About

I have worked for CABI for 48 years in the conservation and use of microbial diversity.

In my position as Director of Biological Resources, I supported the Bioservices section to develop and implement projects and act as a consultant on culture collection strategy. I am also a past President of the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) 2004-2010.

I previously headed up the CABI Genetic Resource Collection (GRC) which is now a world leader in culture collections with our scientists undertaking state-of-the-art preservation research. My work with the GRC put it on a sound financial footing with products, services and research project portfolio and the GRC now has productive links to UK government and donor organizations.

Previously General Manager for the Global Biological Resource Centre Network Demonstration Project, based in Germany, I am now a member of the steering group for the preparatory phase of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure (MIRRI).

I specialise in mycology, more specifically in the techniques for the preservation of fungi. This has involved lecturing, teaching, training and establishing collection facilities worldwide (Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Cuba, Finland, India, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, USA, Indonesia, UK). Throughout my career, I have published over 150 scientific papers, conference proceedings, project reports and technical publications. In addition, I have developed standards for the operation of culture collections with the UK National Culture Collection (UKNCC), in Europe with the European Biological Resource Centre Initiative and globally with the OECD and the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC). As a part of my work, I have also looked at addressing Biological Resource Centre (BRC) compliance with the law such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, Biosecurity, Intellectual Property Rights and Shipping. In 2012, I was elected as a Fellow of the Society for Biology.