The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Board is our primary governing body. It has general oversight of UKRI’s activities and is responsible for achieving UKRI’s strategic objective and vision.
The board is made up of UKRI’s Chair, Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, as well as between nine and 12 independent members drawn from:
- higher education
- industry and commerce
- policy
- charities
- other non-governmental organisations
Board members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Members initially serve for three to five years. The board is required to give updates and advice to the Secretary of State, including an annual report and strategic priorities.
The Secretary of State, or a representative of the Secretary of State, is entitled to attend and receive papers for UKRI Board meetings.
The board is supported by the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, the Nominations and Renumerations Committee, the Organisation Change Committee and a Board Investment Committee that provides independent scrutiny of major business cases, that exceed UKRI’s delegations.
Board members
Current members of the board include:
- The Baroness Bull CBE, Cross Bench Peer in the House of Lords, where she serves as a Deputy Speaker and on the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
- Annie Callanan, CEO of EBSCO Information Services
- Rita Dhut, Chair of JP Morgan European Growth and Income Plc
- Priya Guha, Venture Partner at Merian Ventures and BIC Chair
- Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas, Professor of Innovation Management and Policy and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast
- Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive, UKRI
- Sir Andrew Mackenzie, Chair of UKRI
- Professor Jane Norman, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost at the University of Nottingham
- Siobhan Peters, Chief Finance Officer, UKRI
- Russell Schofield-Bezer, Founder and CEO of RSB Advisory Ltd
- Nigel Toon, Co-founder, Chair and CEO at Graphcore
- Ruwan Weerasekera, Non-executive Director on the Board of UKRI and Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee
The Secretary of State is represented at the UKRI Board by Alexandra Jones, Director General for Science, Innovation and Growth at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Professor Sir Ian Chapman, incoming UKRI Chief Executive, is an observer on the UKRI Board until he takes up the role in the summer.
See our declaration of interests.
Board meeting minutes
UKRI Board meetings are held up to eight times a year and we publish minutes to ensure transparency and accountability:
Terms of reference
Last updated: 10 March 2025