Department for Transport

Department for Transport makes new appointments to ORR Board
_______________________________________________________________

date 25 Jun 2007 10:20
source Department for Transport
type Press release

The Department for Transport has today announced the appointment of Dr Chris Elliott FREng as a non-executive member of the Board of the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

Chris Elliott is an independent consultant with expertise as a barrister and systems engineer and a visiting professor. He has extensive experience of rail and other transport issues. He has been particularly involved with the management of safety, working with European railway companies and in the UK with the Rail Safety and Standards Board to develop policies that properly reflect safety legislation. He will take up his post on 1 July 2007. At the same time, Professor Jeffrey Jowell QC is standing down from the Board after three years.

Chris Bolt, Chairman of ORR, welcoming the appointment, said: "I look forward to working with Chris. I know he will bring with him a wealth of knowledge, which will add to the breadth of experience already reflected in the Board. My colleagues and I extend our thanks to Jeffrey Jowell for his valued contribution since the Board was first established in 2004." Chris Elliott said "Having worked with the rail industry for eight years, I am very familiar with the work of ORR, and am looking forward to joining the Board of the industry's safety and economic regulator."

The Department has also announced the re-appointment of Peter Bucks for a further two years, to take effect from the end of his current term on 4th July 2008. Peter Bucks is currently Chairman of the ORR's Audit Committee and a member of the Remuneration and Periodic Review Committees. Chris Bolt, Chairman of ORR, said "I welcome the reappointment of Peter Bucks as this will ensure continuity on the Board as ORR reaches conclusions next year on the Periodic Review of Network Rail's outputs and finances for the next five years."

Notes to Editors

1. The Office for Rail Regulation is led by a Board appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport. The Board is responsible for setting ORR's strategy and oversight of its efficient, effective and economic delivery. The Board of the Office of Rail Regulation currently comprises the Chairman, five executive members, including the Chief Executive, and five non-executive members. Appointments to the Board are for a fixed term of up to five years.

2. Dr Chris Elliott was awarded a PhD by the University of Cambridge in 1976 for research into cooling of nuclear power stations. He joined Smith System Engineering as its fourth employee, leaving 19 years later after helping the company grow to become Detica plc. After two years as a law student, he was called to the Bar in 1997 and practised in public and environmental law. He left the Bar in 2001 to develop a niche consultancy as an engineer who understands the law, working with major companies and government departments in transport, energy, construction, chemicals and other fields where regulation and technology can conflict. He is a Visiting Professor at Imperial College and at the University of Bristol and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

3. Chris Elliott has been appointed for a term of four years and will be paid £20,930 p.a. His appointment will run to 31 March 2011.

4. This appointment has been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Chris Elliott has declared he has no involvement in political activity. However, though not a party member or supporter of any political party, he accepted an invitation by the UK Conservative Party to join its working group to develop policy for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. He proposed the policy for promoting innovative exploitation of STEM and the way in which scientific advice should be incorporated into decision taking in government.

5. Peter Bucks was appointed on 5 July 2004 for a term of four years. His new appointment runs to 31 March 2010.

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

Railhub Archive ::: 2007-06-25 DfT-001