Who's who at the NFU

The home farm is based around arable production but has also diversified into equestrian and renewables.

Tom has represented the NFU from Local Branch Chairman through to Chair of the National Combinable Crops Board.

Tom was elected to the position of NFU President in February 2024.

Responsibilities

• Animal health and welfare incl. bTB
• Trade and standards
• Climate, energy and net zero
• Food supply chain (fair dealing, mergers and acquisitions, competition, regulation)
• Animal ID and movements
• Assurance review
• Taxation and fiscal policy
• Immigration

Not from a farming background, Paul worked in the financial sector before meeting his wife and joining the family dairy business.

Farming as part of a family partnership in the Vale of York, he combines hands‑on experience running a large, modern dairy business with more than a decade representing producers at national level.

His work has focused on championing a confident and sustainable future for UK farming, shaped by those who understand its realities on the ground.

As a long‑serving member of the NFU Dairy Board, Paul helped navigate volatility in milk markets, environmental regulation and changing trade conditions, always arguing for policies that reward productive, resilient farm businesses.

Alongside his policy work, he is an active communicator, using media, events and on‑farm engagement to bridge the gap between farmers, industry and policymakers. 

With two teenage children and as a keen runner, Paul is rooted in family, community and the countryside, bringing energy, clarity and determination to every role he undertakes.

Passionate about the future of British farming, Robyn champions innovation and opportunity within the sector. 

Founder of Wight Rural Hub and an independent consultant, she believes in the power of bringing farmers and stakeholders together to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration and develop practical solutions that drive sustainable, forward-looking farm businesses.

Robyn served as Isle of Wight County Chair and South Regional Board Chair.

The farm is home to milking cows, sheep, beef cattle and around 120 acres of arable.

Abi is a co-founder of Cows on Tour, an Open Farm Sunday host and a former NFU Cymru Wales Woman Farmer of the Year. 

In 2019 she was honoured by the Queen with an MBE for her services to agriculture.

Paul has been an active NFU Cymru member for more than 20 years and has previously served as NFU Cymru Clwyd County Chairman. 

He was instrumental in the iconic display of 5,500 pairs of wellingtons laid outside the Senedd in 2023 to show the industry’s opposition to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme framework at the time.

He also chairs NFU Commercial Holdings Ltd, a group of professional land use services businesses that provide services to members and non-members. The additional non-subscription income that these businesses generate help to fund the operations of the NFU.

Terry has also held a number of industry roles while at the NFU. Between 2020 and 2022 he was the Industry Co-Chair of the Food and Drink Sector Council, a formal industry partnership with the government to create a more productive and sustainable food, drink and agricultural sector. He sat on the End User Advisory Council of Pay.uk, advising its board on the payment needs of small business. He was also made a trustee of RABI – The Farmers’ Charity in October 2025.

Prior to returning to the NFU, Terry had been running food industry trade associations. In 2011 he joined the FDF (Food and Drink Federation) as its Director of Communications. Leaving FDF at the end of 2014, he took up the post of DG at the PTF (Provision Trade Federation) looking after the interests of businesses involved in the UK bacon and dairy trade.

Before working at FDF and PTF, Terry worked for the NFU from 2002-2011 in a variety of roles including Head of Government Affairs, Head of Food Chain and Director of Communications.

Originally from Llandovery, where his family are livestock farmers, John Mercer has worked his way up through the ranks of the NFU over recent years.

He started with NFU Cymru in 2004 as a Farm Policy Adviser before moving to NFU Headquarters to take up a senior policy adviser position he then went on to become the NFU Regional Director in the West Midlands before returning to his roots in Wales.

Catherine leads a dedicated team of HR professionals that partner with the NFU and its subsidiaries to attract, develop and engage great people to deliver positive outcomes for the NFU and its members.

Her career started on the graduate scheme at Tesco, and after working as a store manager and learning that people are the heartbeat of any organisation, she decided to pursue a career in HR. She worked for a wide variety of organisations, from the NHS to SMEs to privately owned businesses before joining the NFU in 2015. She became Director of People in April 2023.

Outside of work Catherine enjoys spending time with her family and friends in Warwickshire. Her real love is open water swimming, and although she’s based in the very centre of England she will find any excuse to head to the coast for a swim.

Sharon has worked for the NFU since 2006, starting as a press officer before becoming media manager, and then Head of Communications, a department now comprising national and regional media, campaigns, publications and member communications, as well as design, education, and internal communications.

Before that, Sharon qualified as a journalist working in local and regional newspapers.

A passion for rural affairs and representing British food and farming runs through her hobbies; scratch cooking, gardening and walking in rural Warwickshire.

He joined the NFU headquarters in January 1993 from Hertfordshire County Council and has filled a variety of roles including Chief Environment Adviser and, prior to his current role, Head of Policy Services.

Andrew lives with his family in Worcestershire where he grew up on a hop and fruit farm. He has a PhD in Environment Science from the University of East Anglia and is a Chartered Landscape Architect.

Tamsin joined the NFU as Assistant Secretary in 2010, was appointed Head of Compliance in 2011 and Secretary in June 2023.

In her role as Secretary, Tamsin is responsible for advising on Corporate Governance and ensuring the NFU Constitution and Rules are observed and kept up to date. In addition to that, Tamsin manages the Compliance Department, which is responsible for legal compliance, insurance, risk management as well as the NFU's Quality Management System and Business Continuity Plan.

Tamsin also oversees the management of the NFU’s property portfolio, is Secretary to Council, the Governance Board, the Audit and Remuneration Committee, NFU Staff Pension Trust Company Limited, NFU Commercial Holdings Limited and is a Director of NFU Energy Limited.

Prior to joining the NFU Tamsin gained considerable experience working at board level in London and Warwickshire in a number of industries ranging from private equity to environmental compliance.

Originally from a small rural village in Yorkshire, Tamsin lives with her family in Warwickshire. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking for family and friends, gardening and holidaying on the North Norfolk Coast.

She brings to the NFU a strong background in commercial finance and business change management in growing businesses, an inspiring leadership style, experience of integrating acquisitions and strategic financial planning expertise.

Prior to joining the NFU, she was Finance Director at Mattioli Woods plc, a leading UK listed financial services business, where she led the finance team through significant change as the business expanded rapidly. Having joined in 2013, her role developed quickly after playing a key leading role in the IPO of Custodian REIT plc. During her almost seven-year tenure she steered many strategic developments across finance, HR, IT, operations, risk and compliance, including a £14m investment in building a new office.

She qualified as a chartered accountant in 2009 in practice, where she developed a diverse range of experience across finance specialisms and industry sectors, including agriculture and investment property. She joined the practice in 2006, following a short period as a business analyst at Caterpillar Logistics Services (now Neovia Logistics) after graduating from De Montfort University with a degree in Accounting and Finance in 2005. 

Outside of work Farah enjoys playing tennis, travelling and family walks in the countryside with her husband and two sons.