BBSRC Chief Operating Officer
Bill Poll is Chief Operating Officer at the Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Having gained a degree in Materials Engineering, Bill began his career in the private sector, spending 25 years working in a variety of small and large (FTSE 100) organisations, initially in manufacturing operations and latterly in business improvement and project and programme management.
Since joining BBSRC in 2009, Bill has been responsible for delivering a variety of significant business change projects and programmes on behalf of both BBSRC and the wider UK Research and Innovation community involving high complexity, multiple stakeholder environments.
In particular, as part of the senior team overseeing the implementation of BBSRC’s campus strategy, Bill has been involved in the delivery of our Research and innovation Campus programme since its initial announcement in 2011. This has included the investment, with partners, of over £200 million in facilities and infrastructure at Babraham (near Cambridge), Norwich, Rothamsted, Edinburgh (Roslin Easterbush) and Aberystwyth, and the establishment and operation of multi-partner campus operating companies.
As BBSRC Chief Operating Officer, Bill’s responsibilities include:
- executive lead for all BBSRC activities relating to finance, estates, human resources, risk management, communications and engagement, health and safety, information management, planning and programme support, commercial and legal
- leading BBSRC’s organisational transformation within UKRI
In addition, as a member of BBSRC Executive team, Bill’s role includes:
- lead for BBSRC’s relationship with three of its strategically-funded institutes
BBSRC lead for major capital projects including:
- phase 2 of the £250 million plus Pirbright Development Programme
development of John Innes Centre Next Generation Infrastructure project
Bill continues to be an active member of the senior team overseeing the implementation of BBSRC’s campus strategy, and is a Director of AIEC Ltd, the operating company for the Aberystwyth innovation campus.
Last updated: 21 September 2023