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Nicola Spence (born February 22, 1961)[1] is the Chief Plant Health Officer and Deputy Director for plant and bee health at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Early Life and Education

Spence was educated at The Mount School, York and Bridlington School.[2] She obtained a BSc in Botany from the University of Durham.[3]. Before starting her Masters, Spence worked as a tutor for O level and A level students, and was unsure if she wanted to pursure a career in research.[4] Spence undertook a Msc Microbiology from Birkbeck College[3], which she states 'turned out to be the best decision I made at the start of my career.'[4]. Spence then obtained a PhD in Plant Virology from the University of Birmingham[3], her thesis was entitled The identification, distribution and ecology of bean common mosaic virus in Africa.[5]

Scientific Research

Spence was a scientific researcher in plant virology at Horticulture Research International and Fera. She has researched viral diseases of crops and horticulture both in Africa and the UK.

Her research into viral diseass of crops in Africa has included investigations into the pathogenicity of [[bean common mosaic virus][6] and it's occurance in legumes in Uganda[7]. She has also published on the economic impact of Turnip mosaic virus, Cauliflower mosaic virus and Beet mosaic virus in Kenya[8] and patterns of plant pest introductions into Europe and Africa.[9] She was the vegetables technical advisor for the Department for International Development's crop protection programme[10], leading on projects on management of viral diseases in vegetable crops in Kenya[11] and promotion of quality kale seed in Kenya.[12]

In UK horticultural systems, Spence has worked on identifying viruses present in Alstroemeria crops in the UK[13], as well as isolating and characterising viruses from petunia[14] and Cineraria[15] Other research included studying the effect of pepino mosaic virus on tomato yeild[16]. She was an editor and contributor to the book Biotic Interactions in Plant-pathogen Associations.[17]

Spence was appointed as chief scientist at Fera in 2009.[4]

Science City York

In 2009 Spence was appointed the chief executive of Science City York[2], later known as SCY, an organisation supporting the development of science and technology industries in York, England.[18] In this role, Spence promoted connections between academics and local businesses, managing events such as Venturefest.[19] She was key in the development of the concept of the BioVale[20], which aims to promote the bioeconomy in Yorkshire and the Humber[21]. She remained in the role for four years, until her appointment as Chief Plant Health Officer.[20]

Cheif Plant Health Officer

Spence took up her post as Chief Plant Health Officer in April 2014,[22] and later become Deputy Director for Plant and Bee Health.

Spence has made several media appearances in relation to her work at Defra. In April 2016 she appeared on the Today Programme to discuss the finding of a resistant ash tree in Norfolk,[23] and has also appeared on the BBC's Countryfile programme. She has also been a guest on Farming Today discussing tree diseases in the UK.[24] In 2016, she was involved in the managerment of the Asian hornet outbreak response[25][26], and appeared on the World at One to explain Asian hornet biology and the Defra response to the outbreak.[27]

In 2017, in response to the Xylella fastidiosa outbreak in several European countries, Spence wrote to the horticulture sector urging them to follow the example of those which had committed not to bring in host plants from the affected countries.[28][29] In 2018, she was a guest and speaker at summit examining the risks posed by Xylella to the horticulture industry hosted by Prince Charles.[30]

Whilst at Defra, Spence has been active in promoting plant health as a career. In conjunction with the Royal Society of Biology and Charles Lane at Fera Science, Spence developed the Plant Health Professional Register - a way for those working in the area of plant health to gain a formal recognition of their professional skills and continue their professional development.[31] She worked with Harper Adams University to put together a course on plant biosecurity, and is a visiting professor at the university.[32]

Other Roles

Spence has previously served on the Board of Trustees for Kew Gardens.[33]

Spence sits on the board of governors at her former school in York, The Mount.[34] and a member of the University of York Court.[35] She is Vice-President of the British Society for Plant Pathology.[3] Spence is chair of the management board of the CONNECTED project that aims to tackle vector borne plant diseases in Africa.[36]

References

  1. ^ "Profile - Professor Nicola Spence: Growing concerns that give an academic grounding in business". Greg Wright. The Yorkshire Post. 5 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Professor Nicola Spence appointed as Science City York's new chief executive". Ron Godfrey. The Press. 15 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d "Professor Nicola Spence - BSPP Vice President". British Society for Plant Pathology. January 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b c "Nicola Spence". Birkbeck College. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ Spence, Nicola (1992). The identification, distribution and ecology of bean common mosaic virus in Africa (PhD). University of Birmingham.
  6. ^ Spence, NJ; Walky, DGA (1995). "Variation for pathogenicity among isolates of bean common mosaic virus in Africa and a reinterpretation of the genetic relationship between cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris and pathotypes of BCMV". Plant Pathology. 44 (3): 527–546. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Sengooba, TN; Spence, NJ; Walkey, DGA; Allen, DJ; Lana, AF authorlink = (1997). "The occurrence of bean common mosaic necrosis virus in wild and forage legumes in Uganda". Plant Pathology. 46 (1): 95–103. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Missing pipe in: |first5= (help)
  8. ^ Spence, NJ; Phiri, NA; Hughes, SL; Mwaniki, A; Simons, S; Oduor, 6; Chacha, D; Ndirangu, S; Kibata, GN; Marris, GC (2006). "Economic impact of Turnip mosaic virus, Cauliflower mosaic virus and Beet mosaic virus in three Kenyan vegetables". Plant Pathology. 56 (2): 317–323. {{cite journal}}: |first6= has numeric name (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Waage, JK; Woodhall, JW; Bishop, SJ; Smith, DR; Jones; Spence, NJ (2008). "Patterns of plant pest introductions in Europe and Africa". Agricultural Systems. 99 (1): 1–5. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ "BSPP News Summer 2001". British Society for Plant Pathology. 2001.
  11. ^ {{cite web |url= |title=Management of Virus Diseases of Vegetable Crops in Kenya FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT |accessdate=19 MAy 2018 |last=Spence |first=Nicola |coauthors= |date=2003 |work= |publisher=[[Department for International Development}}
  12. ^ Spence, Nicola (2006). "Promotion of quality kale seed in Kenya" (PDF). [{Department for International Development. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ Spence, Nicola J; Mills, Peter R; Barbara, Dez J (2000). "A Survey of Viruses of Alstroemeria in the UK and the Characterisation of Carlaviruses Infecting Alstroemeria". European Journal of Plant Pathology. 106 (9): 843–847. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ Spence, NJ; Sealy, I; Mills, PR; GD, Foster (2001). "Characterisation of a Tobamovirus from Trailing Petunias". European Journal of Plant Pathology. 107 (6): 633–638. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Weekes, RJ; Barker, I; Spence, NJ; O'Neill, T; Wood, KR (1998). "A UK Isolate of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus From Glasshouse‐grown Cineraria". Journal of Phytopathology. 146 (4): 201–103. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ Spence, NJ; Basham, J; Mumford, RA; Hayman, G; Edmondson, R; Jones, DR authorlink = (2006). "Effect of Pepino mosaic virus on the yield and quality of glasshouse‐grown tomatoes in the UK". Plant Pathology. 55 (5): 595–606. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Missing pipe in: |first6= (help)
  17. ^ Jeger, MJ; Spence, NJ (2001). Biotic Interactions in Plant-pathogen Associations. CABI. p. 353. ISBN 9780851995120. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ http://www.scy.co.uk/what-we-do
  19. ^ "Inspiring science and technology for the future". University of York. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  20. ^ a b "SCY chief takes new role at DEFRA". The Press. 17 March 2014.
  21. ^ https://www.biovale.org/about-us/
  22. ^ "New Chief Plant Health Officer announced". Defra. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  23. ^ "New research offers hope on ash dieback". The Tree Council. 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  24. ^ "Agricultural land purchases, tree diseases, deer". Farming Today. 9 October 2017. {{cite episode}}: Check |episodelink= value (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |serieslink= (help); External link in |episodelink= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ {{cite news| title = Threat to honeybees as Asian hornet's arrival on UK mainland confirmed | work =Adam Vaughan | publisher =[[The Gaurdian | date =20 September 2016 | url =https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/20/threat-honeybees-asian-hornet-arrival-uk-confirmed-defra-invasive-species }}
  26. ^ "Asian killer hornet discovered in Devon posing threat to dwindling native bee populations". The Independent. 26 September 2017.
  27. ^ "Search on for the Asian hornet queen". BBC Radio 4. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  28. ^ "Europe must step up action against spread of fatal plant disease, says Gove". Press Association. The Gaurdian. 8 September 2017.
  29. ^ http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-0101/Act_now_to_keep_the_UK_Xylella_free_letter.pdf
  30. ^ "Calls for horticulture industry alliance to tackle Xylella at Highgrove summit". Matthew Appleby. Horticulture Week. 6 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Society launches Plant Health Professional Register". Royal Society of Biology. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  32. ^ "Two leading scientists named as visiting professors". Harper Adams University. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  33. ^ "Reappointments to the Board of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". Defra. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  34. ^ "GOVERNING BODY". The Mount School. Retrieved 19 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  35. ^ https://www.york.ac.uk/about/organisation/governance/court/members/
  36. ^ "Prof. Nicola Spence (Chair)". Univrsity of Bristol. Retrieved 20 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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