The Chancellor has announced the appointment of three new experts to the National Infrastructure Commission.
The Chancellor has announced the appointment of three new experts to the National Infrastructure Commission.
Nicholas Winser CBE, Kate Willard OBE and Jim Hall will strengthen infrastructure, energy and environment expertise as new Commissioners at the NIC, which was established in 2017 to provide impartial, expert advice to government on major long-term economic infrastructure challenges.
The Commission carries out in-depth studies into the UK’s major infrastructure needs – covering transport, energy, water, flood protection, waste and digital infrastructure - and makes recommendations to the government. Alongside these appointments, Neale Coleman CBE, Julia Prescot, and Andy Green CBE have been reappointed as Commissioners for further five-year terms.
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Helen Whately, said:
“The National Infrastructure Commission plays an invaluable role providing expert and impartial advice to the government on the UK’s long-term infrastructure challenges.
“These appointments bring extensive expertise to advise the Government as we boost the economy, level up opportunities, and transition to net zero.”
Chair of the Commission, Sir John Armitt, said:
“I am pleased to welcome Nick, Kate and Jim to the Commission at a critical time for ensuring long term infrastructure policy helps address some of society’s biggest challenges. Their expertise will be particularly useful as we work towards publication of the second National Infrastructure Assessment next year.
The Chancellor has appointed Mr Winser, Ms Willard and Prof. Hall as NIC Commissioners until April 2027, with the appointments taking effect from 1 May 2022.
Mr Winser will replace David Fisk as the Commissioner with particular experience in the energy sector, while Prof. Hall and Ms Willard have been appointed to further strengthen the Commission’s expertise on the relationship between infrastructure and the environment, and local and regional infrastructure policy.
Mr Winser CBE brings extensive experience in energy systems, markets and regulation with a 30-year career in the energy sector which included CEO of National Grid across UK and Europe, President of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity and CIGRE UK Chair. He has been the chairman of Energy Systems Catapult since 2015, was appointed chairman of the Advisory Board for the Energy Revolution ISCF programme in 2018, and served on the Advisory Panel for the Cost of Energy Review in 2017. He is also a member of the Net Zero Expert Group, a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, serving as its President in 2017/18.
Ms Willard OBE is Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board and the Government appointed Thames Estuary Envoy. She is also on Arts Council England’s National Council, and chairs both Arts Council Area Council North and the Board of Teesside International Airport. She is a Churchill Fellow and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). She was CEO of the UK’s first rural regeneration company
Prof. Hall FREng is Professor of Climate and Environmental Risks in the University of Oxford and is Director of Research in the School of Geography and the Environment. Before joining the University of Oxford in 2011 to become Director of the University’s Environmental Change Institute, Prof Hall held academic positions in Newcastle University and the University of Bristol.
Professor Hall is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology and is Expert Advisor to the National Infrastructure Commission. He is Chair of the Science Advisory Committee of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). He was a member of the UK independent Committee on Climate Change Adaptation from 2009 to 2019.
Neale Coleman CBE, Julia Prescot and Andy Green CBE have also been reappointed for further five-year terms until April 2027.
The new appointees were selected by an advisory assessment panel chaired by Sir John Armitt (Chair, National Infrastructure Commission) and also consisting of Joanna Key (Director, HM Treasury), James Heath (CEO of the NIC) and Rachel Skinner (Director, WSP) who interviewed a number of candidates. Their recommendations to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Chancellor informed the selection decision.
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