Each council is led by an Executive Chair advised by a council of external members. Our nine councils work with their research and innovation communities and wider stakeholders to develop and implement delivery plans that contribute to delivering our strategic objectives.
Members include representatives from the academic community, business, civil and public sector. They meet regularly and report to the Executive Committee.
Council terms of reference
The UK Research and Innovation Council terms of reference were last updated in May 2023.
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) members
- Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair
- Anita Bhalla
- Professor Tracy Bhamra
- Professor Tom Crick, Chief Scientific Adviser
- Professor Michael Thomas, Chief Scientific Advisor
- Professor Richard Follett
- Tim Gardam
- Emma Kane, Senior Independent Member
- Seetha Kumar
- Dr Bridget McConnell
- Professor Funmi Olonisakin, FKC
- Professor Sue Rigby
- Professor Adrienne Scullion
- Professor Steven Spier
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) members
- Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, Executive Chair
- Professor Ewan Birney
- James Briscoe, Senior Independent Member
- Professor Timothy Dafforn
- Andy Griffiths
- Professor Anjali Goswami, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Chief Scientific Adviser (Observer)
- Professor Christine Orengo
- Dr Neil Parry
- Professor Joanna Susan Price
- Professor Steven Spoel
- Professor Eriko Takano
- Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) members
- Stian Westlake, Executive Chair
- Kelly Beaver
- Professor Christina Boswell
- Anita Charlesworth
- Andrew Dilnot
- Professor Alex Edmans
- Professor Becky Francis
- Baroness Alexandra Freeman
- Dr Laura Gilbert
- David Halpern
- Professor Todd Landman, Senior Independent Member
- Professor Cecilia Wong
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) members
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- Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair
- Dr Dave Smith, Chief Scientific Advisor
- Professor Jeremy Baumberg, Senior Independent Member
- Professor Nigel Brandon
- Professor Deborah Greaves
- Professor Jane Hillston
- Professor Catherine Hobbs
- Professor Dame Xiangqian (Jane) Jiang
- Siân John
- Simon King
- Professor Robert Mokaya
- Alan Newby
- Professor Martin Schröder
- Jon-Paul Sherlock
- Professor Marika Taylor
- Professor Ian White
Innovate UK Council members
- Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair
- Harry Destecroix
- Isabel Fox
- Chris Ganje
- John Gibson
- Annalisa Gigante
- Tunde Olanrewaju
- John Patterson
- Professor Jennifer Rubin, Chief Scientific Advisor
- Professor Julia Sutcliffe, Chief Scientific Advisor
- Dr Mark Treherne
- Professor Simon Weeks
Medical Research Council (MRC) members
- Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair
- Professor Sir Mark Caulfield
- Kay Boycott, Senior Independent Member
- Professor Lucy Chappell
- Professor Simon Hollingsworth
- Dr Precious Lunga
- Professor Iain B McInnes
- Dr Andy Richards
- Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell
- Professor Nadeem Sarwar
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) members
- Professor Louise Heathwaite, Executive Chair
- Cathrine Armour
- Professor Richard Bardgett
- Dr Alice Bunn
- Professor Peter Cox
- Professor Kevin Gaston
- Professor Anjali Goswami, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Chief Scientific Adviser (Observer)
- Professor Gideon Henderson, Senior Independent Member
- Professor Anna Hogg
- Michael Lewis
- Professor Dan Parsons
- Professor Emily Shuckburgh
Research England members
- Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair
- Professor Dame Julia Buckingham
- Stephen Cohen
- Dr Sharon Ellis
- Professor Colette Fagan
- Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan
- Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon
- Professor Dina Kiwan
- Polly Mackenzie
- Professor Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad
- Dr Tony Raven
- Professor Colin Riordan
- Professor Mark E Smith
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) members
- Professor Michele Dougherty, Executive Chair
- Adrian Belton
- Professor Stan Bentvelsen
- Professor Dave Charlton
- Lucy Edge
- Professor Jan-Theodoor Janssen
- Dr Jana Kolar
- Professor Jayne Lawrence
- Dr Angeli Möller
- Professor Andrew Pontzen
- Professor Andy Schofield, Senior Independent Member
- Professor Julia Sutcliffe, Department for Business and Trade Chief Scientific Adviser (Observer)
- Hitesh Thakrar
- Professor Carsten P Welsch
Last updated: 7 April 2026