Former MI5 director-general joins Wellcome Trust

Eliza Manningham-Buller will become the first chairwoman of the Wellcome Trust when she assumes the role in October.

Manningham-Buller is a former director general of the UK Security Service. She is chairwoman of the council of Imperial College London and is a member of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee.

William Castell is retiring from the role, which he has held since 2006. He said: “I know [Manningham-Buller] to have an exceptional understanding of management and team-building, and a passion for the full breadth of the trust’s activities, from basic biomedical science to innovation, education and public engagement.”