Richard Sharp is confirmed as the new BBC Board Chair

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Following Privy Council approval on 10 February, Richard Sharp has been appointed for 4 years from 16 February 2021 to 15 February 2025.

Richard Sharp has over 30 years of experience in the financial sector, including commercial banking, derivatives, fixed income, private equity and investment banking. He spent 23 years at Goldman Sachs, joining in 1984 to start and head its European Capital Markets Group. He subsequently held a number of senior roles, most recently as Chairman of Goldman Sachs’ principal investment business in Europe. Prior to this, he worked in both commercial banking and investment banking for JP Morgan. He also served as a Director of Oncimmune, and is a former Chairman and an Emeritus Trustee of the Royal Academy and a Director of International Rescue UK.

Mr Sharp was a member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) from its formal inception in 2013 through to April 2019. The FPC is the entity charged by the UK Government with the powers and the duty to ensure financial stability in the UK. Richard was a Partner of Goldman Sachs and was a member of the European Management Committee.

ENDS

Notes

This appointment process was run in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Remuneration for the new BBC Chair will be £160,000 annual salary for 3 to 4 days per week. The BBC Board comprises fourteen members: a non-executive Chair, a designated non-executive member for each of the Nations of the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales); five other non-executive members and four executive members, including the BBC Director-General. The Chair and four non-executive members for the Nations are appointed by The Queen-in-Council. The other non-executive members are appointed by the BBC Board through its nominations committee. The executive members are also appointed by the Board through its nominations committee.

Published 17 February 2021



DHSC SSRB remit letter: 2021 to 2022

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ESFA Update: 17 February 2021

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UK and Australia collaborate to accelerate advanced materials integration

Defence research and development ties between the UK and Australia are already strong, but have been strengthened further under a bilateral international program to accelerate the integration of advanced materials into military platforms.

Nine teams of partners across both nations have received Phase 2 funding worth a total of £1.48 million (A$2.82 million) from the UK and Australian governments to develop innovative proposals covering integration of composites, adhesives for structural joining, joining high temperature structures and improving armour systems.

In the UK successful consortia are:

  • Foresight Innovations Limited, Hephaestus Consulting, Nottingham Trent University and Matrix Composites
  • TWI Limited
  • University of Surrey and QinetiQ
  • Zentraxa Limited and QinetiQ Australia

Successful Australian teams are:

  • Western Sydney University, Imperial College London, Metrologi Pty Ltd, UNSW and AirBus Australia Pacific
  • Qinetiq Australia Pty Ltd and RMIT
  • University of New South Wales, Imperial College London, Advanced Composite Structures Australia Pty Ltd
  • University of Adelaide, Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL – France) and Materials Science Institute
  • RMIT University and BAE Systems Pty Ltd

This program is jointly funded by the Australian Next Generation Technologies Fund run by DST Group; and the Ministry of Defence Materials for Strategic Advantage programme in the UK. Both nations used a common assessment framework managed by the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA). Assessment and Moderation of the competition was carried out collaboratively by Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) in the UK and DST Group in Australia.

The UK’s Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin MP, said:

“The UK and Australia have an enduring defence relationship. As we take on a range of new challenges, I am delighted we will be working together to ensure our personnel are armed with the most advanced technologies.

“These joint challenge projects represent both countries’ innovative visions for the future, whilst supporting our academic and industry partners.”

Australian Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, said the joint research proposals demonstrated the close practical cooperation between defence industry and universities across Australia and the UK.

“These joint challenge projects have not only strengthened our bilateral defence relationship but provide support to each country’s respective defence industries to overcome capability challenges we face.

“Academic and industry partners are vitally important to both defence forces. Through the Next Generation Technologies Fund the Australian Government is committed to providing the best capability possible to the men and women who serve our nation.”

The Joint Effort gives both nations access to international research using a total pooled fund of around £2.52 million (cA$4.79 million) from the two phases of the competition so far. Across the themes, individual proposals were also chosen to support mutual reliance with one nation taking the lead. The new projects start in the financial year 2020/21 and run for up to two years.



Newcastle man jailed for longer

News story

Dean Stewart has had his sentence increased following an intervention by the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP.

A Newcastle man has had his sentence increased following an intervention by the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP.

Dean Stewart, 25, assaulted Ryan Covell in the early hours of 15 June 2020 during an argument. Stewart lashed out with a knife using considerable force to stab Ryan Covell in the neck and lacerate his liver, as well as inflicting wounds from behind, causing life changing injuries.

Stewart has 27 previous convictions for violence, robbery and assault, and was subject to a suspended sentence at the time of his attack.

Stewart was convicted of wounding with intent and sentenced to 7 years and 10 months’ imprisonment on 30 November 2020 at Newcastle Crown Court.

Following the court’s decision, the Solicitor General referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. On 17 February 2021 the sentence was found to be unduly lenient and increased to 10 years and 6 months’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said:

Stewart’s vicious actions have blighted a young man’s life. Ryan Covell has suffered life changing injuries, and so I welcome the Court’s decision to increase Stewarts’ sentence.

Published 17 February 2021