Transition of leadership and management for the Supergen Bioenergy Hub
Alan Beesley, Chair of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub Advisory Board
The Supergen Bioenergy Hub announced in December that its Director and Principal Investigator Patricia Thornley will be taking up a new role as Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Transport from February 2026.
Since then, the project’s co-investigators and central support team have been working with Aston University and funders EPSRC and BBSRC to establish a transition plan for leadership of the Hub.
I’m delighted to announce that Mirjam Roeder will take over as Principal Investigator, supported by Co-Directors Jason Hallett and Michael Short. Mirjam has played a leading role in Supergen for many years and currently leads the Hub’s research on sustainability. In her new capacity, Mirjam will take over as Director of the Hub, leading the research and impact programme, and managing the central support team. She will also take over leadership of the research project on global indirect land use change, previously led by Patricia.
Mirjam’s appointment means that the Hub will continue to be based at Aston University, which will contribute to a smooth transition in leadership and management. The central support team based at Aston will ensure a continuous level of project management and engagement with stakeholders.
Professor Mirjam Roeder is an internationally recognised expert in sustainability, with a research portfolio that spans bioenergy systems, carbon removal technologies and evidence-based policy design. Her work is driven by a commitment to creating sustainable, low-carbon futures through rigorous analysis, interdisciplinary collaboration and strategic innovation.
At the core of her research is the integration of environmental, economic and social dimensions to assess and guide the development of technologies and systems that support climate goals and resource resilience.
Mirjam’s work informs national and international policy frameworks, helping shape the future of sustainable energy and climate mitigation. She collaborates with government bodies, industry leaders and academic institutions to ensure that sustainability is embedded in decision-making at every level.
Mirjam is a Director at the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) and leads the System Analysis group at EBRI. Mirjam says of her appointment:
“I’m excited to take on this role and to help lead the Supergen Bioenergy Hub into its next chapter. Having been part of Supergen for the past 13 years, I’ve seen how powerful our community can be when we work together toward shared goals and deliver meaningful impact and advance truly sustainable solutions. I’m looking forward to building on that foundation, bringing people together, strengthening our impact and continuing to push the boundaries of what sustainable bioenergy can achieve in the UK’s transition to net zero.”
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my congratulations to both Mirjam and Patricia on their new roles and to thank Patricia personally and on behalf of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub for the many years she has devoted to its success.
Patricia has led the Supergen Bioenergy Hub since 2012. Previously based at the University of Manchester, Patricia brought the Hub to Aston University when she took up the role of Director of the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (formerly European Bioenergy Research Institute) in 2018. Her vision for the Hub has always been to bring together industry, academia, policy and societal stakeholders to focus on the research and knowledge challenges associated with increasing the contribution of UK bioenergy to meet strategic environmental targets in a coherent, sustainable and cost-effective manner.
Patricia will continue to work at Aston University one day a week, leading the Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emissions Technology, a joint partnership between Aston University, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Nottingham and University of Warwick, and the first CDT to be based at Aston.
Mirjam and Patricia have been working closely to ensure a smooth transition, and the formal transfer of leadership will take place shortly after Patricia takes up her new role. I will be working with my fellow members of the Supergen Advisory Board to offer guidance and support to the Hub researchers and professional support team over the coming months. You can continue to contact the Hub as normal through the usual contacts and channels, including via the website and by emailing supergen-bioenergy@aston.ac.uk.
I am excited by the opportunities this evolution creates, not only for the Supergen Bioenergy Hub but for the wider community and sector. I have every confidence in the Hub team’s ability to continue delivering against Supergen’s priorities and targets throughout the remaining two years of its lifetime. Thank you for your continued contributions to Supergen, and I look forward to working together to further strengthen the Hub, increase its impact and amplify its influence.
