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Three new board members appointed to the Environment Agency

Environment Secretary George Eustice welcomes knowledge and experience of three appointees.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
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Environment Secretary George Eustice has appointed Dr Stewart Davies, Ines Faden da Silva and Lilli Matson to the Environment Agency Board. The appointments began on 1 February 2021 and will run for four years until 31 January 2025.

Board members provide non-executive leadership challenge and support to the Environment Agency’s executive through regular Board meetings, committees and groups. They also undertake individual lead roles on relevant issues and with local operational teams.

All appointments to the Environment Agency Board are made on merit following open competition. The appointments comply with the Ministerial Code of Governance on Public Appointments. There is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if significant) to be declared. All three appointees have declared that they have not taken part in any significant political activity in the past five years.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

It is great to welcome Stewart, Ines, and Lilli. Their knowledge and experience will be an asset to the Environment Agency Board as we all work together to improve and enhance the natural environment.

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:

The Environment Agency Board’s remit covers about 13 million hectares of land, 22,000 miles of river, 3,100 miles of coastline and 2 million hectares of coastal waters. It’s a big responsibility but it’s a privilege to work with and learn from the Environment Agency’s, and wider Defra Group’s, experienced and expert staff.

I look forward to working with Stewart, Ines and Lilli. They have the skills and knowledge to help the Environment Agency better prepare the country for climate shocks, like flood and drought, and deliver on the Government’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution.

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body set up under the Environment Act 1995 to take an integrated approach to environmental protection and enhancement in England. It has major responsibilities in flood management, water resources and quality, climate change, land quality, chemicals, pollution prevention and control, waste, conservation and biodiversity, fisheries conservation, air quality and navigation.

The new appointments are based on a time commitment of four days per month and receive a remuneration rate of £16,800 per annum.

Biographies

Dr Stewart Davies

Stewart is Chair of the Sustainable Development Partnership for the City of Bradford Metropolitan District. He was formerly Chair of the Environmental Services Association and the Innovation Advisory Board at the Natural Environment Research Council, having served on the board of Innovate UK and the Sustainable Development Commission.

Ines Faden da Silva

Ines is group treasurer at Tideway, a regulated utility and the company building London’s super sewer. Tideway has issued £1.7 billion of sustainable finance, including seventeen green bonds in public and private markets, a green US private placement and a sustainability linked revolving credit facility. Prior to Tideway, Ines worked for Citigroup where she advised and arranged financing for infrastructure and energy projects and later managed a portfolio of structured assets.

Lilli Matson

Lilli has worked for Transport for London since 2006, currently as Chief Officer of Safety, Health & Environment, delivering the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, the Vision Zero Action plan for London and working to address the climate crisis and to ensure TfL’s environmental performance is exemplary. Previously Lilli was a member of the UK Government’s Commission for Integrated Transport and ran her own transport consultancy, leading major projects on sustainable transport for a range of clients.

Updates to this page

Published 3 February 2021