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Appointments to the NESTA Board of Trustees

15/11/2007

"I am delighted that both Chris and Tracy have agreed to serve a second term on the NESTA Board."

The Minister said:

"I am delighted that both Chris and Tracy have agreed to serve a second term on the NESTA Board. The knowledge and experience of the Trustees makes a vital contribution to NESTA, one of our key partners at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

"NESTA help inform our thinking and enhance our policy making, to help deliver the Government's innovation agenda. They have done some excellent work in this area through investments to help companies turn their innovative ideas into commercial successes and through programmes and research publications such as the Innovation Gap which identified areas of hidden innovation across the UK economy."

"I look forward to working closely with NESTA over the coming months as we develop the DIUS science and innovation strategy."

For further information, please contact Matthew Barker at DIUS Press Office on 020 7215 6213 or Vicky McGuire at NESTA on 020 7438 2643.

Chris Powell has been reappointed for a second term of two years from 31 October 2007 until 30 October 2009. He has been Chair of NESTA since October 2003 and is also the Chairman of the IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research). He is Chairman of the British Council's Creative Industries' Advisory Panel and is the Independent Vice Chairman of the Public Diplomacy Board, and a non executive director of Riverside Studios, Media Metrica and Dr Foster LLP. He was a founder, Chief Executive and then Chairman of one of Britain's leading advertising agencies – BMP. Chris Powell has undertaken political activity on behalf of the Labour Party during the past five years.

Dr Tracy Long has been reappointed for a second term of two years from 15 December 2007 until 14 December 2009. Dr Long is the founder of Boardroom Review, a specialised consultancy that advises boards of directors and trustees on their board performance and effectiveness. She is a non executive director of Lowland Investment Company plc and the van Tulleken Company, an Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow of Cass Business School, City University, and a member of the London Symphony Orchestra's Advisory Council. Dr Long holds no other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

As Chair, Chris Powell receives an honorarium of £25,480 per annum. Trustees do not receive a salary but may claim reasonable travel and subsistence, including an allowance of £209 per day spent on NESTA business.

NESTA
NESTA - the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts - is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body established by the National Lottery Act 1998 with a remit to 'support and promote talent, innovation and creativity in the fields of science, technology and the arts'. With endowed funds of over £300 million, its mission is to transform the UK's capacity for innovation. It does this in three main ways: by working to build a more pervasive culture of innovation in this country; by providing innovators with access to early stage capital; and by driving forward research into innovation, with a view to influencing policy.

Following the June 2007 Machinery of Government changes, responsibility for NESTA was transferred from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Appointments to the Board of Trustees are now made by the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, although the appointments of the Chair and an Arts Trustee are made in agreement with the DCMS. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.