MBE, Head of the UN Global Framework on Chemicals Secretariat
Kay currently works with the United Nations Environment Programme as Head of the Global Framework on Chemicals secretariat, based in Geneva Switzerland.
The majority of her career was spent at the UK Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs where she was the Head of International Chemicals, Pesticides and Hazardous Wastes hub. She was a lead negotiator the UN chemicals and waste conventions and agreements
Externally, Kay has chaired the OECD’s Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee; co-chaired the UNEP Special Programme Executive Board in addition to playing an active role in the UN Beyond 2020 intersessional process to develop the new Global Framework on Chemicals.
Kay has a PhD from Imperial College, London and began her career carrying out applied research at the Central Science Laboratory before moving to Government policy in 1999. She has held a wide variety of policy posts ranging from the Common Agricultural Policy through to sustainable procurement.