Helena joined CEA in 2020 as an ecotoxicologist and environmental risk assessor. Prior to joining CEA, Helena worked for four years at the UK chemicals regulatory authority, the Health and Safety Executive Chemicals Regulation Division (HSE CRD). In this role, she evaluated dossiers for active substances and formulated products (for plant protection products as well as biocides) both at the UK and EU level. This involved evaluation of studies and risk assessments for all groups of non-target organisms at both lower and higher tiers. She has defended her work in meetings with the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides (UK ECP) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Helena has experience in assisting clients with complex technical issues. Examples of projects she has undertaken while at CEA include developing higher-tier risk assessments for different organism groups, targeted to address specific issues for pesticide product and active substance dossiers; preparing rebuttals and updated risk assessments in response to regulator comments; conducting and evaluating extensive literature reviews aimed at answering specific research questions; reviewing new and updated guidance documents; preparing journal articles; designing and monitoring field residue trials and higher-tier aquatic invertebrate studies; presenting posters and platform presentations at international conferences (see the CEA library for copies of these); considering novel studies and approaches to risk assessment – making the most of available data sources.
Helena holds an MBiolSci in biology with a focus on evolutionary ecology from the University of Liverpool.