The Council
The Officers and Ordinary Members of Council are elected at the Annual General Meeting.
The President is elected for a two-year term (past presidents are listed here) and Ordinary Members each serve for three years.
The Officers Ordinary Members and Co-opted Members are as follows:
President 2022-2024
Professor Mike Meredith, BAS, website
Incoming President 2023-
Professor Maeve Lohan, University of Southampton, website
Honorary Secretary 2022-2026
Professor Kate Hendry, BAS, website
Honorary Treasurer 2023-
Dr Alexander Brearley, BAS. website
Ordinary Members of Council
Special Interest Groups 2021-2024Dr Cecilia Liszka, BAS website
Education and Outreach 2023-2026
Dr Robyn Tuerena, Scottish Association for Marine Science, website
Early Career Network Coordinator 2020-2023
Dr Siddhi Joshi, Independent Marine Scientist, London website
Editor, Challenger Wave 2010-2023
Dr John Allen, University of Portsmouth. website
Student Travel Awards and Stepping Stones 2018-2023
Dr Sophie Wilmes. Bangor University. website
Industry Liaison and Technology 2010-2023
Mr Terry Sloane, Planet Ocean Ltd. biography
Communications 2021 - 2024
Dr Anna McGregor, University of Glasgow, website
UK SCOR Representative 2019-2023
Prof Alessandro Tagliabue University of Liverpool website
Membership and Data Protection 2020-2023
Dr Chelsey Baker, NOC Southampton, website
NOCA Liaison, 2022-2024
Prof. Mark Inall, SAMS, website
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility working group chair, 2022-present
Dr Gillian Damerell, University of Bergen
Publications and Website Portfolio, 2024-present
Dr Anthony Lucio, NOC Southampton, website
Ex-officio and co-opted members of Council:
Chair, Ocean Challenge Editorial Board
Dr Stephen Dye, Cefas, website
Editor, Ocean Challenge
Ms Angela Colling, Formerly Open University
Policy Lead
Dave Carlin, Defra
Latest News
Townhall on UK Arctic Ocean contribution to International Polar Year 32/33
The Arctic is one of the most rapidly-changing regions on our planet, with impacts on global sea-level rise, changes to our climate and weather patterns, and threats to our shared biodiversity and ecosystem services. With the international community rapidly mobilising towards the International Polar Year 32/33, and with new international programmes and initiatives now being shaped, it is timely for the UK Ocean Science community to come together and articulate what its unique offerings could be to Arctic research and technology.
This hybrid 2-day meeting, to be held at NOC Southampton, is intended to start this process. Recognising the Arctic Oceans role in global Earth and Human systems, anticipated outcomes include a high-level shaping of what the UK Arctic Ocean community would like to achieve over the course of the IPY, stimulation of new collaborations and proposals for grand Arctic challenges and a baseline from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities, both in the UK and overseas, can be built. Discussions will continue in diverse forums, including the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September and at Challenger 2026.
This action is supported by the UK Arctic Office and UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership
Further details and meeting registration link will be circulated in April together with a questionnaire to help shape the agenda and discussion
In the meantime…SAVE THE DATE
Potential Availability of NERC Ship Time During the 25/26 Programme Year
The NERC Marine Facilities Programme for 2025/2026 for the RRS Discovery and the RRS James Cook has been published on the Marine Facilities Planning website.
The RRS Discovery programme currently contains a 79 day alongside slot between the 2nd of November 2025 and the 19th of January 2026, which is available for science delivery if funded science projects can make use of this time. Due to the location of the vessel, the ship is most likely to be able to deliver fieldwork in the North and East Atlantic regions. Some support for science capability within the National Marine Equipment Pool is potentially available, although there is no capacity for use of autonomous vehicles or remotely operated vehicles. Any fieldwork within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) will need the appropriate diplomatic clearance submitted to coastal states at least 6 months in advance, and to NMF with sufficient lead time for processing via the FCDO.
If interested in making use of this ship time, please contact NERC Marine Planning (marineplanning@nerc.ukri.org) ASAP to start discussions.
THE MARINE FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD – CAN YOU HELP?
The Marine Facilities Advisory Board advises the National Oceanography Centre on marine facilities and services, including the Natural Environment Research Council’s National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP), the British Oceanographic Data Centre and the British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility.