Russell Agius has been appointed as a member of the Judicial Pension Board

News story

The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Russell Agius as a member of the Judicial Pension Board.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Russell Agius as a Member of the Judicial Pension Board for 3 years from 5 September 2022.

Russell Agius has been advising on pension schemes for over 28 years. He is a Partner at Aon. He spends most of his time advising trustees but also has various corporate appointments. He has carried out secondments with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Pension Protection Fund and the Pensions Regulator.

The Judicial Pension Board (JPB) is responsible for helping the Lord Chancellor to manage and govern the Judicial Pension Schemes.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates the appointment of JPB Members and recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Published 6 September 2022



Russell Agius has been appointed as a member of the Judicial Pension Board

News story

The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Russell Agius as a member of the Judicial Pension Board.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Russell Agius as a Member of the Judicial Pension Board for 3 years from 5 September 2022.

Russell Agius has been advising on pension schemes for over 28 years. He is a Partner at Aon. He spends most of his time advising trustees but also has various corporate appointments. He has carried out secondments with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Pension Protection Fund and the Pensions Regulator.

The Judicial Pension Board (JPB) is responsible for helping the Lord Chancellor to manage and govern the Judicial Pension Schemes.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates the appointment of JPB Members and recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Published 6 September 2022



Repeat burglar who attacked elderly woman receives increased sentence

News story

A repeat burglar who attacked an elderly woman will spend longer in prison

A repeat burglar who assaulted an elderly woman in her home has had his sentence increased to 4 years and 6 months’ imprisonment as it was found to be unduly lenient after it was referred to the Court of Appeal.

Kyle Mark Thatcher, 30, committed three burglaries in Kent over a two-week period in April stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods. In the final burglary he attacked an 88-year-old woman who had disturbed him – pushing her over and causing an injury to her head.

At Canterbury Crown Court on 30 May 2022, he was sentenced to a prison sentence of 2 years and 8 months for the three domestic burglaries.

Following the sentencing, the then Solicitor General Alex Chalk MP, referred Thatcher’s sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme as he felt that the original sentence was too low.

Thatcher’s original sentence was found to be unduly lenient by the Court on 6 September and was increased to 4 years 6 months’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Edward Timpson QC MP said:

Not only did Thatcher steal thousands of pounds worth of goods, he also injured a vulnerable woman trying to protect her home and belongings.

Those who break into people’s homes for their own personal gain need to face the appropriate punishment and the increase in Thatcher’s sentence sends that clear message.

Published 6 September 2022



2020 Alexander Dalrymple Award presented to Vice Admiral Dr Harjo Susmoro

Indonesian Chief Hydrographer, Vice Admiral Nuridayat, presided over the presentation of the 2020 Alexander Dalrymple Award to Vice Admiral Dr Harjo Susmoro at a ceremony in Jakarta on 26 August this year. The award was presented by the United Kingdom’s National Hydrographer, Rear Admiral Rhett Hatcher, on behalf of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

The presentation of the award was delayed by the pandemic and, following the easing of restrictions, the ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Indonesian Hydrographic and Oceanographic Centre, PUSHIDROSAL, in Jakarta.

Vice Admiral Susmoro was Chief Hydrographer of Indonesia between 2016 and 2020; he is currently Secretary General of Indonesia’s National Resilience Council and the first Indonesian recipient of the award in its 15-year history.

Vice Admiral Susmoro was recognised by the UKHO as a result of his exceptional and inspirational leadership of hydrography at both a national and international level. He received the Alexander Dalrymple Award for his outstanding contributions to supporting the development of Indonesia’s marine economy and improving disaster resilience in the region.

As Chief Hydrographer of Indonesia, Susmoro led the transformation of PUSHIDROSAL into one of the world’s leading hydrographic offices. Under his leadership, Indonesia unlocked access to marine data through their national data portal and showed relentless progress in surveying and charting Indonesian waters. In addition to supporting the safety of commercial shipping in the area, PUSHIDROSAL’s survey work unlocked new economic growth, enabling the first cruise ship visits to the islands of Lombok and Benoa.

PUSHIDROSAL played a key role in the search and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the tragic Lion Air flight 610, which crashed into the Java Sea in 2018. Furthermore, in the investigations after the Sulawesi earthquake and Anak Krakatau eruption, both of which caused deadly tsunamis, VAdm Susmoro led PUSHIDROSAL’s contribution in developing and improving the tsunami warning system, helping to better protect coastal communities against such natural disasters.

Commenting on the 2020 Alexander Dalrymple Award, Rear Admiral Rhett Hatcher, UK National Hydrographer, said: “I am delighted that the 2020 Alexander Dalrymple Award recognises Vice Admiral Susmoro’s outstanding achievements. After a delay caused by the pandemic, I am very pleased to have finally been able to present the award in rightful recognition of his work. Vice Admiral Susmoro’s legacy is writ in the close friendship and collaboration between PUSHIDROSAL and the UKHO and I look forward to continuing our work so that together we can support safe, secure, and thriving oceans.”

Vice Admiral Dr Harjo Susmoro added: “It is a real honour to be presented with this award. Indonesia has demonstrated itself as an active contributor to the region and to the international hydrographic community, and I am humbled to be recognised in this manner and extremely proud of the work of my team.”

Vice Admiral Nurhidyat, Indonesian Chief Hydrographer, further commented: “With the recognition of hydrography as an essential ingredient in the success of the Indonesian economy and the safety of communities, Vice Admiral Dr Harjo Susmoro led the development of technical skills and surveying capabilities both within PUSHIDROSAL and regionally.

“I am delighted that Vice Admiral Susmoro has been recognised with the Alexander Dalrymple Award and I am proud to continue his legacy, particularly in ensuring that the long history of friendship and cooperation between Indonesia and the UK continues to flourish.”



Fusion robot at the ready for Blackbird Leys Festival

A futuristic robot called Ned will be deployed at this year’s Blackbird Leys Festival to drum-up interest in robotics and engineering as an exciting career path for young people in Oxford.

A team from UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and advanced manufacturing training centre, Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS), will be showcasing the latest technology involved in making fusion energy an environmentally responsible part of the world’s future energy supply.

Visitors to the free festival on Saturday 10 September at Blackbird Leys Community Centre (10am – 2pm) will be able to experience a plasma ball, robotic arm and 3D model simulator, to name just a few of the activities on offer.

The festival builds on a summer series of robotics classes that took place at the community centre, where children learned how to program robots to navigate a slalom through to undertaking robot duels.

Laura Bristow, Charity Manager, Blackbird Leys Community Centre, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming even more people to the centre this weekend at our fantastic Blackbird Leys Festival.

“It has been a real asset to our summer project to have the team from UKAEA run the robotics workshops. It is something new and different and really engaging, offering the chance for young people to learn and develop these skills.”

Robotics is a key area of making fusion – based on the same processes that power the sun and stars – a safe, low carbon and sustainable part of the world’s future energy mix.

Rashad Hussain, Group Leader at UKAEA and founding member of community interest company, IbnSina Mindcrafters, delivered the workshops on behalf of UKAEA and training centre, OAS. He said:

“The classes covered the basics of robotics including movement, decision making, looping and sensor feedback. The children were amazed at what they achieved and enjoyed a STEM experience that has hopefully inspired them to consider a career in robotics, fusion or engineering.

“IbnSina Mindcrafters’ mission is to allow all children the opportunity to experience the thrill of creating code to overcome challenges.”

The classes were organised as a part of an access and awareness initiative between UKAEA, OAS and MTC Training, which aims to ensure minority communities are exposed to apprenticeship career options in STEM.

New apprenticeship programmes in space, robotics, data science, energy storage, power engineering and cyber security will be launched by OAS, based at Culham Science Centre, later this year.

OAS is a partnership between UKAEA and the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The two organisations have a history of apprentice training in science and engineering stretching back more than 70 years.

To find out more about OAS and the training courses it offers, including apprenticeships, visit: oas.ukaea.uk. For the latest fusion energy news and opportunities, visit: ccfe.ukaea.uk.