As a charity, we are governed by our Council who may appoint boards and committees and delegate such powers to them as it may think fit.
Our boards and committees are formed through elected representative members, who contribute to guiding and driving our strategies and activities.
Our Leadership Team manages the implementation and operational delivery of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s agreed strategy and programmes of activity by promoting leadership and direction and works closely with Council to ensure we are governed effectively.
Robert Parker CSci CChem FRSC, Chief Executive Officer
Robert has been CEO since September 2011. During his time as CEO he has led a significant programme of change at the Royal Society of Chemistry, with a focus on striving for the next level of achievement through empowered staff and members. Robert has set out a clear vision for taking the organisation from great to even greater heights.
He has defined his leadership through powerful strategic direction, genuine trust in his staff, and a deeply-held belief in the power of the chemical sciences to change the world for the better.
Helen Pain CSci CChem FRSC, Deputy Chief Executive
Helen joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 1994 having completed her degree and PhD (Co-ordination Chemistry) at Exeter University.
Her first role was in membership recruitment, working with younger members. Since then she has had responsibility for membership marketing, communications, website development, branding, member services and managed the refurbishment of Burlington House to become a prestigious venue.
Stephen Hawthorne, Deputy Chief Executive
Prior to joining the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2011 Stephen had worked for 15 years in the information management, research solutions and electronic publishing sectors. Working with Elsevier and ProQuest he has experience of a broad range of international clients including universities, national health services, government departments, public libraries, pharmaceutical and petrochemical organisations.
He is a graduate of the Queen’s University of Belfast and lives in Cambridgeshire with his wife and three children.
Dan Dyer, Commercial Director
Dan joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2012 having held sales management roles in the electronic publishing field for the previous 12 years and in print publishing before that. With a strong international focus Dan has worked to improve the delivery of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s range of services worldwide.
He is a graduate of Lancaster University and lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife and two children.
Frank Gibson, Director of Technology
Frank joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in November 2014 from the publishing division of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
Frank’s previous roles have involved working at the interface of the life sciences and computer science domains, with specific experience in the representation and management of scientific and healthcare knowledge, through the application of technology.
Karen Roberts, Director, Human Resources and Organisational Development
Karen joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2009 as HR Manager and then, after two years as Head of HR, was appointed to the Leadership Team in 2015. She, along with her team, is responsible for attracting, developing and retaining great people at the Royal Society of Chemistry.
A Chartered Member of the CIPD, Karen has a first degree from Sheffield Hallam University and a Masters in Organisational Change from Northampton Business School. She has over 20 years’ experience in human resources working in organisations that operate across a variety of different sectors in the UK and internationally.
Emma Wilson MRSC, Director of Publishing, Journals and Databases
Emma has more than 15 years’ experience working in the scholarly publishing sector. She has worked for both commercial and not-for-profit publishers in a variety of editorial and business development roles, joining the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2006 as a Journal Publisher.
Prior to her career in publishing, Emma was the recipient of an EMBO research fellowship after obtaining her PhD in biochemistry from Cambridge University.
Sarah Robertson MSc, Director of Education
Following a career in scientific and educational publishing, most recently with Oxford University Press, Sarah joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2015 in the new post of Director of Education.
She is committed to understanding the needs of teachers and learners, and to supporting the development of science education, from primary through to further and higher education. Sarah has an MSc from Imperial College London, and lives in Gloucestershire.
Kate Tonge, Director of Communications and Marketing
Kate joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2015, after 18 years in police communications and marketing. She began her career in newspapers. Most recently, she was a senior leader at the College of Policing, the professional body for all those working in policing in England and Wales.
She has led all aspects of marketing (including events); media and reputation management; public affairs and stakeholder engagement; digital communications (including web and social media); internal communications and design and publishing.
Jo Reynolds, Director of Science Policy
Jo joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2017, having previously been responsible for developing and evaluating Cancer Research UK’s first five-year research strategy. She also led a programme of change across their UK network of centres and transformed their brand and engagement with the research community.
She has a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge.
Stephen Joyce, Director of Finance
Stephen joined the RSC in 2016. As Finance Director he has lead responsibility for all financial matters, and works closely with our Trustees to ensure that our financial management continues to be sound.
Stephen has over 30 years’ experience of working in public sector, commercial and charity organisations. Before joining us he held senior finance roles in local government, major national charities and a University.
Council consists of up to 18 members who are also the Trustees of the charity. At least 12 are elected by the membership and up to six are appointed by the Council itself, which include those who serve as the Chairs of the Boards. The normal term of office is four years.
Council meets four times a year and is chaired by our President who serves one year as President-Elect, two years as President followed by one year as Immediate Past President. Our members can contact the Governance team if they wish to view Council minutes.
The President, President-Elect / Immediate Past-President and Honorary Treasurer are the Honorary Officers of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Professor Sir John Holman CChem FRSC
President 2016–2018
John Holman is an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of York, and senior education adviser to the Wellcome Trust and the Gatsby Foundation. His interests include educational policymaking, curriculum development, teacher development and practical science.
He is experienced as a secondary school teacher and headteacher and as a government adviser, and founded the National Science Learning Centre. He is a Trustee of the Natural History Museum and Chair of the Salters Institute.
In 2014, John was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's Lord Lewis Award and the Royal Society's Kavli Education Medal. He was knighted in 2010 for services to education.
Professor Dame Carol Robinson DBE HonFRSC FRS
President Elect 2017-2018
Professor Dame Carol Robinson holds the Chair of Dr. Lee’s Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. A graduate of the Royal Society of Chemistry, she is recognised for using mass spectrometry to further her research into the 3D structure of proteins.
Carol is a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences. Her research has attracted international awards including the Anfinsen Award from the Protein Society and the Davy Medal and Rosalind Franklin Award from the Royal Society. Carol also holds five honorary doctorates and received a DBE in 2013 for her contribution to science and industry.
Dr Paul W Satchell CChem FRSC
Honorary Treasurer, retires 2020
Following a Ph.D. in Gas Kinetics with Howard Purnell, Paul joined BP at Sunbury in 1980. He continued to work in the chemical industry until 1996, latterly as a consultant with Coopers & Lybrand. Since then, Paul has been an equity analyst, specialising in pan-European chemicals, with advisory work in M&A and lending being recurrent themes throughout. Paul is frequently invited to present at global industry events, such as the World Aromatics Conference. He sits on the Editorial Advisory Board of ICIS Chemical Business and has served on the Investment Committee of the RSC for six years, latterly as Chair.
Professor Polly Arnold CChem FRSC FRSE
Ordinary Member, retires 2019
Polly Arnold was born in London and studied at the Universities of Oxford and Sussex (DPhil 1997). After a Fulbright postdoctoral fellowship at MIT she returned to the UK to a lectureship at the University of Nottingham.
Polly has been at the University of Edinburgh since 2007, where she currently holds the Crum Brown Chair of Chemistry. Her interests are in small molecule activation and its application in catalysis, and in f-block structure and bonding.
Polly's work to improve gender equality and diversity in science is detailed in A Chemical Imbalance @ProfArno
Professor Sabine Flitsch CChem FRSC
Ordinary Member, retires 2019
Sabine Flitsch is Professor of Chemistry Biology at the University of Manchester, where she has been since 2005, following positions at the Universities of Exeter, Oxford and Edinburgh. Her Oxford DPhil was followed by postdoctoral work at MIT.
Sabine's scientific interests lie at the interface between chemistry and biology, in particular in the application of biocatalysis in organic synthesis for reactions such a C-H activation, oxidations, amidations and glycosylations. Carbohydrates are a specific focus, and more recently she has become interested in using glycan arrays in combination with mass spectrometry to understand protein-carbohydrate interactions.
She has served as Chair of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Carbohydrate Group, and in 2014 was awarded the Interdisciplinary Prize by the RSC.
Professor Melissa Hanna-Brown CChem FRSC
Ordinary Member, retires 2019
Melissa Hanna-Browns’s role in Pfizer Sandwich is focused on developing the company's overarching technology and innovation strategy for the Pharmaceutical Sciences Development Organisation, with a specific remit to shape and monitor the growing company interactions with the dynamic external innovation ecosystem. Based in the UK, she supports colleagues in external collaborations, facilitating business interactions and scouting for new technologies or potential partner organisations.
Before Pfizer, Melissa was an academic member of staff in the Department of Pharmacy in King's College London teaching Pharmaceutical Chemistry and leading a research group. She holds a Visiting Chair in the Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, and has authored over 50 publications.
She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, President of its Analytical Division and Chair of the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund.
Dr David Rees CChem FRSC
Ordinary Member, retires 2019
David Rees is on the management team at Astex, a drug discovery company with around 80 research staff in Cambridge. He helped Astex grow from an early-stage biotech to its acquisition by Otsuka in 2013 for US$886 million.
One of David's scientific highlights was the discovery of Sugammdex, a first-in-class anaesthetic reversal agent used in hospitals in over 40 countries (Merck 2014 sales US$340 million).
David served as President of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Organic Division from 2010–2013. He has over 120 publications, and is a Visiting Professor in Cancer Medicinal Chemistry at Newcastle University.
Dr Janette Waterhouse CChem FRSC
Ordinary Member, retires 2019
Janette Waterhouse graduated (1st) in chemistry, and attained MSc in Thermochemistry and PhD in Spectroscopic and Chromatographic research.
Janette is now a consultant in the pharmaceutical industry after a long career in R&D, manufacturing and contract organisations, both in the UK and overseas. During her career she has had a strong analytical and quality input with direct managerial responsibility over large numbers of staff.
Janette was one of the four members of the management team awarded the BVCA Venture Capital-Backed Management Team of the Year in 2010.
Professor Andrew Bell CChem FRSC
Ordinary Member, retires 2021
Following a degree in chemistry at Oxford, a PhD at Southampton and postdocs in Japan, France and Southampton, Andy started at the then CBDE in Chemical and Biological detection in 1994. In 2005 Andy became the Chief Scientist for CBRN in the Home Office. After two years he returned as Chief Scientist in the Physical Sciences Department to Dstl. In 2011 Andy took the role of Dstl CTO and in late 2015, Andy was appointed the Head of the Centre for Applied Science and Technology in the Home Office.
Ms Julia Hatto BEM CSci CChem FRSC
Ordinary Member, retires 2021
Julia Hatto was born in Somerset and graduated from the University of Exeter. Following a long career in the pharmaceutical industry, she is now a consultant.
In addition to her research contribution, Julia has also been a passionate advocate for mentoring and training. She has inspired and supported the next generation of young scientists by establishing industry education partnerships for students from 8-18. She has nurtured the career development of apprentices and graduates to enable them to fulfil their potential. This resulted in a positive business impact on creativity and diversity in the talent pipeline.
Julia was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2016 for service to the chemical sciences.
Dr Elizabeth Rowsell FRSC
Ordinary Member, retires 2021
Liz Rowsell is the Director of the Johnson Matthey Technology Centres, which form the corporate R&D facilities for the company. Liz has 24 years of experience working in the Chemicals Industry across a range of sectors such as pharmaceuticals, mining, process chemistry and consumer goods.
In her role as Director Liz works closely with her businesses, customers and academia to identify new opportunities and ensure the company has leading technology to meet them.
Liz has been working with the RSC for over 20 years, most recently as one of the judging panel for the RSC Emerging Technologies Competition. She is a member of the Government’s Advanced Materials Leadership council, working with academia, industry, skills providers and centres of excellence to provide strategic advice and leadership to enable the accelerated development of advanced material applications.
Professor Mike Ashfold CChem FRSC FInstP FRS
Appointed Member, Chair of Science, Education and Industry Board, retires 2018
Mike Ashfold is a Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Bristol. His research interests include molecular photochemistry (in the gas and condensed phase), and several areas of gas-surface science.
His research has been recognised by various awards, including the Marlow, Corday-Morgan, Tilden and Liversidge medals and prizes of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society in 2009.
Mike was founding Chairman of the Editorial Board of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics (PCCP), and served as President of the Faraday Division (2009–2011).
Professor Geoffrey Maitland CChem CEng FRSC FIChemE FREng
Appointed Member, Chair of Publishing Board, retires 2020
Geoff Maitland is Professor of Energy Engineering at Imperial College London. He studied chemistry at Oxford University, obtaining his DPhil in physical chemistry in 1972, and was a senior lecturer in chemical engineering at Imperial from 1974 to 1986 before moving to work in the oil and gas industry for Schlumberger. There, he became Research Director for Chemistry and Biology before returning to Imperial to take up his current position in 2005.
Geoff has had a long-standing association with RSC Publishing, being a founder member of the Soft Matter Editorial Board 2004–2008, and a member of Publishing Board and its Science and Publications subcommittee since 2010. He sat on Faraday Division Council 2011–2014. Amongst his awards, Geoff received the Rideal Lecture Award of the RSC Colloid and Interface Science Group in 2012. He was President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers 2014–2015.
Professor Tom Welton CChem FRSC
Appointed Member, Chair of Membership and Qualifications Board, retires 2019
Tom Welton is Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College London.
He works with ionic liquids in order to develop sustainable solvent technologies. The central academic aim of his research is to understand how different chemical environments influence reaction processes, and to use this understanding to provide more effective chemical processes by the matching of the reaction with its optimum solvent environment.
Tom is the author of over 100 papers, primarily on the structures and chemistry of ionic liquids and their solutes.
Professor Dr Ben Feringa CChem FRSC
Appointed Member, retires 2018
Ben L Feringa obtained his PhD at University of Groningen, Netherlands. He worked as a research scientist at Shell, Netherlands and Shell Biosciences Centre, UK before being appointed lecturer then full professor at the University of Groningen. In 2008 he was appointed Academy Professor, and knighted by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands.
His research interest includes: stereochemistry, organic synthesis, asymmetric catalysis, molecular switches and motors, self-assembly and molecular nanosystems, and he has been recognised with a number of awards.
He was founding editor of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry journal, and serves as Chair of the Editorial Board, Chemistry World and member of the Publications Board.
We would like the members serving on our governance bodies to represent the breadth and diversity of the chemical sciences, with reference to industrial and academic backgrounds, geographical spread, gender, ethnicity and age range.
There are vacancies on Council, Boards and Divisions to serve from the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 12th July 2017.
VOTING HAS NOW CLOSED
Council Vacancies
President Elect
The President is an advocate for the chemical sciences, ambassador for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Trustee of the Charity and Chair of Council. The President Elect will serve for one year from the AGM in July 2017, before becoming President in 2018 for two years and subsequently serving one year as Immediate Past President.
Council’s nominee for President Elect is
Carol Robinson DBE HonFRSC FRS, Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Oxford, UK
Carol Robinson holds the Chair of Doctor Lee’s Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford and is a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Carol is the first female Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford and was previously the first female Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. She is renowned for pioneering the use of mass spectrometry as an analytical tool and for her ground breaking research in to the 3D structure of proteins.
Carol studied our Graduate of the Royal Society of Chemistry qualifications part time while working at Pfizer before becoming a graduate student at Churchill College from 1980-1982, completing her PhD in two years. Following an eight-year career break to begin raising her three children, she returned to research at Oxford, later becoming a titular professor in 1999.
In 2001 she returned to Cambridge to continue her research into mass spectrometry and was elected a Professorial Fellow at Churchill College, a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2004, and a Royal Society Research Professor in 2006. In 2009 she was elected Doctor Lee’s Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford and in 2013 was awarded the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
At the closing date for nominations no further nominations were received therefore Carol Robinson is declared elected without a ballot.
Honorary Treasurer
The Honorary Treasurer is a Trustee of the Charity and a member of Council who will serve a three-year term of office from the AGM in July 2017.
Council’s nominee for Honorary Treasurer is
Paul Satchell CChem FRSC, Equity Analyst, Investec Bank PLC, UK
Paul has 19 years of experience as a sell-side analyst, previously having been with Collins Stewart/Canaccord, ING, Merrill Lynch, Flemings and Paribas.
Before becoming an analyst, Paul worked in the chemical industry for 16 years, mainly with BP/BP Chemicals and latterly as a specialist industry consultant with Coopers & Lybrand.
He obtained a BSc in Chemistry and a PhD in Physical Chemistry with Howard Purnell (Past President) from University College of Swansea (1974/80) and become a Graduate member in 1978.
He has served as a Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of ICIS Chemical Business (formerly European Chemical News).
Paul is currently the Chair of our Investment Committee and Member of the Finance and Resources Board.
At the closing date for nominations no further nominations were received therefore Paul Satchell is declared elected without a ballot.
Ordinary Members of Council
Ordinary Members of Council are Trustees of the Charity and will serve a four-year term of office from the AGM in July 2017.
There are four vacancies and Council’s nominees are
- Andy Bell CChem FRSC, Head of the Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST), UK
- John Dexter CChem FRSC, Acting Headteacher, Trinity School, Nottingham, UK
- Julia Hatto BEM CSci CChem FRSC, Consultant, UK
- Nicholas Norman CChem MRSC, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Head of the School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, UK
- Elizabeth Rowsell FRSC, Director, Johnson Matthey Technology Centres, UK
At the closing date for nominations a further nomination was received from the membership and a ballot was held
The names of the newly elected members will be announced at the Royal Society of Chemistry Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 12th July 2017 and published here.
Board Vacancies
There are vacancies for elected members of Boards to serve for a three-year term from the AGM in July 2017:
Elected member of Membership and Qualifications Board
At the closing date for nominations there was one nomination received therefore the candidate will be declared elected without a ballot.
Elected member of Science, Education and Industry Board
At the closing date for nominations no nominations were received therefore it is the responsibility of Council to fill the vacancy.
Downloadable files
Electoral Regulations and guidance for candidates
Division Vacancies
There are vacancies for President Elect of Divisions, Honorary Secretary of Analytical Division Council and elected members of Division Councils.
VOTING HAS NOW CLOSED
Leadership Team
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Governance Team
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Contact a Council Member
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