{{Short description|Master of St John's College, Cambridge}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Use British English|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Heather Hancock | image = Heather Hancock from UK Government profile.jpg | office1 = Master of St John's College, Cambridge | term_start1 = October 2020 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Chris Dobson | birth_name = Heather Jane Wilkinson | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|27 August 1965}} | birth_place = Colne, Lancashire, England | education = Nelson and Colne College<br />St John's College, Cambridge | spouse = Mark Hancock }}
'''Heather Jane Hancock'''<ref name="HP1">{{cite web |title=Appointment of the Chair of the Food Standards Agency:Appendix 2: Curriculum vitae—Heather Jane Hancock |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmhealth/663/66305.htm |website=Parliament |publisher=House of commons |access-date=5 December 2019}}</ref> {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|LVO|DL}} (born 27 August 1965) is a former civil servant who has held numerous positions related to North Yorkshire. Since 1 October 2020, she has been Master of St John's College, Cambridge.<ref name="FSA1" />
== Early life and education == Hancock was born Heather Jane Wilkinson<ref name="Rocco">{{cite news |last1=Rocco |first1=Fiammetta |title=The Great Millennium Lottery |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-great-millennium-lottery-1566247.html |access-date=10 May 2022 |work=The Independent |date=1 January 1995 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Wilkinson Prize">{{cite web |title=Wilkinson Quincentenary Prize Winners {{!}} StJohns |url=https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/wilkinson-quincentenary-prize-winners |website=www.joh.cam.ac.uk |access-date=10 May 2022}}</ref> on 27 August 1965 in Colne, Lancashire, England. She was educated at Park High School, Colne, and Nelson and Colne College. She studied land economy at St John's College, Cambridge,<ref>{{Who's Who | title=HANCOCK, Heather Jane | id = U250821 | volume = 2020 | edition = online}}</ref><ref name="appointed">{{cite web|url=https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/heather-hancock-appointed-master-st-johns-college|title=Heather Hancock appointed as Master of St John's College|website=joh.cam|publisher=St John's College, Cambridge|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref> gaining a first-class degree.<ref name="HP1"/> She was made an honorary fellow of the college in February 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/olympic-athlete-leading-biochemist-and-duke-cambridge-elected-honorary-fellows|title=Olympic athlete, leading biochemist and The Duke of Cambridge elected as Honorary Fellows {{!}} StJohns|website=www.joh.cam.ac.uk|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref> In 2021, she was made an honorary fellow of Trinity College Dublin<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcd.ie/Secretary/FellowsScholars/fellowship/#hf|title=TRINITY MONDAY 2021 - FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS|website=www.tcd.ie|access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref> and of Darwin College, Cambridge.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fellows Directory {{!}} Darwin College |url=https://www.darwin.cam.ac.uk/fellows/research?keyword=hancock |website=www.darwin.cam.ac.uk |access-date=14 December 2021}}</ref>
== Career == Hancock joined the Government Economic Service in 1988, and served as Private Secretary to three Home Secretaries: David Waddington, Kenneth Baker, and Kenneth Clarke. She was part of the team which created the new Department of National Heritage (now the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), established after the 1992 General Election, where she was Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary, Hayden Phillips. She established the Millennium Commission in 1994, and served as its Acting Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive. She was chairman of the English Football League's working party on the structure of football from 1997 to 1998.
Hancock was the first female chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park,<ref>{{cite news |title=First woman for national park |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/first-woman-for-national-park-1235781.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/first-woman-for-national-park-1235781.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=The Independent |date=13 October 1997 |language=en}}</ref> from 1998 until 2000. She then became executive director for the environment and development at Yorkshire Forward.<ref>{{cite news |title=Resignations end era at national park |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8054226.resignations-end-era-at-national-park/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=WOMAN NATIONAL PARK CHIEF RESIGNS OVER 'WHISPERING' COUNCILLORS |url=https://www.lgcplus.com/archive/woman-national-park-chief-resigns-over-whispering-councillors-24-07-2000/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=Local Government Chronicle (LGC) |date=24 July 2000 |language=en}}</ref> She was a founder trustee of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust from 1996 to 2003.<ref name="HP1"/>
From 2000 to 2012, she was a trustee of The Prince's Trust<ref name="HP1"/> and chaired the charity's audit committee. Hancock chaired the BBC's Rural Affairs Advisory Committee from 2003 to 2010, and subsequently was invited by the BBC Trust to report on bias and impartiality in its coverage of rural affairs.<ref name="BBC bias">{{cite news |title=BBC rural coverage has 'metropolitan bias' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28040156 |access-date=8 February 2023 |work=BBC News |date=26 June 2014}}</ref>
She became a governor of Giggleswick School in North Yorkshire in 2007, and was chairman from 2013 to 2019.<ref name="HP1"/>
She was a Managing Partner of Deloitte in the United Kingdom and Switzerland between 2008 and 2014, with executive responsibility for Innovation, Brand, Communications and Talent, and a Partner in the firm's Strategy Consulting business from 2003 to 2014. She led the firm's global services to the 2012 Summer Olympics, and the global Olympic movement.<ref name="appointed" /> Hancock was a member of Deloitte's global leadership team from 2011 to 2013 as Global MD for Brand and Communications.<ref name="FSA2"/>
Hancock was a Trustee of the International Business Leaders Forum from 2011 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iblfglobal.org|title=International Business Leaders Forum}}</ref> She was deputy chair of the World Athletics Championships and World Para Athletics Championships from 2013 to 2016.<ref name="HP1"/> She was a member of North Yorkshire County Council's North Yorkshire Rural Commission to inquire into the sustainability of remote rural communities from 2019 to 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.strayfm.com/news/local-news/2974929/panel-of-experts-to-fight-decline-of-rural-communities/|title=Panel of experts to fight decline of rural communities}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/meet-north-yorkshire-rural-commissioners|title=Meet the NYCC Commissioners, Heather Hancock}}</ref>
Hancock is an independent non-executive director of Urban Logistics REIT plc.<ref name="REIT">{{cite web |title=The Board |url=https://www.urbanlogisticsreit.com/about-us/the-board/ |website=www.urbanlogisticsreit.com |access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref> Hancock became a trustee of The Prince's Countryside Fund in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=PCF welcomes three new trustees |url=https://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/news/new-trustees2021/ |website=princescountrysidefund.org.uk |access-date=14 December 2021 |date=12 July 2021}}</ref> She is a Trustee of the Chatsworth Settlement Trust.<ref name="FSA2">{{cite web |url=https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/heather-hancock-chair-of-our-board |title=FSA Board Chair Heather Hancock |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204131454/https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/heather-hancock-chair-of-our-board |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 December 2019 |access-date=4 December 2019 }}</ref> From January 2019 to September 2020, she was chairman of Holker Group, owner of Holker Hall.<ref name="Holker">{{cite web |title=Holker Group announces new chairman |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/17466772.holker-group-announces-new-chairman/|first=Nicole|last=Regan |website=The Mail|date=28 February 2019 |access-date=9 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
===Food Standards Agency=== In April 2016, Hancock was appointed Chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), having been appointed deputy chair in September 2015 while awaiting a Parliamentary Select Committee pre-appointment hearing before the appointment as chair was confirmed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmhealth/663/66302.htm|title=Appointment of the Chair of the Food Standards Agency}}</ref> In February 2019, she was reappointed for an additional three-year term.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/people-news/fsa-chair-heather-hancock-reappointed-for-another-three-years/576410.article|title=FSA chair Heather Hancock reappointed for another three years|last=White|first=Kevin|date=7 February 2019|website=The Grocer|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="FSA1">{{cite web|url=https://www.food.gov.uk/about-us/our-board|title=Our Board|publisher=Food Standards Agency|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref> In May 2019, Hancock testified before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee about the FSA's preparations for Brexit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2019/05/fsa-gives-update-on-brexit-planning-food-crime-and-allergen-labeling/#more-183797|title=FSA gives update on Brexit planning, food crime and allergen labeling|last=Whitworth|first=Joe|date=9 May 2019|website=Food Safety News|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref> She gave evidence on food safety after Brexit to the House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee in March 2019 and in July 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-energy-environment-subcommittee/inquiries/parliament-2017/food-safety-risk-management-postbrexit/food-safety-risk-publications/|title=House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Subcommittee Food safety risk management post-Brexit publications}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/eu-energy-and-environment-subcommittee/food-safety-risk-management-postbrexit/oral/97898.html|title=Oral evidence food safety risk management post-EU Exit|date=6 March 2019|publisher=House of Lords}}</ref> Hancock's term at the FSA ended on 31 January 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/dr-ruth-hussey-is-appointed-interim-chair-of-the-food-standards-agency-board/|title=Appointment of FSA interim chair}}</ref>
===Master of St John's College, Cambridge=== In November 2019, it was announced that Hancock had been elected the 45th Master of St John's College, Cambridge, the first woman to be elected to the role.<ref name="appointed" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/18427|title=Heather Hancock elected as first female Master of St John's College|website=Varsity Online|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref> It was announced that Hancock would leave her post at the Food Standards Agency after taking office as Master.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/people/fsa-chair-heather-hancock-to-step-down-next-year/600083.article|title=FSA chair Heather Hancock to step down next year|last=White|date=4 December 2019|first=Kevin|website=The Grocer|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> She took up her appointment as Master of St John's College on 1 October 2020.<ref name="appointed" />
On her appointment as Master of St John's College, Hancock spoke of her wish to continue "championing [St John's College's] pioneering work on access – such as the St John's Studentships offered to students from lower- and middle-income households".<ref name="appointed" /> Shortly prior to taking up the role of Master of St John's College, Hancock resigned her role as Chair of the Governing Body of the independent Giggleswick School which her children had attended.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_resource_id=%2Faccounts-resource&p_p_cacheability=cacheLevelPage&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_objectiveId=A10118952&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_mvcRenderCommandName=%2Faccounts-and-annual-returns&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_organisationNumber=4016398|website=Charity Commission for England and Wales|title=Annual Report and Financial Statements Year Ended 31 August 2019 Giggleswick School|access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/13594178.a-level-results-giggleswick-school/|title=A-level results: Giggleswick School|website=The Westmorland Gazette|access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref>
===Lead non-executive board member to Defra=== On 21 July 2023, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the appointment of Hancock as the lead non-executive board member of the departmental Board, which provides strategic, corporate leadership to the department and has particular responsibility for monitoring performance and delivery.<ref name="DEFRA">{{cite web |title=Heather Hancock, Lead non-executive board member |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/heather-hancock |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Hancock was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2013 New Year Honours, in recognition of her work with The Prince's Trust. Before becoming Master of St John's, Hancock lived in North Yorkshire, where she was a Deputy Lieutenant.<ref name="FSA2"/> She is married to Mark Hancock, who is chairman of Rural Solutions, a planning consultancy, and director of Talisman Capital, a property company. Heather Hancock is a non-executive director of Rural Solutions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ruralsolutions.co.uk/meet-the-team/|title = Rural Solutions Meet the team}}</ref> Together they own a pub,<ref>{{cite news |title=Pub's fresh new face |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/pubs-fresh-new-face-1892242 |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=www.yorkshirepost.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> a restaurant, and Threshfield Moor,<ref>{{cite web |title=2 Threshfield Moor |url=http://www.yorkshiredalesphotography.co.uk/2015/02/2-threshfield-moor/ |website=Yorkshire Dales Photography |access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref> a 1,500-acre grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales, for which they receive stewardship payments.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oral evidence: Appointment of the Chair of the Food Standards Agency, HC 663, Tuesday 5 January 2016 |url=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/health-committee/preappointment-hearing-for-chair-of-the-food-standards-agency/oral/26585.html |website=data.parliament.uk |publisher=Health and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committees, House of Commons |access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref> Hancock is a director of Amerdale Ltd, their family company.<ref name="HP1"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmhealth/663/66305.htm CV (from 2016) on House of Commons website]([https://web.archive.org/web/20160610204135/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmhealth/663/66305.htm archived version])
{{S-start}} {{s-aca}} {{Succession box | title = Master of St John's College, Cambridge | years = 2020 - | before = Chris Dobson | after = Incumbent }} {{S-end}}
{{Masters of St John's College, Cambridge}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hancock, Heather}} Category:1965 births Category:Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge Category:Deputy lieutenants of North Yorkshire Category:Honorary Fellows of Trinity College Dublin Category:Living people Category:Masters of St John's College, Cambridge