Dr David Mason

I joined the BTS as a student in 2001, whilst in my final year studying BSc Biochemistry (Toxicology) at the University of Surrey. I remained a member throughout my PhD in Cancer Cell Signalling, in the Cancer Therapeutics section at the Institute of Cancer Research. Having completed my studies, I moved to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and later the Health Protection Agency (HPA) as a Toxicologist and Chemical Risk Assessor. Whilst at the FSA, I joined the Early Career Toxicologists’ Subcommittee and took the Chair from 2010 to 2012, during which I was co-opted onto the Executive Committee. As Chair, I coordinated the sub committee’s careers outreach activities, liaised with other committees on updating toxicology careers information and established social activities for early career scientists at the Annual Congress. It is often a pleasure to meet toxicologists, now in professional roles, who remember talking to us at careers/social events (and remember harvesting our BTS freebies!)

In 2011, I joined Unilever’s Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC) where I am currently Science Leader for Toxicological Safety; a role where I lead on complex ingredient risk assessments, as well as developing toxicologists within the company, through coaching and mentoring. I work as part of multidisciplinary teams within the company, also taking an active role outside the company in trade association consortia.