Chief Executive Officer

Claire Curtis-Thomas

Claire studied at University College, Cardiff where she was awarded a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering, and at Aston University, where she obtained a MBA. She was awarded an honorary PhD in Technology in 1999.

She became a researcher at University College of Wales in Cardiff in 1984, before joining Shell Chemicals, initially as a Site Mechanical Engineer, moving internally in 1988 as the Head of UK Supply and Distribution, and after 1990 was Head of Environmental Strategy until leaving Shell in 1992.

She became research head and development laboratory with the Birmingham City Council in 1992, before moving internally to be the strategy and business planning head in 1993, leaving the council in 1995.

In 1996 she was appointed as a Business and Engineering Dean at the University of Wales, Newport, and remained there until the following year, when she was elected to Westminster. She was elected as a councillor to the Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council in 1995, stepping down in 1997. Also in 1995, she was elected the secretary of the Eddisbury Constituency Labour Party.

She was elected to the House of Commons at her first attempt at the 1997 general election for the parliamentary constituency of Crosby.

After her election she became a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee, on which she sat for the entirety of her first parliament. In 2003 she became a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, and after the 2005 General Election she was a member of the Trade and Industry Committee.

Her Crosby constituency disappeared under constituency boundary changes and was succeeded by a Sefton Central seat that is a Labour - Conservative marginal, which was won by Labour in the general election.

Claire stood down as an MP at the 2010 general election.

Claire is an ardent supporter of the engineering sector and is committed to promoting the profession to young people and the public at large.

Claire Curtis-Thomas started as IGEM's Chief Executive Officer in January 2011.

IGEM Past President Jeremy Bending said: "After undergoing a thorough recruitment process we are delighted to appoint Claire Curtis-Thomas as IGEM's Chief Executive Officer. We are confident that Claire is the right person to lead IGEM through our current strategic review and to achieve our key objectives."

Claire Curtis-Thomas said: "I am pleased to join IGEM and look forward to taking the Institution forward."