Comprising representatives from the fisheries, aquaculture, academic, regulatory and innovation sectors, the Steering Group provides invaluable advice to ensure the UK Seafood Innovation Fund supports a breadth of innovative projects. The Steering Group meets regularly to keep abreast with the fund’s progress. 

The Steering Group also has a crucial role in reviewing applications to the fund. Once the group reaches consensus, they make recommendations to the UK Seafood Innovation Fund Executive Board about which projects should receive funding.

Our Administration Support staff are part of the Steering Group to provide administrative support to the group. These members are clearly indicated below and have no influence on the funding recommendations.

Steering Group members during the last call period (up to Call 4):

  • Fiona Lettice (Chair)
  • Aoife Martin
  • Duncan Vaughan
  • Elizabeth Bourke
  • Gemma Loveday (Administration Support)
  • Graeme High
  • Heather Jones
  • Jessica Adams
  • John Pinnegar
  • Kerry I’Anson (Administration Support)
  • Matthew Darlison
  • Matt Prescott
  • Matthew Sayer
  • Pieter-Jan Schon
  • Ronnie McBride
  • Tom Catchpole
  • Scott Johnston
  • Suzanna Neville (Administration Support)

Current Steering Group members:

Aoife Martin

Aoife Martin

Director of Operations, Seafish

Duncan Vaughan

Duncan Vaughan

Principal Adviser Marine, Natural England

Elizabeth Bourke

Elizabeth Bourke

Policy Officer, National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO)

Heather Jones

Heather Jones

CEO, Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC)

Jessica Adams

Jessica Adams

Senior Research Scientist, Aberystwyth University

Dr John Pinnegar

Dr John Pinnegar

Principle Scientist & Lead Advisor on Climate Change, Cefas

Pieter-Jan Schon

Pieter-Jan Schon

Head of Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland (AFBI)

Dr Thomas Catchpole

Dr Thomas Catchpole

Principal Fisheries Scientist, Cefas

Adam Kennedy

Adam Kennedy

Funding Delivery Manager, MMO Grants Team, MMO

Aisling Lannin

Aisling Lannin

Head of Evidence and Evaluation, MMO

Kerry I'Anson

Kerry I'Anson

SIF Programme Manager and Administration Support, Cefas (non-voting member)

Gemma Loveday

Gemma Loveday

SIF Programme Support and Secretariat, Cefas (non-voting member)

Our Steering Group meets regularly and also reviews all applications to the fund. The group makes recommendations to our Executive Board who make the final decision about which projects are funded. 

Read about our Executive Board.

Meet Our Executive Board.