A FORMER Tavistock College student has been made a Dame in the Queen?s New Year?s Honours list, published on Saturday. Suzi Leather, 49, is chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. She lives with her husband and three children in Exeter ? her parents live in the Yelverton area. Suzi said: ?I am delighted and touched to receive this honour. ?It is recognition of the importance of the work that I have been involved in and I am pleased that I have been able to contribute in this way. ?It would not have been possible without the support that I have received from my family, friends and colleagues, for which I am very grateful.? Suzi?s academic background is in political science ? she also has probation and social work qualifications. The majority of her career has been spent in the consumer movement, working at regional, national and European levels ? her particular interests are public policy, health and regulation. Suzi has chaired the Exeter and District Community and Mental Health NHS Trust and was the founding chair of the first combined Healthy Living Centre and UK Online Centre. She was the first deputy chair of the Food Standards Agency and a member of the Royal Society?s inquiry into infectious diseases of livestock. Suzi was appointed the chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in March 2002 and was reappointed for a second term in March last year. In July 2005, Suzi chaired the Government?s School Meals Review Panel which has investigated the development of new nutritional standards for primary and secondary schools.
