The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has announced the appointment of a new member to its governing body, the Council. Council members are appointed by the Minister for Science and Innovation and are responsible for the overall strategic direction of the AHRC including its key objectives and targets, and key decisions about the research direction of the AHRC.
Sir Alan Wilson, Chair of the AHRC, has confirmed that Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation, has appointed Trevor Spires, to the AHRC Council for four years with effect from 1 April 2010.
For most of his career Trevor was a member of the Royal Navy, from which he retired in early 2009, in the rank of Rear Admiral. In the latter part of his career he specialised in personnel management and spent the 6 years prior to leaving the Royal Navy as the Chief Executive of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), the agency responsible for support services to all UK armed forces serving and retired personnel.
Sir Alan says: "It is with great pleasure that we welcome our new Council member. Trevor brings an impressive background in business achievements combined with extensive leadership experience and the Council is fortunate in being able to attract someone with such high level expertise as Trevor."
The appointment of the Council member has been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice.
Media Contact
Media Contact: Jake Gilmore, AHRC Communications Manager; T 0797 099 4586, E j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk
Notes to Editors:
The AHRC Council is the governing body responsible for determining the strategy and policy of the AHRC. Members receive an honoraria of £6,850 per annum. Appointments are made in accordance with OCPA Code of Practice. This appointment has been made on the basis of merit. In accordance with Nolan recommendations there is a requirement for appointees' political activity to be made public. The appointee has not been involved in any relevant political activity in the last five years and does not hold any other ministerial appointments.
Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Each year the AHRC provides approximately £105 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,350 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.
Biographical Summary:
Trevor Spires. Following the completion of a university engineering apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce Aero Engines, Trevor joined the Royal Navy from which he retired in early 2009, in the rank of Rear Admiral. Having initially joined as an academic training specialist, as his naval career developed he undertook a variety of operational and management roles. In the latter part of his career he specialised in personnel management and spent the 6 years prior to leaving the Royal Navy as the Chief Executive of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), the agency responsible for support services to all UK armed forces serving and retired personnel. Key parts of this role were the payment of £13 billion per annum in salary and pensions to a global customer base of around 1 million individuals and the building of effective relationships with commercial partners. He was awarded a CBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list. Since leaving the Royal Navy Trevor has developed a small portfolio of Non Executive Director and Trustee roles, including for The National Archives and the Royal Naval Submarine Museum. To all of these roles he brings expertise in financial management, strategic thinking, change and risk management, service delivery and corporate governance.