Principal Associate/Agriculture and Climate Change

Non-executive Director

Nutshell

As a critical part of the supply chain, agriculture is a primary industry vital to the delivery of sustainable development in the 21st century. Agriculture is ideally placed to help mitigate climate change, including by provision of renewable energy, but is also coming under increasing pressure to reduce its own emissions. Retailers and processors, meanwhile, need to address best practice on supplier farms if they are to make significant progress in bringing down levels of embedded carbon in products on the supermarket shelves. Working with the rest of the supply chain, farmers worldwide have opportunities to secure new sources of income while making a real contribution to mitigating climate change.

Expertise

Broad experience and knowledge of the agricultural industry across the EU. In depth understanding of EU Common Agricultural Policy, together with directives and policy developments in the fields of agricultural trade (WTO), rural development, renewable energy and the environment. I specialise in identifying opportunities rather than potential constraints; in helping farmers and those who advise them to realise the business opportunities in emerging policy.

Previous experience

My career over the last 30 years has focused on the pragmatic application of agricultural and environmental policy and I was an early advocate for sustainable land stewardship.

My early career was as a surveyor and land agent for the private and government sectors; managing large rural estates and advising farmers on conservation and diversification.

I worked in a range of advisory roles for the UK National Farmers Union, including for four years as the Director of the Bureau de l'Agriculture Britannique (BAB) in Brussels in the late ‘90s, representing the interests of the UK farmers' unions and farm co-operatives to the institutions of the EU.

For six years in the noughties I was a non-executive director (and briefly Deputy Chairman) of the Government's Countryside Agency with responsibility for land management and countryside capital. For most of this time I was a member of the Agency's Audit and Risk Management committee.

I hold a range of other directorships, including for Eurinco (European policy consultants on agriculture, rural development and renewable energy) and as a founding Director of AARC Ltd (Associated Agricultural & Rural Consultants - the commercial arm of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants).

I advise the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and some UK-based member firms on a range of European policy issues, focusing on rural development, renewable energy and climate change mitigation in the land management sector.

Education

Fellow in Land Management, Royal Agricultural College 2006 (Climate Change and UK Agriculture)

MSc (distinction), Agricultural Economics and Farm Business Management, Wye College, London University (1985).

Diploma, Rural Estate Management, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester (1979).

Professional qualifications

Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).

Member of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants (MBIAC).