Sir Mark Walport
Biography - Sir Mark Walport FRS FMedSci
Sir Mark is the Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government and Head of the Government Office for Science.
Previously, Sir Mark was Director of the Wellcome Trust, which is a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health by supporting the brightest minds. Before joining the Trust he was Professor of Medicine and Head of the Division of Medicine at Imperial College London.
He has been a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology since 2004. He has also been a member of the India UK CEO Forum, the UK India Round Table and the advisory board of Infrastructure UK and a non-executive member of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research. He is a member of a number of international advisory bodies.
He has undertaken independent reviews for the UK Government on the use and sharing of personal information in the public and private sectors: ‘Data Sharing Review’ (2009); and secondary education: ‘Science and Mathematics: Secondary Education for the 21st Century’ (2010).
He received a knighthood in the 2009 New Year Honours List for services to medical research and was elected as Fellow of The Royal Society in 2011.
On his appointment to the role, Sir Mark said:
"Our modern world presents extraordinary environmental, social and economic opportunities and challenges. Science, engineering, technology and the social sciences have pivotal roles to play in addressing these opportunities and challenges, and in contributing to the development of the best government policies. It is a privilege to take on this role and to help to ensure that the impacts of the UK's outstanding capabilities are maximised.”
Sir Mark outlined five high level priorities for his term in office:
- Promoting the contribution of science, engineering, technology and the social sciences to economic growth by linking industry, academia and government
- Developing the capabilities that are vital to the infrastructure that underpins our security, well-being and resilience
- Providing the best scientific advice in the case of emergencies
- Ensuring the best use of quantitative and qualitative analysis across government
- Providing advocacy and strong leadership for science inside and outside government
