New communications chief at the Institute of Physics
Institute News
21 February 2007
The Institute of Physics looks set to improve its public influence with the appointment of Beth Taylor as director of communications. This post is vital if the Institute is to fulfil one of the key aims of its recent strategic review – improving communications with stakeholders and influencers in the wider world.
Beth comes to the Institute from the UK Atomic Energy Authority where she was director of communications during a period of significant change, and led a team across UKAEA’s decommissioning sites which has built up an excellent reputation for open, honest and effective communications. Before this she held a range of senior roles within UKAEA and the UK Department of Energy. Her original training was in science with a BA honours degree in natural sciences and a PhD in earth sciences from Cambridge University.
Taking up her new post on 16 April, Beth will be responsible for raising the profile of the Institute, as the voice of British physics, with the public, media, government and industry.
She comments “This is an exciting time to be joining the Institute of Physics. I am really looking forward to working across the organisation to communicate better the excellent work carried out by the Institute and to build its voice and influence in the wider community. I will be looking to build and enhance partnerships with external organisations to improve our delivery of key projects. As a parent, I am particularly enthusiastic about taking forward the Institute’s campaign to support and promote physics teaching in our schools”.
Institute chief executive Robert Kirby-Harris welcomes the appointment. “Beth brings a unique combination of skills and experience to the Institute,” he says. “Her ability to analyse situations and to present concepts and ideas clearly and persuasively, together with her wide-ranging experience in a physics-based sector, makes her an ideal person to take forward the Institute’s communications strategy”.
A more detailed cv and a photo are available from Dianne Stilwell, public relations manager, tel +44 (0)207 470 4875, e-mail dianne.stilwell@iop.org