Dr. David Fraser

I come from an environmental science background, with 17 years experience in both the public and private sectors, encompassing technical, policy, commercial and managerial roles. Of critical importance to my role as Head of Business Development and Engagement is my ability to combine understanding of people, organisations and science to achieve organisational goals.  

My primary role, and that of the Business Development Team, is to increase and diversify research income from domestic and international markets. This will involve working closely with CEH’s Science Area Leads, to identify existing and prospective products and services, and pursuing these with appropriate customers and partners. Other key responsibilities are coordinating tenders and ensuring efficiency of the tendering process, with the ultimate aim of increasing success rates and overall resource requirements, as well as overseeing the Communications Team and its activities, ensuring that they are aligned with the objectives of increasing and diversifying CEH’s research income.

My scientific background is in fisheries ecology, gained via a PhD exploring the ecology and life history of distinct co-occurring populations of Arctic charr present in a number of Scottish lochs. I then held freshwater- and fish-related scientific and policy positions with Scottish Natural Heritage and English Nature, before moving into environmental consultancy.

Most recently before joining CEH I was Principal Scientist, then Associate Director, with an aquatic science consultancy, where my role combined project work with substantial elements of client liaison, tendering, framework management, business development, communications and marketing. It is the alliance of these areas of experience which I will be using in my role at CEH. I maintain my interest in fish in an extra-curricular capacity, as a trustee of the Wild Trout Trust and a member of the Institute of Fisheries Management.