Chief Scientist

Dr Tim Hill

Biography

Tim has 30 years’ experience of working for the UK government’s statutory nature conservation bodies. He is particularly focussed on making sure that Natural England is strongly evidence- and evaluation-led in all the advice, decisions and actions taken to achieve nature’s recovery.

Tim has been a member of Natural England’s senior leadership team since March 2008, with former roles including Director of Regulatory Services and Access, and Director of Evidence. He has been Chief Scientist since 2014. He is responsible for leading the Chief Scientist Directorate (CSD) to develop evidence and provide scientific advice and analysis, to help achieve Natural England’s vision.

Tim has a first class joint honours degree in Marine Biology and Zoology and a PhD in Marine Ecology. He is a member of the Institute of Directors and the Institution of Environmental Sciences. He is married with 3 daughters and lives in North Yorkshire.

Chief Scientist

CSD has a budget of £44 million and over 450 staff. These staff provide a capability to generate, manage and share scientific, technical and analytical information on nature, landscape and access. They have a wide range of scientific, analytical and technical expertise, and include:

  • marine, terrestrial and freshwater ecologists
  • geologists
  • economists
  • social scientists
  • data analysts
  • statisticians

Natural England