A new director has been appointed at Newcastle Science City.

Alison Fellows, a senior city council officer has been seconded to the role of director of Newcastle Science City. 

She is to join Science City on a secondment replacing Dr Andrew Young whose interim role comes to an end this month (November). Miss Fellows, who is the council’s Head of Major Projects, will start at the end of November in a six-month interim role.

Dr Young, former Head of Administration in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering at Newcastle University is taking up a new role as Chief Operating Officer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Paul Walker, chairman at Newcastle Science City, said: “Alison’s considerable experience of handling major projects in both private and public sector environments will prove a great asset to Science City as it gathers momentum on a number of regionally important projects including the development of the Science Central site.

“Over the past six months the Science City initiative has benefited from the vast university experience of Dr Andrew Young who has been acting as director and now, thanks to Alison’s secondment, it will gain valuable input from its second main partner, Newcastle City Council.

“The Board would like to thank Andrew for his work in further strengthening developments in the city’s key areas of research and look forward to working with Alison at what is an exciting time for science in Newcastle.”

Miss Fellows, a mother of two who lives in Newcastle, read law at Cambridge. She became a partner at law firm Dickinson Dees and headed up its commercial team.

After a secondment at the council she joined full-time in 2005 and was made Head of Major Projects where she is responsible for high profile projects such as Accelerated Development Zones, the regional energy efficiency programme Warm-up North, and the Super-connected Cities broadband programme.

Miss  Fellows said: “I'm delighted to have the opportunity to take forward the Science City partnership, at a time when it is so important that we work together to focus on everything this city has to offer its businesses, residents and investors through being a city of scientific excellence."

Newcastle Science City is funded by Newcastle University and Newcastle City Council. It’s aim is to help the city and wider region realise the full economic potential of its science-based industries.

It delivers a range of activities including the development of a close-knit scientific community and encouraging more people to work in scientific industries. Key to its remit is creating innovative high-growth businesses.
Newcastle Science City is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, securing £2.3million of ERDF investment.
 
The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013 is bringing over £300m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.

Press release courtesy of Newcastle City Council.

published on: 12 November 2012