Non Executive Directors
Our Non Executive Directors
NCEO’s Non-Executive Directors play a vital role in shaping the centre’s strategic direction and ensuring accountability.
They bring a wealth of experience from across academia, government, and industry, offering independent perspectives that help guide decision-making and strengthen NCEO’s impact. Their diverse backgrounds in science, policy, innovation, and leadership enable them to challenge and support the Executive Team, ensuring that NCEO remains responsive to national priorities and global environmental challenges. By fostering external partnerships and championing NCEO’s mission, our Non-Executive Directors help connect our work to the wider world.
Mary Black
Mary Ethna Black (Pirates) is a globe-trotting doctor from Lambeg, Northern Ireland and Non-Executive Director of NCEO. She also sits on the boards of NCAS, the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, the MCS foundation, and Patient Classification Systems International. She is an honorary professor in St Andrews, school of medicine.
Since taking up creative writing in 2017, she has won or listed for over 30 literary prizes, and held residencies at Bundanon, Cill Rialaig, Tyrone Guthrie, and Varuna. Splav – adventures with my family on the River Sava with be published by Abacus in August 2026. It’s the Balkans. Welcome to coffee, chaos, and a ginormous catfish. Fun fact – there is a scene involving NCEO and a satellite image of the river in the book.
Alexandra Bolton
Alexandra Bolton is a Non-Executive Director at NCEO and Director of the Climate Governance Initiative at the University of Cambridge. She brings extensive leadership experience in digital innovation, infrastructure, and climate action.
Formerly Executive Director of the Centre for Digital Built Britain, Alexandra now works globally to support board-level leadership on climate governance. She was awarded an OBE in 2024 for her contributions to the built and natural environment.
