Dr Sarah Main

Executive Director

Dr Sarah Main is the Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering and represents the interests of CaSE members in the media and in high-level discussions with Government Ministers, Parliamentary Committees, Chief Scientific Advisors and senior civil servants. She engages with industry, charity and academic leaders across the UK science base.

Sarah trained as a molecular biologist and became an independent researcher, working with Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council in London and Cambridge, where she held the Charles and Katherine Darwin Research Fellowship at Darwin College, University of Cambridge. She later worked in strategy and funding at the Medical Research Council, and in Government on leverage of investment from public funding of science and research for a Treasury review of public spending.

Sarah has been a member of advisory groups for influential policy reviews, including the Centre for Social Justice's report, The Great British Breakthrough - Driving Productivity Growth in the UK, launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and the Reid review of Government Funded Research and Innovation in Wales, commissioned by the Welsh Government. 

Sarah is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, a Trustee of the British Science Association and of the Foundation for Science and Technology, and Honorary Professor at the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy at University College London.
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Dr Daniel Rathbone

Assistant Director

Daniel joined CaSE in January 2019 as Assistant Director. In this role he is head of policy for CaSE, shaping its policy agenda with the support of the Executive Director. Daniel has a background across the physical sciences and completed his PhD at Imperial College London, developing computer simulations of the behaviour of powders and grains. He has previously worked for the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee and the House of Commons Library.  
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Henry Gates

Membership Engagement and Development Manager

Henry joined CaSE in February 2020 as Membership Engagement & Development Manager. In this role, he will be working with the CaSE Membership to help deliver CaSE's aims and objectives. Prior to joining, Henry worked as a Regional Engagement Officer for the Chartered Institution for Highways and Transportation and has a Masters in Chemical Engineering from Loughborough University. 

James Tooze

Policy Officer

James joined CaSE in July 2017, providing an additional resource to assist all aspects of CaSE’s policy work. Prior to joining, James worked as a Policy Researcher for the Society of Chemical Industry. He studied for an undergraduate degree in Chemistry, before completing a Masters in Science Communication and Public Engagement at the University of Edinburgh.
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Nick Hall

Communications Manager

As Communications Manager Nick is responsible for managing external communications on behalf of CaSE, through its events, media work, web presence, online output and communications with members and collaborators, as well as supporting CaSE’s parliamentary and political engagement. Nick studied history at Warwick University before working as a Parliamentary Researcher in Westminster.
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Sarah Gardner

Office Manager (Maternity Cover)

As Office Manager, Sarah is involved in all aspects of CaSE's operations.  In addition to managing the Executive Director's diary, Sarah is responsible for financial administration, HR and recruitment and CaSE's governance and compliance.  Sarah studied music at the University of Leeds, and has over 20 years' experience of working in the Higher Education sector in London and has also worked for two professional engineering institutions.
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Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE

Professor Al-Khalili is Professor of Physics and Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Surrey. He is the author of several popular science books and appears regularly on radio and television. In 2007, he was awarded the Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize for Science Communication. He obtained his PhD in theoretical nuclear physics from Surrey in 1989 and spent two years as a Postdoctoral Fellow at University College London, before returning to Surrey in 1991.

Professor Sir Ian Boyd

Professor Sir Ian Boyd is a Professor in Biology at the University of St Andrews. He was Chief Scientific Adviser at Defra from 2012 to 2019. He has been a director of the Scottish Oceans Institute at the University of St Andrews and the Sea Mammal Research Unit. He is a marine and polar scientist and worked for the British Antarctic Survey from 1987 to 2001. He has served on two Research Councils and several Royal Society committees. He is a Trustee of the National Oceanography Centre and Chair of the UK Research Integrity Office. He has the Bruce Medal for Polar Science, the Polar Medal, the Scientific Medal of the Zoological Society of London and was knighted for services to science and economics in government in 2019.

Nida Broughton

Nida Broughton is Head of Economic Growth and Productivity at the Behavioural Insights Team. Previously, she was Chief Economist at the Social Market Foundation, focussing on growth, public spending and employment issues. She has also worked at the House of Commons and Ofcom. 

Jeremy Clayton

Jeremy was appointed Director of the Government Office for Science in 2003 and from 2011 became responsible for science funding and policy within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, now the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. His brief included EU and global science and innovation issues. He retired from the Civil Service in 2016 and is now a Council member at the University of East Anglia and a Governor of the Walcot Foundation (which seeks to boost life chances in Lambeth).

Rosemary Cook CBE

Rosemary was Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine. Rosemary’s background is in nursing, and she has also worked as a civil servant in the Department of Health, on nursing, primary care and R&D policy, and for the NHS Modernisation Agency, where she led the European Working Time Directive programme. She was a charity sector CEO for 14 years.

Sinead Hesp

Sinéad is a solicitor and in 2018 was appointed Director of Legal Affairs and Board Secretariat at the University of Manchester where she has oversight of all legal matters at the University and leads a team of solicitors and governance specialists.  Sinéad joined the University of Manchester in 2010, initially focussing on employment law and later developing a wider involvement, particularly on governance matters. Prior to joining the University, Sinéad worked for over 10 year as a solicitor in private practice with Mills and Reeve, LLP.  Sinead holds an MA in Law from the University of Cambridge.

Simon Jennings

Simon is Director of Strategic Planning and Governance at Lancaster University. His previous positions have included roles as the Director of Strategy & Policy at the University of Strathclyde, Deputy Director of Universities Scotland, senior policy and planning roles at the University of Edinburgh and the management of national digital services for Jisc. He holds a BA (Hons) from Oxford University, an MA from Sheffield University and an MSc from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. 

Dr Hannah Kerr (Deputy Chair)

Hannah is Head of Global Government Affairs and Policy at GSK Consumer Healthcare. Her previous positions at GSK have included the Head of R&D Policy and Scientific Affairs where she led a UK/US/EU policy and advocacy team, and the Head of Communications and Government Affairs for GSK’s UK Pharma business. Prior to joining GSK in 2011, Hannah was a civil servant working on a range of science and business policy roles, with her last role being Head of Strategy in the Office for Life Sciences. Hannah has a Masters in Biochemistry (MBiochem) and a DPhil in Molecular Biology, both from the University of Oxford.

Conor McKechnie

Conor McKechnie is Vice President Marketing at Cytiva (formerly GE Healthcare Life Sciences). He has worked globally in communications and public affairs for healthcare, science and technology companies for more than 15 years. He has an MA in Philosophy and Business at the Universities of Glasgow and California, Santa Barbara.

David Parfrey (Treasurer)

David Parfrey is Executive Chair for Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP (AIP LLP ), the LLP responsible for bringing the Norwich Research Park vision to life. He was previously Executive Director, Finance & Campus Operations for the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Professor Mark Price

Mark Price is Professor of Aeronautics and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast. A Chartered Engineer he worked in the Aerospace and Software industries before turning to academia. He is currently a member of the EPSRC Manufacturing the Future Strategic Advisory Team. 

Professor Graeme Reid (Chair)

Professor Graeme Reid is Chair of Science and Research Policy at University College London.  He is a member of the Council of Research England.

He has spent most of his career at the interface between science and Government, having worked in the Business Department, the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury and before moving to UCL.

Graeme was specialist advisor to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee during their extensive inquiries into Brexit and, more recently, industrial strategy.  He is a member of the Government’s High Level Group on EU Exit, Universities, Research and Innovation.  He has led research and innovation policy reviews for the Scottish Funding Council and the Welsh Government.

He is Chair of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, a Trustee of the Association of Medical Research Charities and strategic advisor to the National Centre for Universities and Business.

Graeme began his career at the National Engineering Laboratory.  He has a BSc in Physics and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Fellow of the Institute of Physics, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and a Chartered Engineer.

Dr Bob Sorrell

Robert is BP’s Vice President for Research & Innovation for BP’s global Formulated Products (Fuels and Lubricants) Technology, and also BP’s technology policy advisor for the UK and EU. Robert joined BP in 1987 from Durham University having earlier completed his PhD at Cambridge University.

Helen Swift

As the UK Public Affairs Manager for Airbus’ Space division, Helen is responsible for supporting the company to maintain its position as the UK’s largest space company through engagement with UK Government, UK Space Agency and intergovernmental organisations like the European Space Agency. Prior to this role, Helen acted as the Public Affairs Manager for Airbus’ Research, Technology & Innovation portfolio responsible for supporting the company’s £500m annual UK R&D investment programme. Helen has worked at Airbus for over a decade, is a reservist in the British Army and has a degree in Public Relations from Bournemouth University.  

Professor Lesley Yellowlees CBE

Lesley Yellowlees is an Inorganic Chemist with interests in renewable energy, public engagement of science and promoting women in science. Lesley was Head of the School of Chemistry and then Vice Principal and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. She was President of the Royal Society of Chemistry from 2012-14, their first woman president in 175 years. She was awarded an MBE in 2005 for services to science, a CBE for services to Chemistry in 2014 and elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2012.

Register of Interests

CaSE requires Board members to disclose any private interests they have which may conflict, or may be perceived to conflict, with CaSE's business. Click here to see the current list of disclosures.

Professor Roger Cashmore

Chairman, UK Atomic Energy Authority

Professor Dame Athene Donald

Professor of Experimental Physics and Master of Churchill College, University of Cambridge

Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow

Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent

Professor Dame Wendy Hall

Regius Professor in Computer Science and Director of the Web Science Institute, University of Southampton

Dr Roger Highfield

Director of External Affairs, Science Museum Group

Professor Jacqueline McGlade

Professor of Environmental Informatics, University College London

Professor Denis Noble

Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology, University of Oxford

Sir Paul Nurse

Director and Chief Executive, The Francis Crick Institute

Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff

Research Professor of Chemistry, University of Nottingham

Lord Martin Rees of Ludlow

Astronomer Royal at Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge

Baroness Margaret Sharp of Guildford

Council of the Foundation of Science and Technology

Lord David Willetts

Chair of British Science Association, Visiting Professor at King’s College London and Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation