Emma Howard Boyd has been confirmed as the new Chair of the Environment Agency (EA) after she was approved by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Howard Boyd officially started in her new role yesterday (19 September), having served as Acting Chair since January, following the resignation of Sir Philip Dilley.

Dilley stepped down from the role following the serious flooding in the North of England last winter, citing ‘inappropriate’ expectations of the role and ‘unacceptable’ media scrutiny. He had been holidaying in Barbados when Storm Eva hit the UK on Christmas Eve, submerging large parts of Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, and when he failed to return to the UK immediately became the focus of criticism from the media and politicians.

Howard Boyd took over the role on a temporary basis, stepping up from her position as Deputy Chair, which she was appointed to in 2015. Prior to that, she had served on the board of the EA for six years.

The role of the EA Chair is to provide overall leadership and strategic vision for environmental watchdog. Ahead of Howard Boyd’s appointment, the agency was also seeking someone to ‘show strong leadership’ in the context of ‘substantial reform’ within the EA ‘ensuring business continuity and delivering the EA’s priorities within a tight fiscal period’ while becoming a ‘more integrated body’ with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. The EA’s funding has been slashed in recent years, with reports earlier this year suggesting that the agency spent £14 million settling redundancy packages for 260 of its staff between 2013 and 2015.

Howard Boyd currently also serves on various boards and advisory committees including the sustainable economy alliance The Aldersgate Group, the Executive Board of The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project and the Carbon Trust Advisory Panel. She has previously been a director of Triodos Renewables PLC; Vice Chair and Chair of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF), and a member of the Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance, set up by the UK government to make detailed proposals specifically on enhancing the UK environmental industries, technologies and markets.

In her professional career, Howard Boyd has spent 25 years working in financial services, specialising in sustainable investment and corporate governance.

Howard Boyd was selected as the EA’s preferred candidate to take up the permanent post of Chair in July, but has only now been approved by the EFRA committee following an assessment to satisfy the ‘Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies’.

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: “Emma brings unrivalled experience, leadership and enthusiasm to the Environment Agency, and I very much look forward to working with her.”

Howard Boyd herself added: “It’s an honour to be appointed Chair of the Environment Agency. It is a fantastic organisation making a real difference to the environment, wildlife and local communities.

“There are big challenges ahead – ensuring the country is more resilient to extreme weather, protecting and enhancing the environment, and promoting sustainable growth – I look forward to playing my part.”