Search Blogs

In this month's Spotlight we explain the role of the Member Networks Committee and give a brief bio on its current members.

The Member Networks Committee (MNC) is a committee which reports to Member Communities Board (MCB) and are the connection between our network volunteers and the governance of the RSC. The responsibility for our member networks is delegated from our Board of Trustees (the Board formerly known as Council) to MCB.


MNC report to MCB on matters relating to member networks, such as activities, engagement and funding. The committee work with staff on any amendments and the implementation of the rules, new resources and support (including financial support) for our networks. They also provide a route to disseminate information on RSC strategy to our member networks through the Regional Steering Groups (RSGs) and the Interest Group Forum.

The discussions from the RSGs are reported to MNC highlighting regional activities and any issues for discussion. MNC then escalates any issues as necessary to MCB.

MNC consists of the Chair (from and appointed by the MCB), the Chairs of the 9 Regional Steering Groups (UK and ROI), 1 international Local Section Representative and 2 Interest Group Representatives. Your current Member Networks Committee is:

Dr Ellen Norman (Chair), Reading Scientific Services Ltd.
“In my day job I run the Safety and Regulatory Services at RSSL, which carries out investigative analysis on product issues for the food and pharmaceutical industries and helps clients find the root cause of issues and solutions to prevent recurrence.

For the RSC I chair the Member Networks Committee, having been involved in both Local Sections and Interest Groups it is good to be a voice for our varied communities, and to look to share best practice in terms of governance and diversity amongst the variety of RSC networks.”

Dr Mark Gray, University of Sunderland
“I am Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Sunderland. My main research interest is in the development of new antimicrobial agents and methods to detect the bacteria causing infections within patients.

I represent the North-East region within the MNC, chair my region’s steering group, and act as academic representative.”

Dr Inmaculada Andres, Brunel University London
“I am a doctoral programme manager and research advisor at Brunel and the new SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) leader. In both capacities, I have the opportunity to promote sciences and their applications in the real world and showcase my enthusiasm for research and research collaborations.

In the RSC I am the Chair for the Chilterns & Middlesex Local Section Committee and the South-East Regional Steering Group. As a member of my Local Section, I organised events where chemists can demonstrate their communication skills and promote careers in Chemistry.”

Prof. Sylvia Draper, Trinity College Dublin
"I am the Professor in Inorganic and Synthetic Materials Chemistry in Trinity College Dublin.

In addition to work on the MNC I am also currently the Irish Representative on the Heads of Chemistry UK standing committee and the Chair of our Republic of Ireland Local Section."

Prof. Patricia Forbes, University of Pretoria
“I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and was recently elected as the International Local Section Representative on the Member Networks Committee. I also serve as an elected member on the Professional Standards Board and chair the RSC Local Section South Africa, North committee.

I am a Full Professor in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and hold the Rand Water Chemistry Research Chair. “ 

Emeritus Prof. Steven Hill, University of Plymouth
“My involvement with the RSC started in 1986 when I joined Western Region Committee. Since that time I have continually served on various RSC committees and Boards at various levels including Analytical Division Council, the Atomic Spectroscopy Group committee, Membership and Qualifications Board and several RSC journal Editorial Boards. I was the first Chair of the newly formed Members Network Committee in 2012 and am currently Chair of the South West Regional Steering Group Committee. My longest continuous association has been with the Instrumental Criteria Sub Committee of the Analytical Methods Committee, now the Instrumental Analysis Expert Working Group.

I am an Emeritus Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Plymouth University where I spent over 35 years in various roles.”

Dr Andrew Logsdail, Cardiff University
“I am a Lecturer in Catalytic and Computational Chemistry, and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University.

I participate in Members Network Committee through my role as the Chair of the Wales Regional Steering Group.”

Dr Sarah Myers, University of York
“I work for STEM Learning in the North West improving and supporting STEM education in primary and secondary schools. I am also a governor at a primary school in Blackpool.

My volunteering for the RSC includes chairing the Lancaster and District Local Section and the Northwest Regional Steering Group.”

Dr Helen Ryder, University of Manchester
“I am currently Senior Facility Manager, Co-Chair for Royce Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and sit as a member on the Governing Board for  Royce - the National Centre for Advanced Materials. I sit as a member of the Royce Governing Board. I am also Foundation Director on the Board of Directors for the Newman Catholic Collegiate.

For the RSC I am the Interest Group Representative on the Member Network Committee where I have been involved in both Awards and Funding Panels, I’m the current Chair of the Formulation, Science and Technology Interest Group, and I chair the annual Interest Group Forum. I am the RSC Formulation representative for the Working Party on Formulation in Chemistry.”

Dr Fraser Scott, University of Strathclyde
“I am Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde.

I am also the chair of the Scottish Regional Steering Group, Chemistry Community Fund committee member and Education Division (Scotland) committee member,”

Dr Ataulla Shegiwal, University of Warwick
“I am a researcher at the University of Warwick working on controlled polymerisation to give macromolecules of designed, desired and targeted structure with the overarching desire to use environmentally pleasant processes which are viable on the commercial scale. I am also the CEO and director of Halcyon3D ltd, a spin out of company from University of Warwick. 

I am also chair of the Midlands Committee for RSC and the early career representative on the Member Networks Committee.”

Dr Rehana Sidat, GlaxoSmithKline
“I am a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) with over 24 years of senior leadership experience in the Pharma industry, spanning across commercial supply and various groups in R&D.  I also sit on the GSK R&D Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council and have been Mentor & Coach to many staff.

Within the RSC I sit on the Inclusion & Diversity Committee, Nominations Committee (representing I&D) and Member Networks Committee as industrial representative.”

Share this |

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linked More...