Professor relishes EPICC challenge

High profile Professor Janet Bainbridge has taken over the reins of a key government-backed initiative keeping Teesside’s chemical and other process industries out in front.

The leading biotechnologist is the new chief executive of the European Process Industries Competitiveness Centre (EPICC) - the organisation set-up by the University of Teesside and its industrial partners to encourage companies and the region’s universities to pool their resources and expertise and improve the industry’s competitiveness.

Professor Bainbridge has been Director of the University’s School of Science & Technology since 1997. She was one of the first women to lead an academic school of science and engineering in the country and since then has been appointed to a number of high-profile government advisory posts.

She chairs the Food Standards Agency’s advisory committee overseeing the safety of genetically modified (GM) and other novel foods; and is a member of the Government advisory committee on releases to the environment and the Department of Trade & Industry’s Debate Task Force - which looks at how scientists engage with the public. Last year, she also became the only council member from the modern universities on the powerful Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). She also gained an OBE in the 2000 New Year’s Honour’s List.

She said: “I’m delighted to be taking over as EPICC’s chief executive from Ray Sheahan. Together, the University of Teesside and the region’s process industries have established a successful Food Technology Centre and we will be launching a new Foundation Degree in Chemical Technology to meet an acknowledged skills shortage in the Autumn.

“But with over 50 chemical companies and tens of thousands of jobs depending on the process industries, there is a lot more to do in ensuring that we stay ahead of our competitors.”

Professor Bainbridge, who is married and lives in North Yorkshire, says EPICC has an important role in the region’s economic well-being and she will be working with all the universities in the North East to maximise the potential for maintaining and creating skilled jobs in the process industry.

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