It’s a great opportunity and privilege to have been elected as Regional Board Deputy Chair and Warwickshire Council Delegate.
It’s also a responsibility to members to work hard, to listen, to understand and to represent member concerns both to the highest levels of the NFU and with MPs, within the industry or engaging within the community.
I’ve been so impressed with the organisation of the NFU and how so many people work tirelessly for the industry, either in Westminster, headquarters in Stoneleigh or throughout the country and Brussels, as well as all those who volunteer their time to get involved throughout the counties, sectors, regionally and nationally.
The excellent skill sets those individuals have is really inspiring and it’s been exciting to be welcomed into the fold, and now to have the opportunity to be part of the team alongside such talented people.
“I will approach these roles with consideration and thoughtfulness.”
Helen Fisher
Micro to macro
I’d like to better understand the challenges members face and how these connect from individual sectors to the industry as a whole, and to also make those connections within the wider breadth of government.
Government departments currently run as silos, where in reality there are so many crossovers between the 13 critical infrastructure sectors in the UK.
For example, we grow and produce excellent quality produce in the UK, and better education on the nutritional value of locally grown foods can bring huge savings to the NHS. Put simply, if we eat better quality whole foods and fewer processed foods, then our national health will improve.
I will focus on scaling micro issues to a macro level and vice versa, to better articulate the challenges and to exchange knowledge and transfer ideas with enthusiasm.
I am someone who is committed to listening, learning and understanding more about the issues members face, and who is prepared to make representations within the region and to the national council on their behalf.
Background
My grandpa and uncle were farmers, and I spent idyllic summers on the farm with my cousins, where I also gained an appreciation of the challenges of farming.
Following my degree in economics and public administration at the University of London, I started my career at ING Investment Bank and then a specialist financial consultancy before returning home to the Midlands where I changed career to insurance. I worked my way up to regional manager for the north before leaving to have children, with my husband who is an arable farmer.
For the past 17 years I’ve been at home supporting our own farming business with commercial decisions and strategy, as well as day-to-day running of the business, alongside our other business interests.
Challenges
It’s clear that there are so many challenges facing the industry as a whole as well as each individual sector. The key is engaging at the right level to make representations for farming and give a voice to those issues.
It is vitally important that our sector, which is crucial for both the economy and individual welfare, is given the attention it deserves.
Agriculture is the one sector that engages with every individual in the UK from cradle to grave, crossing all sectors of society because everyone needs to eat. Therefore, food security should not be taken for granted and should be a top priority for government, and building in resilience in farming is essential to achieving food security.
I’d like to continue to develop my skills to become a dependable asset to the NFU, backing British farming and giving a voice to the challenges we face.
Boots to fill
Mark Meadows is a very knowledgeable, well known and respected member of the NFU who previously brought voice and experience to the deputy chair role, leaving large boots to fill.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to have run alongside Mark and Adam Quinney, Warwickshire County Chair, on the lead up to starting as Council Delegate for Warwickshire. It is a fantastic opportunity and privilege to work with Regional Board Chair Jane Bassett and the board.
I’m looking forward to lending my support, views and bringing business skills and experience to the variety of issues and challenges which the NFU will be facing over the next couple of years and beyond.