Our governance

Details of our members, terms of membership, meetings and framework agreement.

Although ACRE is a UK-wide advisory body, Defra takes the lead in monitoring its activities and provides the secretariat.

Members

ACRE is an independent Advisory Committee composed of leading scientists. Our current members are:

  • Professor Jim Dunwell (Chair)
  • Dr Kathy Bamford
  • Professor Huw D Jones
  • Dr Huw E Jones
  • Professor Peter Lund
  • Professor Andrew Millar
  • Professor Ben Raymond
  • Dr Andrew Wilcox

Dr Peter Lund’s appointment as a member of and deputy chair to ACRE has been extended. The extended appointment has been made in accordance with the Code issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and will run from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025. In accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for members’ political activity to be made public. Dr Lund has not declared any political activity in the past 5 years.

ACRE members receive £173 per day based on time preparing for and attending meetings, and travelling time. When deputising for the chair, the rate is £233 per day.

As part of our commitment to transparency we publish a register of our members’ interests and members’ biographies.

ACRE biographies and register of interests April 2024 (PDF, 205 KB, 9 pages)

Terms of membership

Ministers in Defra appoint the committee members for ACRE, together with ministers in the devolved administrations. Appointments are made in accordance with the requirements of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Specifications for new members are agreed between the Chair and Defra in order to meet the future challenges facing the committee and to fill any gaps in the committee’s expertise.

Members and the Chair are appointed for 3 or 4-year terms. A member can serve on ACRE for up to 10 years, as long as they are reappointed by ministers at the end of their term. As with member appointments, the Chair is appointed through open competition in compliance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Committee members do not receive any direct remuneration for their services, although reasonable travel and subsistence expenses can be reimbursed.

Meetings

Previous ACRE minutes can be found on the National Archives website.

ACRE governance agreement

This governance agreement outlines our:

  • relationship with Defra
  • relationship with devolved administrations and other government bodies
  • funding arrangements
  • appointments procedure
  • code of conduct for members

It also contains our terms of reference.

ACRE governance agreement (PDF, 188 KB, 10 pages)

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