Interim Chair of Joint Nature Conservation Committee appointed
Cath Denholm becomes Interim Chair after Charles Banner steps down.
Cath Denholm has been appointed the interim Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).
The JNCC is the only statutory nature advisor to the UK Government, working with the four nations of the UK, and our Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It provides robust scientific evidence and advice to help decision makers turn science into action for nature recovery. The JNCC works across land and sea with partners throughout the UK, the UK Overseas Territories, the Crown Dependencies and around the world.
Cath has been a member of the Committee since April 2022 and was previously the Deputy Chair. Her appointment will last until 30 June 2024 or until a substantive Chair is appointed following completion of the public appointment process.
Cath’s interim appointment was made by the Environment Secretary as an exceptional appointment without competition, following consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Biography
Cath Denholm joined the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) as Executive Director of Corporate Services in June 2020. Cath was interim CEO of EHRC from September 2023 to March 2024, and returned to her post of Chief Operating Officer in April 2024.
Prior to this, Cath worked for more than 20 years in NHS Scotland in both management and strategic roles in primary care, GP appraisal and public health. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Previously, Cath sat on the Board of NatureScot from 2016 and was Deputy Chair between 2019 and March 2022. Her overarching professional interests are human rights, public service leadership, and partnership working across sectors in order to achieve fair access for all and a nature-rich future.