Leadership teams

A geological field party shore landing an King George Island, Antarctica

Teamwork is at the heart of everything that British Antarctic Survey (BAS) does. Strategic direction for our scientific, operational and business teams is set by our 4 leadership teams:

  • executive management
  • science management
  • science strategy executive group
  • business management.

We work in partnership with National Environment Research Council (NERC), external advisors and leading international research and operational organisations to ensure that we meet the highest standards in scientific excellence, operational efficiency and business management.

Executive management team

The BAS Executive team is responsible for strategic planning. Members advise and support the director and provide overall leadership, direction and management to BAS to achieve its mission.

Terms of reference

  • Develop, update and communicate BAS strategy to ensure effective development
  • Ensure strategies are in place for world-class, high-quality science with maximum impact
  • Develop strategies to ensure that operations, infrastructure, facilities, collaboration and capabilities can deliver the BAS mission
  • Encourage and facilitate appropriate business links for the commercial exploitation of BAS research and technical innovation
  • Ensure the proper management of BAS and its finances, in a manner that is open, provides value for money and ensures a sustainable future
  • Foster and develop skilled and adaptable people that can meet future challenges
  • Ensure that BAS operates in a safe and healthy manner, and with the minimum-practicable environmental impact
  • Ensure that BAS communicates its work and engages with the wider scientific community, decision-makers, and the general public.

Science management team (SciMT)

The overall responsibility of SciMT is to advise and support the director of science on management issues that affect planning and delivery of science on both short and long timescales.

Specific responsibilities of SciMT:

  • work collegiately to deliver solutions to issues as they arise, for the benefit of the whole Science Directorate and thereby the wider BAS
  • support staff in the Science Directorate to work safely, efficiently, and productively
  • enable information flow between the business management team and Science Directorate teams
  • monitor finances in the Science Directorate throughout the reporting year and respond where required
  • to agree nominations for in-year bonuses and rewards for the Science Directorate.

Science strategy executive group (SSEG)

The responsibility of the SSEG is to provide oversight and strategic direction for the BAS Science Directorate. In particular, to focus on issues that affect the long-term delivery of a world-class, sustainable science programme.

Specific responsibilities of SSEG:

  • work collegiately to deliver solutions to strategic issues for the benefit of all BAS science and the organisation
  • take responsibility to develop, implement, and maintain a science strategy that keeps BAS at the forefront of polar science, meeting the current NERC science strategy and delivering BAS’s vision
  • ensure the delivery of BAS’s science programme, assessing progress, and ensuring excellent scientific outcomes
  • ensure that BAS leads and participates in scientific initiatives that result in major advances in knowledge and expertise
  • foster a vibrant and fertile intellectual environment within BAS, in which all scientists are challenged to develop bold and exciting scientific ideas, and to develop their personal and professional skills
  • identify opportunities and ensure innovation, beneficial contact with stakeholders, and maximise the impact of BAS’s science
  • identify and initiate opportunities to maintain and increase funding within BAS’s science, and maintain a sustainable funding plan
  • agree any changes required to ensure sustainable funding and delivery of science activities
  • monitor performance of BAS’s science portfolio, and ensure its scientists perform in line with the expectations of BAS and NERC, highlighting and praising excellence, and implementing measures to improve performance
  • identify, and seek to overcome, impediments to scientific progress; reporting those that cannot be overcome to the BAS Executive.

Business management team

The Business management team is responsible for corporate and operational decision-making. Members advise and support the director and provide overall leadership, direction and management to BAS to achieve its mission.