The Directors
The Directors at IEH Consulting together bring with them many decades of experience in toxicology and risk assessment, gained in various organisations including industry, academia, government and government research institutes, independent consultancy and contract toxicology sectors. In addition, we have a number of highly experienced Associates with whom we work to expand both the range of expertise and the capacity we can offer.
Dr Ruth Bevan BSc, PhD
Ruth has acted as an independent consultant since 2015 following her departure from Cranfield University where she held the position of Senior Lecturer in Human Health Risk Assessment, within the Institute of Environment and Health. Prior to joining Cranfield University, Ruth gained a BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology and PhD in Immunochemistry. Her post-doctoral studies on the detection of free radical damage to biomolecules were carried out at the University of Leicester.
Ruth’s current expertise lie in toxicology and human health risk assessment in areas connected with environmental or occupational exposure to chemicals and she brings over 25 years’ experience to IEH Consulting. Her particular interests lie in the fields of biomarkers of both exposure and effect and in the setting of biological and occupational guidance values. Ruth has published on a broad range of environment and health issues, notably in the field of occupational cancer burden and biomonitoring of environmental exposures (including via consumer articles, drinking water, food and air).
Ruth has extensive experience of project organisation and management for a wide range of clients. More recently she has become involved with the setting of guideline values for chemicals in drinking water and sits on the chemical expert working group for the WHO. In addition, Ruth is an editor for the Journal of Water and Health, a fellow of the Society for Biology (FSB) and a long-standing member of the British Toxicology Society. She has also past Vice Chair and acting Chair of the Cranfield University Health Research Ethics Committee.
Professor Jason Weeks BSc PhD CBiol FRSB EurProBiol MIEnvSci CEnv CSci CMIEEM MInstKT
Jason Weeks has over 28 years’ experience as an environmental toxicologist, with extensive experience in the environment, food safety, pharmaceutical (human and veterinary), regulatory and aquaculture sectors. Over this period Jason has been instrumental in the successful delivery of significant International Aid-funded project work, including in Latin America, SE Asia, Australasia, Canada, Central and Eastern Europe, Central and Middle Asia, Russia, the Caribbean, Korea and Africa. He has extensive experience of delivering and managing large scale technically challenging applied projects.
Jason is an internationally recognised expert on ecological and environmental risk assessment, and has particular expertise in understanding the ecological effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment. He is an accredited CPD trainer, Chartered Biologist and Environmentalist, a Member of CIEEM and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. A former Chief Scientist of the UK Water Research Centre (WRc), he has experience in understanding the fate, effects and ecotoxicity of chemicals relating to industrial, extractive industries, pharmaceuticals, contaminated land and agricultural pollution. Jason has been responsible for the design and execution of projects on behalf of organisations such as the UK Department for International Development (DfiD), WHO, World Bank, FSA, EFSA, FAO and the UN. He has published in excess of 120 peer-reviewed scientific papers on a broad range of subject areas and in excess of 200 consultancy reports. Jason was a former expert consultant to WWF, UNIDO and the World Bank. Jason has Chaired ad hoc Expert Groups for the European Medicines Agency and was former UK co-opted member of the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Veterinary Medicines Products (CVMP) where for three years he also chaired the EMAs’ Environmental Risk Assessment working party (ERAWP).
Jason was formerly Professor of Environmental Risk Analysis at Cranfield University and he maintains numerous university connections. He was former Veterinary Medicines Programme Director at Cefas, being responsible for the innovation and development of pharmaceutical aquaculture therapeutants. Jason is currently engaged in several EU projects associated with the environmental aspects of antimicrobial resistance in a 'one health’ approach, and is listed on the global roster of experts to the FAO/WHO. Jason is also a Director/Owner of ERA and Head of Business Development at JNCC.