William Neale

William Neale is Adviser on Circular Economy and Green Growth for the European Commission’s Environment Directorate General. He is based in the Directorate responsible for sustainable production and consumption, circular economy, chemicals and waste. He works horizontally and closely with other Commission services and institutional and external stakeholders.

He previously served for 11 years as a Member of Cabinet (private office) of European Commissioners for Science and Research, for Environment, and for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. In cabinets he held responsibility for relations with the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, planning, resources and budget, and advised Commissioners on development of policies on circular economy, resource efficiency, sustainable production and consumption, environmental technologies, eco-innovation, waste policy, transport, aeronautics, research infrastructures and external relations.

Neale started his career in public service, working for 7 years in the European Commission's Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry. He previously spent 13 years in the private sector in the fields of international banking, retail and management consultancy. He holds a joint honours degree in economics and history, and a masters in political science, both from the University of Manchester (UK).