NEWS STORY: New Head of Arctic Office appointed
BAS is delighted to announce that Henry Burgess has accepted the position of head of the NERC Arctic Office. He will take up his post in the New Year.
The Arctic Office, hosted by the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, coordinates research and logistics in the Arctic for UK scientists. This includes managing the UK Arctic Research Station in Ny-Alesund and supporting the NERC Arctic Research programme.
Another increasingly important role is engaging with the UK government and the international Arctic community to ensure that UK scientists can deliver the highest-quality science in a region of growing strategic importance.
Henry is currently deputy head of the Polar Regions Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where his role includes responsibility for promoting UK policy interests in the Arctic.
The increased prominence of Arctic issues for UK politics, economics and society will be an important factor in shaping the UK Arctic Office’s strategic direction and operational management. Henry brings political and policy insight to the role. In his previous position he played an influential role in Arctic affairs, helped develop Adapting to Change: UK policy towards the Arctic and represented the UK at Arctic fora.
Henry is well connected to the international Science and Innovation Network (SIN), a joint initiative established by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that works with science and innovation communities in 28 countries around the world. This network creates important relationships to bolster the use and value of science and innovation overseas.
The Head of the Arctic Office has a key role in representing the UK at Arctic meetings. Henry’s legal and diplomatic expertise will help strengthen leadership of the UK Arctic community and boost awareness of the scientific excellence that the UK can contribute to international Arctic research efforts.