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Press release

National marine body appoints Chief Scientific Officer

Date issued: 6 September 2010
Reference: 14/10

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has appointed Dr Melanie Austen as its Chief Scientific Advisor. She will ensure the organisation has access to the latest scientific evidence to support its decision-making and operations.

Dr Austen will combine her role at the MMO with her appointment as Head of Science for Sea and Society at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. She has had 25 years experience of research into marine biodiversity and other related issues and has published or contributed to more than 60 papers.

She is also Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Ecology and for Marine Biodiversity, holds a degree in Marine Biology from Heriot-Watt University and completed her PhD from Exeter University in 1986.

Chris Parry, Chair of the MMO, said “As the national champion of sustainable development in our marine and coastal area, the MMO will benefit greatly from Dr Austen’s wealth of experience and expertise. She will be providing independent, objective advice to ensure we have access to leading-edge research, knowledge and data across all disciplines.”

Notes to editors

• The MMO is a non-departmental public body created earlier this year as a result of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. It brings together key marine decision-making powers and delivery mechanisms to provide an integrated method of planning, regulating and licensing activity in the marine area.
• The MMO has incorporated the work of the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) and has acquired several important new roles, principally marine-related powers and specific functions previously associated with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Transport (DfT).
• With a headquarters in Newcastle, the MMO has 18 offices around the coast of England. A full list of these can be found at www.marinemanagement.org.uk/contacts/local.htm