°Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï

Skip to main content

Our governance

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

APHA Steering Board

The executive board meets monthly and is responsible for:

  • the day-to-day running of APHA
  • implementing improvements
  • monitoring delivery against targets
  • authorising and managing the agency’s change programme

It is chaired by Richard Lewis, APHA Chief Executive. The other members are:

  • Kevin Ingram, Defra Finance Director for APHA
  • Dan Horton, APHA Director of Animal and Plant Science (Interim)
  • Jason Field, APHA Director for National Biosecurity Centre, Weybridge
  • Nicola Hirst, APHA Director of Animal and Plant Delivery Services
  • Richard McCart, APHA Director of Change (Interim)
  • Richard Knight, APHA Transformation Director
  • Irene Cristofaro, APHA Veterinary Director
  • Anna Jenkins, Defra HR Director for APHA

APHA Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

The committee meets 4 times a year with more meetings if required. It’s responsible for:

  • supporting the executive board in managing risk
  • assessing the agency’s performance
  • reviewing the agency’s financial management
  • reporting the results of the internal and external audits to the Steering Board

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
  • Natalie Towers, Defra group Chief Internal Auditor, Government Internal Audit Agency
  • Defra Risk and Assurance Manager for APHA
  • National Audit Office

APHA Executive Board

The executive board meets monthly and is responsible for:

  • the day-to-day running of APHA
  • implementing improvements
  • monitoring delivery against targets
  • authorising and managing the agency’s change programme

It is chaired by Richard Lewis, APHA Chief Executive. The other members are:

  • Kevin Ingram, Defra Finance Director for APHA
  • Dan Horton, APHA Director of Animal and Plant Science (Interim)Jason Field, APHA Director for National Biosecurity Centre, Weybridge
  • Nicola Hirst, APHA Director of Animal and Plant Delivery Services Richard McCart, APHA Director of Change (Interim)
  • Richard Knight, APHA Transformation Director
  • Irene Cristofaro, APHA Veterinary Director
  • Anna Jenkins, Defra HR Director for APHA

APHA Science Advisory Board

The board meets 4 times a year. It supports the APHA Executive Board and Accounting Officer in their responsibilities for the oversight and assurance of APHA scientific work.

It’s chaired by Laura Green, Non-Executive Director. Other members are from a range of external scientists and experts working on veterinary and government science and research.

Joint Health and Safety Governance Board

The board meets monthly and it’s responsible for ensuring APHA continually seeks to raise health and safety standards. It oversees the: 

  • implementation of the joint APHA and Defra health and safety strategies 
  • delivery of APHA health, safety and wellbeing plans 
  • maintenance and management of the Weybridge site infrastructure 

It is co-chaired by Dan Horton (interim) and Kath Jones, Director Defra group Property.

Members include senior managers representing different areas of APHA and Defra group Property.

Contents