After four years leading Mission Innovation, Dr Jennie Dodson will step down today as Head of Secretariat to pursue new opportunities to accelerate the clean energy transition. Dr Eleanor Webster has been appointed as the new Head of Secretariat for Mission Innovation and will take up the position, based in London, on 12 October. 

“We are all enormously grateful for the strategic vision and energy that Jennie has contributed to the initiative.” said Drew Leyburne, Chair of the MI Steering Committee. “Her leadership has embedded Mission Innovation as a leading action initiative in the global landscape and enabled us to embark on an ambitious second phase. She will be greatly missed but I am delighted to welcome Eleanor to this role as we look towards driving further action and impact ahead.” 

Eleanor is currently Head of International Climate Science in the UK Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy where she leads the UK delegation for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and science negotiations within the UNFCCC. As a member of the COP26 Presidency team she has focused on maintaining the momentum following the event in Glasgow last year. Before that, Eleanor has worked on earth observation policy for climate monitoring and technologies around enhancing greenhouse gas reporting. She has also held several positions associated with climate communications, including running real-world demonstrations on climate adaptation techniques. Eleanor holds a PhD in climate science. 

“The UK government remains committed to enabling Mission Innovation to drive impact as the global political and action platform for clean energy innovation by hosting the core team of the Secretariat” said Lee McDonough, Director-General for Net Zero Strategy and International at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. “I am therefore thrilled that Eleanor will take on this role bringing a wealth of experience in international diplomacy, cooperation and real-world solutions to climate change.”