5 Our questioning
18. Mr Christensen's track record with Natural England
establishes that he has been able to lead a large organisation
effectively. He also has experience in other public sector posts
of relevance to the work of Natural England and is experienced
in the ways of working of such organisations. However taking responsibility
for the leadership of Natural England, to deliver its mission,
utilising public funding of over £274 million and
working with an extensive range of stakeholders, requires outstanding
skills and personal qualities. Our questioning was therefore designed
to test in a robust manner the extent to which he possesses these
qualities. We questioned Mr Christensen about his independence,
professional competence and the recruitment process. We also discussed
key policy issues surrounding Natural England's mission. Areas
of questioning included:
- his suitability for the role,
including his previous experience with Natural England;
- his personal independence, including potential
conflicts of interest arising from his business interests in agriculture,
and
- the current and future priorities for Natural
England.
19. A transcript of the hearing is printed with this
report.
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