James Bevan (diplomat)

Sir James David Bevan KCMG (born 13 July 1959) is the former Chief Executive of the Environment Agency and a former British diplomat.

Sir James Bevan KCMG
Former Chief Executive of the Environment Agency
In office 2015–2023
Preceded by	Paul Leinster
Succeeded by	Philip Duffy
High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India
In office 2011–2015
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Richard Stagg
Succeeded by	Dominic Asquith
Personal details
Born	(1959-07-13) 13 July 1959 (age 66)
Nationality	British
Education	Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
Alma mater	Sussex University
Occupation	Diplomat

Early life

Bevan was born on 13 July 1959. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe and Sussex University.

Career

He joined the British Diplomatic Service in 1982 and served in Kinshasa, Brussels, Paris, and Washington, D.C., as well as various posts in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He was a visiting fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard (2006–07) and the Chief Operating Officer of the FCO (2007–11). He was the UK's High Commissioner to India from 2011 to 2015.^[1][2]

Bevan became Chief Executive of the Environment Agency in 2015.^[3] The Environment Agency's stated aims include confronting climate change, promoting sustainable growth, enhancing the nation's resilience to flooding and drought, and protecting the environment. He has been outspoken^[4][5] on the need to tackle the climate emergency and its consequences, and on the benefits for business and wider society of doing so successfully.

In a speech in 2020, Bevan called for reforms to inherited EU law, including reform of the Water Framework Directive, arguing that its standards were overly strict and did not reflect the actual quality of waterways.^[6] Environmental advocates were angered by the proposed reforms, arguing they represented an unacceptable relaxing of standards needed to ensure clean waterways in the country.^[7]

He said in 2021 during the annual conference of the Association of British Insurers that extreme flooding in UK indicates urgent need for change if humanity is to survive.^[8][9] He was succeeded by Phillip Duffy in 2023.

Personal life

Sir James is married with three daughters.

Honours

Bevan was appointed CMG in 2006 and knighted KCMG in 2012.