Nicola Spence

Nicola Spence (born 22 February 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.

Nicola Spence
Nicola Spence at Tedx, York in 2011
Born(1961-02-22)22 February 1961
NationalityBritish
EducationUniversity of Durham (BSc),
Birkbeck College (MSc),
University of Birmingham (PhD)
Known forChief Plant Health Officer, Defra
Scientific career
FieldsPlant pathology, plant health
InstitutionsWarwick HRI,
Food and Environment Research Agency,
Defra
ThesisThe identification, distribution and ecology of bean common mosaic virus in Africa (1992)

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 volunteered at the Bermuda Marine Biology Research Institute then 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]

In December 2018 Spence represented the University of Birmingham on the Christmas University Challenge.[6]

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 diseases of crops in Africa has included investigations into the pathogenicity of bean common mosaic virus[7] and its occurrence in legumes in Uganda.[8] She has also published on the economic impact of turnip mosaic virus, cauliflower mosaic virus and beet mosaic virus in Kenya[9] and patterns of plant pest introductions into Europe and Africa.[10] She was the vegetables technical advisor for the Department for International Development's crop protection programme,[11] leading projects on management of viral diseases in vegetable crops in Kenya[12] and promotion of quality kale seed in Kenya.[13]

In UK horticultural systems, Spence has worked on identifying viruses present in Alstroemeria crops in the UK,[14] as well as isolating and characterising viruses from petunia[15] and Cineraria.[16] Other research included studying the effect of pepino mosaic virus on tomato yield.[17] She was an editor and contributor to the book Biotic Interactions in Plant-pathogen Associations.[18] and she was previously a member of the Editorial Board for the scientific journal Plant Pathology.

Spence was appointed 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.[19] In this role, Spence promoted connections between academics and local businesses, managing events such as Venturefest.[20] She was key in the development of the concept of the BioVale,[21] which aims to promote the bioeconomy in Yorkshire and the Humber.[22] She remained in the role for four years, until her appointment as Chief Plant Health Officer.[21]

Chief Plant Health Officer

Spence took up her post as Chief Plant Health Officer in April 2014,[23] and later also became 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,[24] 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.[25] In 2016, she was involved in the management of the Asian hornet outbreak response,[26][27] and appeared on the World at One to explain Asian hornet biology and the Defra response to the outbreak.[28]

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.[29][30] In 2018, she was a guest and speaker at summit examining the risks posed by Xylella to the horticulture industry hosted by Prince Charles.[31]

In May 2018, Spence gave evidence to the EU Select Committee on Brexit and the potential implications for plant health.[32]

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.[33] She worked with Harper Adams University to put together a course on plant biosecurity, and is a visiting professor at the university.[34]

Other roles

Spence has previously served on the Board of Trustees for Kew Gardens.[35] She is currently a Trustee for The Yorkshire Arboretum[36] and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.

Spence is a Visiting Professor in Plant Pathology at Harper Adams University. She sits on the board of governors at her former school in York, The Mount.[37] and a member of the University of York Court.[38] 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.[39]

References
  1. "Profile – Professor Nicola Spence: Growing concerns that give an academic grounding in business". Greg Wright. 5 January 2010.
  2. "Professor Nicola Spence appointed as Science City York's new chief executive". Ron Godfrey. The Press. 15 September 2009.
  3. "Professor Nicola Spence – BSPP Vice President". British Society for Plant Pathology. January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  4. "Nicola Spence". Birkbeck College. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  5. Spence, Nicola (1992). The identification, distribution and ecology of bean common mosaic virus in Africa (PhD). University of Birmingham.
  6. "Christmas University Challenge alumni line-up announced". BBC. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  7. 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. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3059.1995.tb01675.x.
  8. Sengooba, TN; Spence, NJ; Walkey, DGA; Allen, DJ; Lana, AF (1997). "The occurrence of bean common mosaic necrosis virus in wild and forage legumes in Uganda". Plant Pathology. 46 (1): 95–103. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3059.1997.d01-12.x.
  9. 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. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3059.2006.01498.x.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. Waage, JK; Woodhall, JW; Bishop, SJ; Smith, JJ; Jones, DR; Spence, NJ (2008). "Patterns of plant pest introductions in Europe and Africa". Agricultural Systems. 99 (1): 1–5. doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2008.08.001.
  11. "BSPP News Summer 2001". British Society for Plant Pathology. 2001.
  12. Spence, Nicola (2003). "Management of Virus Diseases of Vegetable Crops in Kenya FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT". Department for International Development. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. Spence, Nicola (2006). "Promotion of quality kale seed in Kenya" (PDF). Department for International Development. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  14. 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. doi:10.1023/A:1008731508023.
  15. 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. doi:10.1023/A:1017980712521.
  16. 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. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0434.1998.tb04680.x.
  17. Spence, NJ; Basham, J; Mumford, RA; Hayman, G; Edmondson, R; Jones, DR (2006). "Effect of Pepino mosaic virus on the yield and quality of glasshouse‐grown tomatoes in the UK". Plant Pathology. 55 (5): 595–606. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3059.2006.01406.x.
  18. Jeger, MJ; Spence, NJ (2001). Biotic Interactions in Plant-pathogen Associations. CABI. p. 353. ISBN 9780851995120.
  19. "Science City York: what we do". Science City York. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  20. "Inspiring science and technology for the future". University of York. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  21. "SCY chief takes new role at DEFRA". The Press. 17 March 2014.
  22. "About Us". BioVale. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  23. "New Chief Plant Health Officer announced". Defra. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  24. "New research offers hope on ash dieback". The Tree Council. 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  25. "Agricultural land purchases, tree diseases, deer". Farming Today. 9 October 2017.
  26. "Threat to honeybees as Asian hornet's arrival on UK mainland confirmed". Adam Vaughan. 20 September 2016.
  27. "Asian killer hornet discovered in Devon posing threat to dwindling native bee populations". The Independent. 26 September 2017.
  28. "Search on for the Asian hornet queen". BBC Radio 4. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  29. "Europe must step up action against spread of fatal plant disease, says Gove". The Guardian. Press Association. 8 September 2017.
  30. Spence, Nicola (8 September 2017). "Act now to keep the UK Xylella free" (PDF). Defra. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  31. Matthew Appleby (6 February 2018). "Calls for horticulture industry alliance to tackle Xylella at Highgrove summit". Horticulture Week.
  32. "Corrected oral evidence: Brexit: plant and animal biosecurity" (PDF). House of Lords. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  33. "Society launches Plant Health Professional Register". Royal Society of Biology. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  34. "Two leading scientists named as visiting professors". Harper Adams University. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  35. "Reappointments to the Board of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". Defra. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  36. "Trustees & Team". The Yorkshire Arboretum. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  37. "GOVERNING BODY". The Mount School. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  38. "Constituency and membership of Court". University of York. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  39. "Prof. Nicola Spence (Chair)". University of Bristol. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
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