Secretary of State appoints new Members to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Seven new Members have been appointed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), to set policy and practice for the organisation.

Dame Frances Ashcroft, Professor of Physiology at the University of Oxford, Dr Zeynep Gurtin, Lecturer at EGA Institute for Women's Health at UCL London, Alex Kafetz, an expert in AI and data transparency, Alison McTavish, a registered General Nurse and Midwife, and Geeta Narguund, a fertility clinic medical director and Lead Consultant for Reproductive Medicine at St George’s Hospital NHS Trust, begin their 3-year term from 1 April 2022. Professor Frances Flinter, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Genetics at King's College and The Rt Revd Graham James, will be starting their term from 1 May 2022. The Rt Revd Graham James is the former Bishop of Norwich and Chaired the Patterson Inquiry.

Julia Chain, Chair of the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) said:

“I am delighted to be welcoming these seven new highly regarded Members to the Authority. Each new Member brings a wealth of experience which will be invaluable as they shape our future activity and drive forward the HFEA’s objective of providing high quality care for the UK’s fertility patients.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Full biographies for each of the newly appointed Members are available: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/our-people/meet-our-authority-members/
• Photographs of the new members can be downloaded via WeTransfer here: https://we.tl/t-I8326KlTSk
• Member appointments are made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Governance for Public Appointments. The regulation of public appointments against the requirements of this Code is carried out by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
• Member appointments are made on merit and political activity played no part in the decision process. However, in accordance with the Code, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. None have declared any political activity.
• Remuneration for an Authority Member role at the HFEA is at a rate of £7,883 per year and involves a time commitment of three days per month, with an additional allowance for the Audit and Governance Committee Chair, who receives £13,137 a year.

About the HFEA

• The HFEA is the UK’s independent regulator of fertility treatment and research using human embryos.
• Set up in 1990 by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, the HFEA is responsible for licensing, monitoring, and inspecting fertility clinics to ensure patients and everyone born through fertility treatment receives high quality care.
• The HFEA is an ‘arm’s length body’ of the Department for Health and Social Care, working independently from Government providing free, clear, and impartial information about fertility treatment, clinics and egg, sperm and embryo donation.
• The HFEA is funded by licence fees, IVF treatment fees and a grant from UK central government. For more information visit, www.hfea.gov.uk.