UKRI announce new Chair of the BGS Board

We are delighted to announce the appointment of the new Chair of the BGS Board. Prof Paul Monks CB is currently the chief scientific advisor for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and will join the board when he finishes this role later in the year. He will replace the current Chair of the BGS Board, Prof Sir Keith O’Nions.

As chief scientific advisor, Paul delivers independent and impartial science and engineering advice to ministers and decision makers across the department’s policy and delivery portfolio and the Clean Energy Superpower Mission. Paul also works closely with the Government chief scientific advisor, the cross-government network of departmental scientific advisors, and the DESNZ chief analyst, to strengthen the links within and across departments, encouraging effective engagement and knowledge sharing, and to support delivery of a robust evidence base to underpin policy decisions.

Prior to joining the department, Paul was pro-vice chancellor and head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Leicester, where he remains a professor in atmospheric chemistry and Earth observation science. Paul was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the King’s New Year Honours 2025 for services to science in Government.

The BGS Board Chair is a key advisor to the Executive Chair of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and supports the BGS Director in their business planning and strategic direction as part of UKRI.

I am delighted to take up the role and build on the work of my predecessor Sir Keith O’Nions. In my view BGS has a critical role in the national and international landscape as a trusted provider of impartial, independent geoscientific advice and data to governments, the public and private-sector organisations.

I see every day the importance of BGS science and services with its centrality to the challenges of decarbonising our economy, whether that be for critical minerals, geothermal, mine remediation, waste storage or carbon capture.  The subsurface is at the frontier of net zero.

I look forward to working with BGS, UKRI-NERC and the wider geoscience community to ensure evolution and impact of the BGS capacity and capability.

Prof Paul Monks CB, incoming chair of the BGS Board and chief scientific advisor for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

I am delighted at the prospect of working alongside Paul at this important time in BGS’s journey forward — to draw on his expertise as we take the organisation forward and optimise the impact of geoscience in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing society.

Dr Karen Hanghøj, BGS Director.

I am so pleased to welcome Paul into this important role for both NERC and BGS, following the excellent record set by Sir Keith in strengthening and maintaining strong relations and careful planning across BGS since the formation of UKRI. I look forward to continuing to build on this as we look ahead. At no point has the importance of the subsurface in supporting life on Earth been greater both globally and at the individual citizen level — our future does depend on it.

Prof Louise Heathwaite CBE FRS, NERC Executive Chair.