Dr Francesca Gauntlett is Head of Science at the Office for Product Safety and Standards in DBT, providing scientific advice and evidence to support policy and regulatory decision making. This includes externally commissioned research and advice.

Francesca has worked for over 15 years as a scientist in government, always on the interface of science and policy. She’s passionate about ensuring good quality science and evidence informs policy and regulatory activity. She believes that the role of knowledge broker is a specialism that sits within the wide range of exciting science jobs that exist within government.

Prior to working in product safety, Francesca worked in Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. In the Defra CSA’s Office, she worked on evidence assurance and science capability. In APHA, her work focussed on exotic animal disease outbreak investigation and preparedness (notably, Avian Influenza and Foot-and-Mouth disease), and, most recently as Head of International Disease Monitoring and Risk.

With a PhD in avian virology, MSc in Epidemiology, MSc in Biochemistry, and a BSc (Hons) in Genetics with French, Francesca is a Chartered Scientist, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, and a Member of the Institution of Environmental Sciences. She loves nature, science and muddy walking boots.