Professor Paul Monks CB, FRMetS, FRSC, FInstP is the incoming Chair of the Henry Royce Institute (Royce), the UK’s national institute for advanced materials research and innovation. He will take up his post in September 2025.
In his current role as Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Paul delivers independent and impartial science and engineering advice to ministers and policymakers across the DESNZ policy and delivery portfolio and Clean Energy Superpower Mission. He is also Chair of the British Geological Survey.
Before joining BEIS, Paul was Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Leicester, where he remains a Professor in Atmospheric Chemistry and Earth Observation Science.
Paul was previously Chair of the Defra Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) and Deputy Chair of the Defra Science Advisory Council, alongside roles in the UKRI-NERC advice structures. He has worked internationally as the European representative on the Environmental Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry Scientific Steering Committee (EPAC SSC) of the World Meteorological Organisation and on the International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (iCACGP).
As founding director of G-STEP (a university innovation initiative), he developed a business facing organisation with the aim of innovating using satellite-based earth observation (EO) data to enhance the competitiveness of industry, particularly focused on small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).
Professor Paul Monks was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the King’s New Year Honours 2025 for Services to Science in Government.
