Professor John Ludden CBE is a senior research fellow and Chair of the Krafla Magma Testbed Board (KMT). Until recently he was Bicentennial Research Professor at Heriot-Watt University, UK, with a focus on science governance and diplomacy and with a remit to strengthen communication with the public and policy makers. Prior to this he was CEO of the British Geological Survey, a leading UK government facing body with a €100 million budget and significant international reach. He worked for the French CNRS as its associate director for earth sciences in 2002-2006.
He has expertise in developing and advising on the research agendas of government, academia and industry, along with considerable experience in the translation of research into innovation and commercialisation.
He has held science leadership posts in the UK, France and Canada in the Earth and Environmental and energy sectors. Now serving on and chairing boards in government, academia and industry, he seeks to engender a cultural shift towards a more solutions-based approach at the interface of environmental, engineering and social science that responds to urgent global problems.
He holds numerous academic awards, and is the president of the International Union of Geological Sciences.