QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOUR FOR DSTL CEO

July 2011

Dr Frances Saunders, Chief Executive of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
(Dstl) at Porton Down in Wiltshire has been made a Companion of the Order of the Bath
(CB).
Frances is recognised in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her exemplary
contribution to the exploitation of science and engineering over the last 20 years.
As Chief Executive Dstl, she has expedited the delivery of technology in UK defence and,
despite the recent period of extreme change and financial pressure, she has also ensured
the best people have been identified, trained and deployed in order to meet the Ministry of
Defence’s primary requirement to support current operations.
Thrilled to receive the honour, Frances said it was in large part down to the amazing work
carried out by others: “I have had the privilege to work with many accomplished and talented
people during my career who have made my job that much easier. I am delighted to have
been awarded the CB and feel it’s a reflection of a concerted team effort.”
Prior to taking up her current role in 2007, Frances served as Dstl Technical Director and
she was a founding director of Ploughshare Innovations – the organisation’s technology
management company. Before that, Frances spent four years working in the Office of
Science and Technology at the Department of Trade and Industry. She has also worked as a
research scientist in the liquid crystal display team at the Royal Signals and Radar
Establishment and as an electronics engineer in the motor industry.
ENDS
For more information contact the Dstl press office on 01980 658666, 07901 892660,
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) maximises the impact of science
and technology (S&T) for the defence and security of the UK.
It supplies sensitive and specialist S&T services for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and wider
government, saving lives in the UK, overseas and on the frontline.
Dstl leads and undertakes those activities that it would be inappropriate to lead or carry out
in the private sector and undertakes those activities that must be done in government to
sustain government’s ability to be an intelligent customer and build productive relationships
with the wider science and technology community.
Dstl acts as a trusted interface between MOD, wider government, the private sector,
academia and allies to deliver battle-winning technologies.
Dstl is a trading fund of the MOD and is accountable to government, to the taxpayer and the
troops it supports in the field every day.
Dstl is the largest scientific organisation within government, with around 3,500 of the nation’s
most talented and creative scientists, technologists and engineers at its three main sites:
Porton Down, near Salisbury, Portsdown West, near Portsmouth, and Fort Halstead, near
Sevenoaks.
www.dstl.gov.uk

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