work we do NOC Executive Members of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) Executive between them have management responsibility for the Centre’s entire budget and their responsibilities span the full mission of the Centre. Chief Executive: Professor Ed Hill CBE Professor Ed Hill is Chief Executive of the National Oceanography Centre having been appointed as Executive Director in 2010, previously holding the position of Director at NOC since 2005 and the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (Natural Environment Research Council, NERC) in Liverpool 1999–2005. Professor Hill has served and continues to serve on numerous national and international advisory bodies, including: the International Steering Group of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the European Marine Board (EMB), the cross UK Government UK Marine Science Coordination Committee (MSCC), the Governing Board of the National Partnership for Ocean Prediction (NPOP). Professor Hill’s research background is in physical oceanography, specialising in the circulation of continental shelf seas and participated in over 20 research ship expeditions, half of these as Principal Scientist. Professor Hill received his MSc and PhD degrees in oceanography from Bangor University and his BSc in applied mathematics from the University of Sheffield, and subsequently recognised by both universities with the award of an Honorary Fellowship (Bangor) and an Honorary Doctorate of Science (Sheffield). He was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to environmental sciences. Director of Science and Technology: Professor Angela Hatton Angela joined the NOC in December 2016. Angela is a microbial biogeochemist with a specific interest in the role microorganisms play in the production and removal of environmentally significant trace gases. Angela has participated in numerous seagoing research expeditions as part of international scientific programmes including Ocean Margin EXchange (OMEX), Land-Ocean Interaction Study (LOIS), Entangled sulfur and carbon cycles in Phaeocystis dominated ecosystems (ESCAPE), and DImethylSulphide biogeochemistry within a COccolithophere bloom (DISCO), as well as field based studies in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Chief Operating Officer: Julie Pringle Stewart Julie Pringle Stewart is the Chief Operating Officer at the National Oceanography Centre. Julie studied for a BA in Commerce at Napier University in Edinburgh and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She began her career in the financial sector beofre moving into the research environment over 25 years ago, initially working with the Britisht Geological Survey commercialising it's portfolio. One of her main areas of interest is the sustainability of publicly funded research establishments having worked with the original Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) (then the Department of Science & Technology, DST) team on the reform of the dual support funding system, including the introduction of TRAC (TRansparent ACcounting) and then its implementation into the RCUK Research Institutes. Julie went on to work at the NERC Research Ship Unit, heading the Finance and Operation team, and following a period as Deputy Director Finance at NERC Head Office, Julie then joined NOC in a Director role in 2013. In addition to her Director role, she has worked as the NOC lead (chairing the board on behalf of NERC for a period) on the Governance, Responsibilities and Ownership Programme which looked at the future independence of the Research Centres. Associate Director National Marine Facilities: Leigh Storey Leigh Storey is the Associate Director, National Marine Facilities at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC). Leigh has a first degree in Marine Engineering and a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He is a Fellow of the IMarEST and a Member of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners. The majority of his career was spent in the Royal Navy as a Submariner. He joined the NOC in 2014 and has responsibility for the operation of the Royal Research Ships, the National Marine Equipment Pool and the associated structures that ensure it is available to support the UK Marine Science community. Associate Director Corporate and Business Support: Natalie Campbell Natalie is Associate Director of Corporate Business Support, which provides a comprehensive, professional, seamless support infrastructure to facilitate the core business of the NOC. Natalie received a BSc in Ocean and Earth Science from the University of Liverpool and an MSc in Oceanography from the University of Southampton. After graduating Natalie progressed through several roles with the Natural Environment Research Council learning how technical project support skills are essential to all successful funding applications and science expeditions. In 2013 she became the Head of Science and Project Support at the NOC and advanced to Associate Director in 2018 demonstrating her passion and commitment to the diverse teams of professionals enabling world-leading science and engineering. Natalie has now graduated on the Project Leadership Programme delivered by Cranfield University School of Management, the purpose of which is to develop a new cadre of elite project leaders. Associate Director Research: Professor Doug Connelly Professor Doug Connelly joined the NOC Executive team on 1 July 2019 as Associate Director for Research. Doug has worked in Southampton for 19 years, initially for the University of Southampton and for the NOC since 2010. Doug trained as a geochemist specialising in trace element cycling in marine systems. He has extensive experience in running collaborative research projects across Europe, having coordinated three large European funded projects alongside other NERC and commercially funded research. Much of Doug’s work has been in the development of in situ sensor technology development for marine applications, from hydrothermal vent research to offshore carbon capture and storage. Prior to starting work in Southampton Doug spent a number of years as a research scientist at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. He has worked with a range of academic and industrial partners over his time at the NOC and is involved in a number of staff-focused groups at the NOC especially around staff development, equality and diversity. Associate Director Engagement: Cait Allen Cait joined the NOC in 2020 and her role is to ensure that stakeholders, governments and the public can benefit from the NOC's work by creating partnerships, sharing knowledge and participating in the global effort to understand the ocean. Cait is a Lancaster University graduate in English and has a career that spans the private, public and third sector. Her experience includes media relations; major incident and crisis management; stakeholder and government relations; public affairs; change and transformation; cultural development and leadership. Most recently, she held broader Chief Executive and Managing Director roles, turning around organisations to bring stability through financial management and growth through reputation and brand building. Associate Director Digital Ocean: Dr John Siddorn Joining in March 2021, John is responsible for unlocking the value in ocean observations, through making data easier to access, through novel approaches to interrogating data and through sharing information with others to develop a greater understanding of the changing ocean. John formerly headed up the Met Office’s ocean forecasting group, and has expertise in monitoring the marine environment. This includes prediction capability for surface waves, storm surges, surface temperature and satellite-based analysis. John is co-chair of the National Partnership for Ocean Prediction and sits on the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Steering Committee. Managing Director of NOC Innovations and Associate Director of Strategic Business Development: Huw Gullick Huw is responsible for the NOC’s business development strategy through NOC Innovations Ltd, the trading subsidiary of the NOC providing marine science and technology, data information products and facilities, the profits of which are used to support the NOC’s charitable purposes of advancing ocean science and education. Huw’s career has seen him work for large engineering organisations in a variety of commercial roles including global aero engine maker Rolls-Royce Plc; French owned global technology company Safran and materials engineering company Praxair Surface Technologies where he was responsible for the commercial and business strategy for the UK business across all markets including aerospace, oil and gas, industrial gas turbines and general industry. Board of Trustees The Board of Trustees are the governing authority for the NOC and are there to help define our strategy, monitor performance, make key decisions, and set the delegations that enable and empower the operation of the organisation. Chairman: John Hirst CBE John specialises in Global business leadership of UK and US companies, Strategy definition, Operational and financial restructuring, International development and growth and Performance improvement. John’s previous roles included seven years as Chief Executive of the MetOffice, UK Permanent Representative for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) acting as a member of the Executive Council and Chair of the Audit Committee and was Chairman of Hammerson Pension Fund. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to meteorology. In addition, John holds or has held Non-Executive Director roles with Marsh UK, Ultra Electronics, Anglian Water Services, White Square Chemical, IMIS Global Ltd and is currently a Trustee for Epilepsy Research UK. David Gee David is a former Chief Finance Officer for ICI and currently Chair of Lockton LLP and the ICI Pension Fund. David is a strategically orientated senior business manager and finance professional with a focus on value creation with a proven track record of strategic definition and management. He has very wide financial knowledge, expertise and experience, with a record of achievement across a range of businesses, locations and activities, driving strategic and operational improvement. Has also a clear understanding and proven track record in HR policies and issues. David has strong project (system, M&A) and process management skills and experience, both in non-financial and financial areas and a proven track record driving the management of significant change. Sarah Kenny OBE Sarah is the Chief Executive Officer at the BMT Group, a leading international multi-disciplinary engineering, science and technology consultancy offering a broad range of services, particularly in the defence, energy, environment, shipping and ports and logistics sectors. Prior to BMT Sarah was Managing Director at Qinetiq for seven years. Sarah is an active mentor, and a STEM ambassador, she’s passionate about developing people to help them realise their potential. Sarah was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours. The accolade, for services to the Maritime Industry, and Diversity, reflects her long-standing commitment and contribution to supporting and promoting the United Kingdom’s maritime industries, in addition to her work on STEM and promoting the importance and value of diversity in the sector. Dan Hook Dan Hook CEng, FRINA is a Naval Architect and Chartered Engineer with over 17 years’ experience in the marine industry. Upon graduating from the University of Southampton, Dan worked as a naval architect on the development, testing and trials of a wide range of specialist craft. During this time he recognised the potential within the unmanned vehicle industry and specialised in unmanned platform design. Dan was one of the founding members of ASV Global, now known as L3 ASV and held the position of Managing Director as the company grew from two employees to about 150 before selling to L3 Technologies. This company was at the forefront of unmanned surface vehicles and supplied systems around the world for defence, survey, oil and gas and scientific applications. Dan now works as a consultant and maintains an active role in industry. He has been supporting several innovative new companies with plans for more in the future. Professor Sir Ian Boyd Professor Sir Ian Boyd is Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He is currently Professor in Biology at the University of St Andrews. He has BSc and DSc degrees for the University of Aberdeen, a PhD from Cambridge University and has received prizes for his research including the Scientific Medal of the Zoological Society of London, the Bruce Medal for Polar Science from the Royal Society of Edinburgh and The Polar Medal awarded by Her Majesty The Queen. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Ian received a Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2019 for services to Science and Economics on Food and the Environment. Ian has previously been a Physiological Ecologist with the Natural Environment Research Council Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, a Science Programme Director with the British Antarctic Survey and Director at the Natural Environment Research Council’s Sea Mammal Research Unit. Dr Sarah McMath Sarah is the Chief Executive Officer, of MOSL (the market operator for business customers). MOSL is responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the new and growing water market for business customers. This new market opened in April 2017, and allows 1.2 million businesses, public sector bodies, charity and not-for-profit organisations in England to choose who provides their water retails services. With a doctorate in Environmental Engineering, Sarah worked for Thames Water for 24 years in a wide variety of roles, leading teams of up to 3000 people in both technical and operational areas. Sarah started her career in the Research and Development team, moving on to lead front line operational functions and technical support teams. Sarah led the development of the company’s Business Plan and developed the corporate strategy for the board of Thames Water, including the preparations for competition in the business market. Sarah’s most recent role in Thames was as the Managing Director of Strategic Planning and Investment, with accountability for all Asset Management, Science, Engineering, Health and Safety and Innovation in Thames Water. Dr Ruth Boumphrey Dr Ruth Boumphrey is currently the Director of Research at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a global charity protecting life and property and supporting education, engineering-related research and public engagement. She is responsible for a large portfolio including grants, direct charitable activities and accelerated innovation actions through their international trading arm. She recently chaired the first Royal Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering for International Development. She has experience in the marine science and technology sector, holding a BSc in Environmental Science and a PhD in Ecotoxicology, and has previously held roles as the Head of Earth Observation for the UK Space Agency; as the Head of International at Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and for Research Policy and International Division at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Ruth is a Council member at the Welding Institute and Chair of the TWI innovation network. She previously sat as a Council member at Lancaster University. 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