Katie will work with the county’s member team, led by chairman James Cox, and alongside Gloucestershire’s NFU group secretary employee network to support and represent the county’s farmers as the industry navigates the path of EU transition, with all the changes and opportunities this will bring.
She has considerable experience in both NFU and European matters, joining the Gloucestershire team from her role as a senior policy adviser in the NFU’s Brussels office.
From a family dairy farm in South Wales, Katie spent five years in Brussels representing the NFU’s members at the EU, lobbying on agricultural policy issues and navigating the post-referendum political landscape.
Katie said: “I am delighted to be joining the NFU’s South West team at a time when farmers are facing a period of change. I am looking forward to working with our members on the issues that affect their farming businesses as we seek to navigate the changing policy and trade landscape for British farming.”
NFU Gloucestershire county chairman James Cox said: “We welcome Katie as the NFU continues its work to ensure that the voice of members is heard on vast range of topics, at all levels, locally and beyond, on the issues and opportunities to enable their business to remain sustainable in every sense. Especially as we transition through new policy and market landscapes for food, and farming, future land use and respond to the challenge of delivering sustainable supply chains, alongside meeting our net zero ambitions.”
South West NFU regional director Melanie Squires said: “We are delighted Katie is joining our team at such a pivotal and influential time for the farming and food supply chain with all the experience she brings, and I know our members in Gloucestershire will be looking forward to meeting her in due course, albeit ‘virtually’ for the time being.”