Environment Secretary George Eustice appoints Sarah Mukherjee, Mark Suthern, as non-executive directors to the Environment Agency Board. These appointments will take effect on 10 January 2022, and will continue for four years, until 9 January 2026.
Board members offer non-executive leadership support to the Environment Agency executive through regular Board meetings and committees. They also take on individual leadership roles in addressing relevant issues and working with local operational teams.
All appointments are made on merit. Political activity is not considered in the selection process. The Ministerial Code of Governance regarding Public Appointments applies to the appointments. Appointees who engage in significant political activity must be made public. Sarah and Mark both have not declared any political activity over the past five year.
George Eustice, Environment Secretary said:
I look forward welcoming Sarah and Mark into the Environment Agency Board. Their enthusiasm, experience, and skills will be a great asset as we work together in order to make the environment greener and better for future generations.
Emma Howard Boyd is Chair of the Environment Agency.
Sarah and Mark are joining us at this critical time for England’s environment and nature. More than 76,000 incidents were reported last year to the Environment Agency’s incident management service. These included flood, drought, fires and pollution incidents. One incident is reported every seven minutes.
The Environment Agency provides incident response and helps protect the nation from flood risk. It also regulates industry and agriculture to protect our air, water, and soils. This is in line with the government’s ambition to Build Back Greener. It supports communities and businesses to prepare for climate shocks and leads the way to net zero by 2050, creating a nature-positive future.
I know Sarah’s and Marks skills will be a great asset to the Environment Agency Board in delivering environmental improvements for many years to come. I am delighted that they have joined us.
The new appointments are based upon a four-day commitment per month and pay a 16,800 per annum remuneration rate.
Biographies
Sarah Mukherjee
- Sarah Mukherjee serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment.
- She was BBC’s Environment Correspondent for many decades, and presented on BBC radio and television.
- Sarah has held leadership positions in agriculture and utilities since leaving BBC. She was a panelist for the National Parks Review. She also sits on the National Food Strategy Advisory Panel. She is a Trustee at the Woodland Trust, Harper Adams University governor, and Co-Chair of Oxford Farming Conference.
- Sarah was awarded an MBE in 2021 to recognize her contributions to agriculture and farmer well being.
Mark Suthern
- Mark is a Non Executive member of the Rural Payments Agency Advisory Management Board and it’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.
- He is an advisor external to FixOurFood and a member on The Ceres Agri-Tech Investment Committee.
- Mark is the Chair of The Farming Community Network charity’s Board of Trustees and a Trustee of the Institute of Agricultural Management. Mark is also a Lay Canon and a member of the Chapter in Lincoln Cathedral.
- Mark previously held the roles of Managing director and National Head for Agriculture and Landed Estates at Barclays UK Plc. He was responsible for sustainability, energy, and farming in this role.
Additional information
- The Environment Agency is a Non Departmental Public Body that was established under the Environment Act 1995 to provide an integrated approach for environmental protection and enhancement in England. It is responsible for flood management, water quality and quantity, climate change, land quality and chemicals, pollution prevention, control and waste, as well as conservation and biodiversity, fisheries conservation and air quality and navigation.
- The Board for the Environment Agency is composed of a Chair, 12 members, and a Secretary.
