Professor Susan Jebb, the Oxford BRC’s Theme Lead for Obesity, Diet and Lifestyle, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Food Standards Agency.
Prof Jebb, Professor of Diet and Population Health in Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, said: “I am delighted to be appointed to Chair the Food Standards Agency. This is an important time for our food system, and I am looking forward to building on the trust that government has placed in the FSA to play a full and active role in the challenges which lie ahead. Most importantly I want to ensure that the department continues to be highly effective in protecting public health and delivering its mission of ‘food we can trust’.
“My aim is to champion science and transparent, evidence-based decision making, while ensuring the consumer perspective is central to everything we do. I want to strengthen our relationships across government and with the devolved countries, so that together we can maintain the confidence in our food standards among consumers and our trading partners.”
The appointment was confirmed this week following a hearing at the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee.
The appointment takes effect from 1 July for three years. During this time, Susan will continue part-time in her role as co-lead of the department’s Health Behaviours Group.
Commenting on the appointment, the Head of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Professor Richard Hobbs, said: “Susan has a leading role in building our department’s capacity for high-quality public health research, bringing science to the heart of public debate on obesity, food and our environment. She has championed the role of evidence in policymaking, and has helped transform national approaches to tackling diet and weight loss.
“We wish her every success in this new and important role at a critical time for food standards. We are delighted that we will not be losing Susan entirely and she will continue her world class research in the department, albeit in a reduced capacity, alongside this prestigious national role. “