date: Thu Jul 31 09:43:33 2003
from: Mike Hulme <m.hulme@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: We would like you to work with us to lead the DEFRA
to: "Andrew Bradbury" <Andrew.Bradbury@mouchel.com>

   Dear Andrew,
   Thanks for your invitation re. SDRN.
   Much as I support this initiative, an extra set of responsibilities at this time does not
   fit well with my professional life and so I will have to decline your invitation.
   With best wishes,
   Mike Hulme
   At 14:47 30/07/2003 +0100, you wrote:

     Dear Dr Hulme,
     I tried to call you yesterday to discuss but you were in a meeting. I
     explain my inquiry below.
     Mouchel is a professional services company based in Surrey. We
     specialise in the provision of support services to Government.  We are
     currently providing professional services to the Highways Agency,
     Networkrail, the Scottish Executive, Environment Agency and DEFRA.
     Due to our ongoing involvement in DEFRA Research and Development
     Activities DEFRA has invited us to bid to operate the Sustainable
     Development Research Network (SDRN) for a three year period (with a
     possible further two year extension).  We are aware you have provided
     constructive support to this and other sustainable development
     initiatives in the past.  We intend to bid for this contract and we
     would like you to consider joining our team in a leadership capacity.
     We feel that the SDRN needs to be led by people who not only understand
     the sustainable development research agenda inside and out but who also
     have the profile to help us engage a wide range of research
     organisations at the highest level in the activities of the network.  To
     this end we intend to set up a Stakeholder Board to oversee the work of
     the SDRN network. Specifically the board will:
     - contribute to development of a three year strategy for the SDRN
     - review progress against this strategy
     - spearhead a new drive for evidenced based SD policy making
     - facilitate delivery of SDRN programme of work and open bottlenecks
     through high level dialogue with participating research organisations
     We are currently contacting a small number of people we consider have
     the appropriate professional experience to ask them whether they would
     (if we are successful in our bid)  like to be a member of the SDRN
     Stakeholder Board.  The commitment we envisage is between 3-5 days a
     year.  We will cover the expenses associated with your attendance but we
     cannot pay a fee for your time. We intend to make the SDRN a high
     profile organisation and I  hope that the profile and interest
     associated with this SDRN leadership position will be a significant
     reward for the time you commit.
     In addition, we will establish a new system of Policy Theme Focus
     Groups to build stronger links between Government and evidence providers
     with a focus on specific priority areas.  If successful in our bid we
     would like to engage your services as a specialist advisor on a fee paid
     basis to facilitate one of these Groups.  The time commitment would be
     approximately 10 days over a 10 month period at some stage of the
     commission, concluding with a presentation to the SDRN annual conference
     to present outcomes.
     As a company we are committed to making the SDRN a great success and I
     hope you will consider contributing to the initiative. If you wish to be
     involved all I need at this stage is:
     - a letter on headed notepaper stating your willingness to be part of
     our stakeholder board and Policy Theme Focus Groups (I  attach an
     example)
     - a CV
     - a day fee rate.
     As ever with these things time is short. We have to submit our
     proposals on 6th August. I would therefore be grateful if you could
     respond as soon as possible.
     If you would like to speak to me about this please call me on 01932 337
     161 or 0790 151 6035 (after 6 pm)
     Kind regards
     Andrew Bradbury, Mouchel Consulting Limited
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