A new chairman has been appointed to the Export Guarantees Advisory Council (EGAC), a statutory body that advises the Trade Secretary on the work of the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), the Minister for Trade Ian Pearson announced today.

John Elkington, who takes over the EGAC chairmanship from Liz Airey on 1 July for a period of two years, is co-founder and chairman of SustainAbility, a strategy consultancy and independent think tank specialising in the business risks and market opportunities of corporate responsibility and sustainable development.  

Announcing the new appointment, the Minister for Trade Ian Pearson said:

“Since becoming a member of the Council in November 2000, John Elkington has already made a valuable contribution to its work, drawing on his considerable experience of international environment, development and business principles issues. I am confident that he will continue to do so as Chairman of EGAC.”

And in marking the departure of Liz Airey, who is stepping down as Chairman having completed a three and a half year tenure, the Minister added: “My predecessors, as well as the senior management team at ECGD, have greatly appreciated her commitment and dedication and, particularly, the advice, counsel and support she has given during her time on EGAC. We wish her all the best for the future.”

EGAC provides the Export Credits Guarantee Department – the UK’s official export credit agency – with advice on ECGD’s policies and practices to enable it to comply with its objectives and monitor its adherence to its business principles. Members of EGAC have expertise in many areas of business including banking, emerging markets, corporate social responsibility and international development.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. In addition to being chairman of SustainAbility since 1995, John Elkington also chairs or serves on a number of councils and committees, e.g. Association of Chartered & Certified Accountants, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, Environment Foundation, ING and the Royal Society of Arts.

2. All members of EGAC are formally appointed by Ministers, and identified and appointed consistent with the rules of the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments.

3. The full membership of EGAC is:

• Chairman Liz Airey, Director, Harrison Lovegrove & Company Ltd (steps down as EGAC Chairman on 1 July 2005 having been in post since January 2002;
• John Elkington, Chairman, SustainAbility Ltd (and new EGAC Chairman from 1 July 2005);
• Dr Raj Thamotheram, Senior Advisor, Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd;
• Professor Jonathan Kydd, Professor of Agricultural Development Economics, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine at Wye;
• Anthony Shepherd, Chairman and Chief Executive, the Alderley Group plc;
• Martin Roberts, Senior Consultant, Beechcroft Wansbroughs Consulting;
• Sir Stephen Brown, Chief Executive, UK Trade & Investment;
• Paul Talbot, Assistant General Secretary of Amicus.

4. ECGD maintains a register in which all EGAC members are required to record their business interests.  To avoid conflicts of interest, EGAC members do not advise on specific markets or projects prior to ECGD making its own final decision on whether to support a particular case. This ensures that members are not involved in the decision-making process for cases, although they do provide advice on the principles and procedures to be applied.

5. The EGAC is established by the Export and Investment Guarantees

Act 1991 to provide independent advice to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in respect of any matter relating to the operation of ECGD. The terms of reference and minutes of the EGAC meetings are available on the ECGD website.

6. ECGD, the Export Credits Guarantee Department, is the UK’s official export credit agency. A separate Government Department reporting to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, it has more than 80 years’ experience of working closely with exporters, project sponsors, banks and buyers to help UK exporters of capital equipment and project-related goods and services. ECGD does this by providing: insurance against non-payment to UK exporters; help in arranging finance packages for buyers of UK goods by guaranteeing bank loans; and Overseas Investment Insurance which gives UK investors insurance against political risks.

7. More information on ECGD’s products, along with other press releases, is available on its website www.ecgd.gov.uk

ECGD PRESS ENQUIRIES

Azara Bibi, ECGD Press Office, Tel: 020 7512 7421