Professor Cath Noakes, who was one of the government’s key advisers during the Covid-19 pandemic, has been appointed to chair a new scientific assurance committee for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Professor Noakes, a ventilation expert at Leeds University’s School of Civil Engineering, co-chaired the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies’ environment and modelling sub-group during the pandemic.
She also advised the NHS, the World Health Organization and several government departments. Professor Noakes, who was made an OBE in 2020 for her services during the pandemic, will now chair a new Science Quality Assurance Group at the HSE.
The group of 12 scientists and engineers is being set up to provide the workplace regulator with independent assurance on the relevance and quality of its scientific research.
Members will be organised into four subgroups, tailored to cover the HSE’s strategic objectives: health and safety, net zero, chemicals safety, and buildings safety.
