From plants to people

JNCC now has a third director within its Support Unit, with the appointment of Marcus Yeo as Director of Resources and External Affairs. Marcus was, until recently, Head of Planning and Resources in JNCC, and prior to that Head of Habitats Advice. His new role includes responsibility for corporate services, encompassing finance, human resources, business management, communications and data services, and also covers international work and earth science.

 

One of the main areas of concern for Marcus will be to address the challenges arising from the Government's Financial, Management and Policy Review of JNCC, and in particular the establishment by JNCC of a company limited by guarantee, employing staff united on one set of terms and conditions. Marcus will also focus on the implementation of JNCC's new strategy. He will be seeking to raise JNCC's profile within the country conservation agencies and Government, and finding new ways of working with international bodies, such as the European Commission.

 

With a clear vision for the future, Marcus sees JNCC as building on its reputation for scientific expertise in the years to come. "JNCC will be looking to be widely recognised as a source of authoritative information and advice on UK and international nature conservation issues", said Marcus, " and in this way it will make a significant contribution to sustainable development".

 

Marcus sees partnership as a major mechanism for achieving JNCC's aims. "We need to work closely with staff in the country agencies to ensure that we are all focusing on the priority issues affecting the environment and are making the best use of available resources.We also need to maintain close links with UK Government departments and devolved administrations, and to build productive working relationships with other key environmental stakeholders."

 

With a personal interest in nature conservation, in particular bryophytes, Marcus is an active member of the British Bryological Society. For the past seven years he has edited the society's biannual bulletin, and he still enjoys working in the field, recording the distribution of mosses and liverworts.