Human Genetics Advisory Commission Sir Colin Campbell, vice chancellor of Nottingham University is to chair a new commission. It will consider the broad social, ethical and economic consequences of advances in human genetics in relation to concerns such as public health, patents and employment. Science minister Ian Taylor said the commission will be able to approach these matters from a broad perspective and report direct to industry and health ministers.
The body will be supported by a secretariat based in the Office of Science and Technology and will hold its first meeting early next year.
Sir Colin is a former chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority as well as chairman of the Foods Advisory Committee.
Other members: Martin Bobrow, professor of medical genetics at Cambridge University; Onora O'Neill, chairman of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics; John Polkinghorne, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing; George Poste, research and development chairman at Smithkline Beecham; Moira Stuart, BBC newsreader: Cairns Aitken, chairman of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh; Michaela Aldred, director of the Retinoblastoma Society and Doris Littlejohn, president, central office of industrial tribunals, Scotland.
The formation of the commission stems from a wide-ranging probe into human genetics by the House of Commons science and technology committee. MPs said genetic disorders found to be relevant to employment should be defined and monitored and that the effect of genetic data on the insurance market must be monitored and regulations proposed if necessary. Genetic science is expected to transform medicine through benefits such as better diagnosis and treatment of disorders but the public interest should be safeguarded, their report said.
Association of University Administrators Marketing manager, Lynn Rawlinson, has been appointed executive secretary. She joins the professional development organisation from Manweb, the electricity company.
David Allen, registrar at the University of Nottingham has been elected vice chair of the association, succeeding Keith Jones as chair from 1998-2000.
Anglia Polytechnic University Alan Cherry, chairman of the Countryside Properties plc, will succeed Terry James as the university's chairman of governors. Mr Cherry is a member of the board of Teesside Development Corporation, deputy chairman of London Industrial plc, chairman of the housing policy committee of the House Builders Federation, chairman of the CBI Eastern Region Infrastructure Group and member of the Bank of England property forum.
Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research Gillian Shephard announced two new appointments to CILT. Chairman: Stephen Jones, former head of the international relations branch in the Department for Education. Since leaving the department in 1994 he has undertaken consultancies in higher education and for the Council of Europe; Rosamond Mitchell, reader in education at Southampton University, chair of the British Association of Applied Linguistics (1994/96) and a member of CILT's advisory committee on research since 1989, replaces Valerie Stone as governor to the board of the centre.
Herefordshire College of Art and Design Norman Binch has been elected chairman of governors of the college. He is a former senior staff inspector for further and higher education for ILEA, chairman of the Crafts Occupational Standards Board, a member of the Arts Council of England's visual arts panel and chair of its design committee.