The Board

Stuart Roberts (National Farmers' Union)

Hertfordshire farmer Stuart Roberts is a third generation arable and livestock farmer who has also worked for Defra and the Food Standards Agency and held senior management roles within the meat supply chain.

Stuart farms in a family partnership with his wife Emma and his father Howard. Hammonds End Farm supplies grain to more than 50 artisan mills and bakers throughout the UK, and the business also includes a second farm in Kent.

Stuart has served as Hertfordshire NFU County Chairman since 2015.

Alan Plom (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health)

Alan has been involved in the Farm Safety Partnership since September 2012 when he became Chair of the'Machinery Safety' sub-group. His early experiences working on farms fuelled his interest in health and safety, in which he has specialised throughout his career.

After completing his degree in Agriculture and post-grad in Agricultural Engineering in 1975, Alan worked for MAFF until he transferred to HSE in 1979 as an Agricultural Inspector. He held various field inspectorate and HQ/Policy posts, ending with 6 years as Head of Safety Section in HSE's Agriculture and Food Sector, before 'retiring' in 2011.

He has since run a farmers' training group and is a H&S consultant providing advice and training to the land-based sector. He is Vice Chair of IOSH Rural Industries Group and also actively involved with the Institution of Agricultural Engineers. In these various roles he also writes articles and organises technical meetings.

Ian Jewitt (NFU Mutual)

I have 33 years experience of rural insurance and risk management in my career with NFU Mutual. Commencing in Newcastle, my roles have placed me in direct contact with the farming community, as a Sales Consultant in Yorkshire, followed by Management roles in Stratford upon Avon.

I am currently Managing Director of NFU Mutual Risk Management Services Ltd, responsible for a team of 140 people across sales, surveying and admin disciplines.

In my role, I am in a unique position to see the impact of accidents on farms from both a financial, personal and social perspective. In addition my ability to lead a large team, and to communicate effectively to individuals and groups, makes me well placed to play an active role on the Board of Farm Safety Partnership.

Keith Christian (British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association)

Keith Christian has been the Director of BAGMA since 2007 and ispassionate about improving health and safety through his work by encouraging dealers ofagricultural and garden machinery in the UK to safely deliver and hand over products through formal schemes.

His experiences in outdoor power equipment started at a dealership of garden machinery and ground care products, and progressed with Claymore Grass Machinery, where he worked for 23 years. Hehas also worked as Director of Reekie Grass Machinery Ltd,is a past-President of the AEA and was previously on their Outdoor Power Equipment Council.

As well as working at a European level with CLIMMAR (the umbrella organisation for tradeassociations similar to BAGMA), he is a current director of the Oxford Summer School Lts, a Director of the IOG's SALTEX Show board and Director of Training at Bira (BAGMA's parent group).

Marcus Potter (Lantra)

Marcus joined Lantra in June 2014 to help steer the organisation through a transitional period following the withdrawal of significant government funding from Sector Skills Councils and the consequent need to create a new and sustainable business model for the charity while continuing to pursue its overarching goals.

Marcus brings extensive experience of developing collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and a track record of identifying market opportunities and launching new business initiatives, both of which will be invaluable to Lantra’s future business development.

Marcus was previously Executive Director of Market Development with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.  Having started his early career in finance and gained experience across a range of sectors, he joined RICS over 20 years ago and before joining Lantra was responsible for leading the RICS international growth strategy.  He has been highly successful in increasing RICS’s brand profile, membership and commercial revenues in more than twenty international markets.  He also led RICS work to establish a University School for the Built Environment at Amity University in India in response to skills shortages there and was responsible for the design and implementation of RICS’ digital strategy, improving search and information access for members and customers and leading to a significant increase in online sales.

Mark Tufnell (Country Land and Business Association)

Mark owns and manages a traditional estate in the Cotswolds. The farm is mainly arable incorporating key conservation measures for wildlife and enhancing biodiversity. It is part of the Jordans Farming partnership and a member of LEAF Marque. In addition, there are a number of residential properties and commercial lets.

Mark has been actively involved in the CLA for over 20 years at branch and regional level, then chairing the Business and Rural Economy committee, Agriculture & Land Use committee and latterly the Taxation committee.

He has served on the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England and as a local councillor on Cotswold District Council with responsibility for the environment.

Mark trained as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse and then worked for several specialist private client firms before setting up his own small practice. The estate is now his main focus.

Duncan Russell (National Association of Agricultural Contractors)

As Chief Executive Duncan spends three days per week at the NAAC, either in the office or attending meetings on member’s behalf. Duncan was born and bred in Norfolk, where he still lives and has worked in the agricultural industry all his life. His other passion is classic cars, owning two which he exercises regularly on events.

Charles Matts (Farm Safety Foundation)

Charles is a partner on his family farm in Northamptonshire, and in 2000 co-founded Brixworth Farming, a joint venture that delivers the arable farming across 2500 ha.

Charles is Vice Chair of the Farm Safety Foundation, a charity which aims to change the attitude of  farmers towards farm safety. Through national campaigns like Farm Safety Week, Yellow Wellies - Who Would Fill Your Boots? and Mind Your Head, the Farm Safety Foundation is tackling the stigma around risk-taking, particularly amongst the younger generation of farmers.

He is a founding trustee and current Vice Chair of the National Land Based College, which was set up by the land based colleges to champion the sector as a professional and progressive career and increase industry engagement with the skills agenda by developing qualifications to deliver the skills employers need.