Not many people start their careers planning to become Chief Executive of a learned and professional society. Simon Thompson, Chief Executive of the Society explains that he “fell into this sort of work by accident and then fell in love with it”.

Recalling the time he spent pottering about on the Lancashire coast collecting fossils, Simon missed the opportunity to become a geologist, preferring instead to study law, he says "to indulge his love of arguing”. However he eventually got into publishing and discovered a wonderfully interesting and diverse career.

Simon joined the Society in November 2022 and refers to the Society as one of the best known and most distinguished societies in the world. I wonder if he quoted that in his interview! Simon is keen to get on with the job of delivering the strategy that the Society has created for itself and we look forward to a well-attended Discussion to help take that vision forward.