Chief Executive of Natural England appointed

Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (National)

Dr Helen Phillips has been appointed as the CEO Designate of Natural England, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett, announced today.

Natural England is the new statutory body that will have responsibility for conserving, enhancing and managing the natural environment.

Announcing the appointment, Mrs Beckett said: "Dr Helen Phillips has a strong vision for Natural England and a proven track record in managing change programmes. I am confident that, together with Sir Martin Doughty, the Chair Designate, she will provide the leadership to make Natural England a success."

Dr Helen Phillips said: "I am delighted to take this appointment. My earliest priorities will be to establish good relationships with national, regional and local partners. I believe that the time is right to put land managers centre stage to improve biodiversity, landscape, access, recreation and sustainable food and farming. I intend that Natural England will be a trenchant champion for the environment, putting people at the heart of our decision making."

Sir Martin Doughty, who has recently been appointed Chair Designate of Natural England, warmly welcomed the appointment: "Helen comes to Natural England after a very successful spell as Director of the Environment Agency in Wales. Her obvious passion for, and commitment to, the natural environment will be of huge benefit in leading the work of Natural England."

Dr Helen Phillips will step down as Director for Wales at the Environment Agency and will initially become CEO Designate of the new body. She will play a leading role in assisting the Chair in setting up Natural England before it assumes its full statutory responsibilities.

It is expected that Natural England will take on its full statutory functions, subject to Royal Assent, in October 2006.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published Defra's Rural Strategy on 21 July 2004, following a review of rural delivery carried out by Lord Haskins. As part of the strategy, the Secretary of State announced that she intended to create a new body, called Natural England, which will combine English Nature with the landscape, access and recreation functions of the Countryside Agency and the environmental land management functions of the Rural Development Service.

Natural England will be an independent statutory NDPB, bringing together and building on the strengths of English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. Its remit will be to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations.

The creation of Natural England will unite in a single organisation responsibility for biodiversity and landscapes in rural, urban, marine and coastal areas, with promoting access, recreation and public well-being. This remit will be delivered so that it contributes towards sustainable development. Its headquarters will be in Sheffield.

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, designed to bring about the legislative framework necessary to implement the changes, was first introduced in the House of Commons on 19 May 2005 and is currently before the House of Lords.

Dr Helen Phillips will be appointed to a three-year contract with Natural England as soon as it is created. In advance of Natural England's creation, Helen will act as CEO Designate in setting up the organisation.

Biographical details:

Dr Phillips joins Natural England from the Environment Agency. During her 11 years there she has held senior operational and strategic policy roles. Her most recent position was that of Director of Environment Agency Wales. She is 39, married, with a young family.

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