New Chief Exec for Royal Statistical Society

In the UK, statistics and data professional membership body The Royal Statistical Society has appointed Dr Sarah Cumbers, currently the Evidence and Insights Director at Lloyd's Register Foundation, as its new Chief Executive from September.

The RSS was founded in 1834 and has around 10,000 members worldwide. Dr Cumbers will lead its programme of activities including accreditation schemes, publications, conference and events, and policy work. During her time at Lloyd's Register Foundation, a global charity dedicated to 'engineering a safer world', she led the World Risk Poll, which surveys public perceptions and experience of risk and safety, as well as the organisation's What Works for safety programme. She is also the Chair of the Evidence Quarter, a community interest company that brings together evidence-minded organisations to increase collaboration and tackle joint challenges.

Earlier in her career she worked at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in roles including the evaluation of medicines, management of information services, and development of guideline methodology.

The Society has been led for the last three years by Stian Westlake, who left in the Spring to chair government funded public body the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Nicola Emmerson, the Society's Director of Membership and Professional Affairs, has led the organisation on an interim basis since May.

RSS President Dr Andrew Garrett says of the latest announcement: 'I'm delighted to welcome Sarah to the RSS as our new Chief Executive. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in evidence-based policymaking as well as substantial experience of leadership in non-profit organisations I know Sarah will take the RSS from strength to strength in its role advocating for our members, the discipline and the importance of data and evidence for the public good'.

Dr Cumbers herself comments: 'The potential value of statistics and data, and the dangers of misuse, have never been more evident than they are in our world today. The RSS has a crucial role to play in ensuring that statistics are well used and understood'.

Web site: www.rss.org.uk .