James Copeland

Senior Environment and Land Use Adviser

Working for the NFU since 2009, James provides specialist advice and guidance on agri-environment schemes, environmental and climate change policy plus planning and other land use issues.

Growing up on an East Yorkshire arable farm, he joined the NFU after eight years working for Defra’s science agency on both national and European projects.

Charged with developing a strategic overview of environmental and land use policies in the region, he works to ensure policy is sustainable for everyone and rooted in the real-world. He is passionate that agri-businesses are given the opportunity to develop and adapt, and that their operating environment allows this to happen.

James is Vice Chair and independent member of the Northumbrian Water Customer Challenge Group. He is also an independent member of the Northumbria Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and Yorkshire Water Customer Challenge Group.

He lives in York with his wife and daughter.