Dr Church is understood to be leaving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as well as the civil service altogether, after a career where he has held a number of senior posts working for government. No confirmation of his successor has yet been made public.
And, further changes within the waste brief at Defra are also on the cards with an expectation that Richard Pullen, who is currently head of waste policy and regulation may be leaving that post. Mr Pullen is likely to be succeeded by Chris Preston, at present head of water supply and quality for Defra.
Dr Church, who holds a PhD in organic chemistry from Imperial University, announced his departure earlier this month saying: “Lots to do over the next three months”.
Career
Prior to taking on his current post, he was responsible for exotic animal disease policy and outbreak handling. Prior to this he worked at the Department for Energy & Climate Change on Carbon Budgets. He has also worked in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business and has a background in EU and international environmental policy.
Dr Church has seen a number of recycling ministers come and go and was also in post when Dan Rogerson, the former Liberal Democrat recycling minister, under the Coalition Government, shocked the waste sector when he said Defra was stepping away from involvement in waste and recycling issues.
And, he has also overseen the department’s response to what has been an unwelcome action against it by the European Commission over the UK’s failure to adhere to air quality rules. The case is ongoing but will now be followed up by his successor.
A regular user of Twitter, Dr Church has highlighted the reduction in size of the civil service to 393,000 full time equivalent posts, the lowest since World War Two.
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