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Our governance

The main decision-making and management committees at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

APHA Steering Board

The board meets quarterly and its role is to provide advice on the strategy and performance of APHA.

Members

The steering board is chaired by Elizabeth Buchanan, the lead Non-Executive Director.

The members of the steering board are:

  • Richard Lewis, Chief Executive
  • Lizzie Peers, Non-Executive Director
  • Pippa Greenwood, Non-Executive Director
  • Laurie Benson, Non-Executive Director
  • Anthony Fooks, APHA Director of Animal and Plant Science
  • Jason Field, APHA Director for National Biosecurity Centre, Weybridge
  • Nicola Hirst, APHA Director of Animal and Plant Delivery Services
  • Liz Byrne, APHA Director of Change
  • Richard Knight, APHA Transformation Director
  • Irene Cristofaro, APHA Veterinary Director
  • Kevin Ingram, Defra Finance Director for APHA
  • Anna Jenkins, Defra HR Director for APHA
  • Christine Middlemiss, Defra Chief Veterinary Officer (UK)
  • Nicola Spence, Defra Chief Plant Health Officer
  • Anjali Juneja, Defra Director of Animal and Plant Health and Welfare

APHA Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

The committee meets quarterly and its role is to review and provide independent assurance of the agency’s financial and risk management, and internal and external audit services.

It’s chaired by Lizzie Peers, Non-Executive Director. Other members are:

  • David Horne, Independent Member
  • Laurie Benson, Non-Executive Director

Regular attendees at the meeting are:

  • Richard Lewis, APHA Chief Executive
  • Kevin Ingram, Defra Finance Director for APHA
  • Russ Baldwin, APHA Head of Finance and Business Partnering
  • Defra group Chief Internal Auditor, Government Internal Audit Agency
  • Defra Risk and Assurance Manager for APHA
  • National Audit Office

APHA Executive Board

The board meets monthly and is responsible for business planning and strategic decision-making in relation to the agency’s finances, operational delivery and its change programme.

It is chaired by Richard Lewis, APHA Chief Executive, and the members are:

  • Anthony Fooks, APHA Director of Animal and Plant Science
  • Jason Field, APHA Director for National Biosecurity Centre, Weybridge
  • Nicola Hirst, APHA Director of Animal and Plant Delivery Services
  • Liz Byrne, APHA Director of Change
  • Richard Knight, APHA Transformation Director
  • Irene Cristofaro, APHA Veterinary Director
  • Kevin Ingram, Defra Finance Director for APHA
  • Anna Jenkins, Defra HR Director for APHA

APHA Science Advisory Board

The board meets quarterly and its role is to oversee the delivery of the agency’s scientific work.

Members include the APHA Science Director and external scientists and experts working on veterinary government science and research.

Supporting boards

APHA’s governance includes the following boards who support decision-making and monitoring the agency’s performance and delivery:

  • Performance and Risk Board
  • Operations Board
  • People Board
  • Finance and Commercial Board
  • Change Board
  • Joint Health and Safety Governance Board (with members from Defra group Property)
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