Martin Nye is the Chair of FFCC. He brings extensive business and charity experience gained in chief executive roles in private and public companies and from a portfolio of non-executive and chair positions. He was previously chair and trustee of the Soil Association and is a Council member of the National Trust. Martin is currently High Sheriff of Wiltshire, where he supports his wife Victoria in her efforts to make the family farm more financially and ecologically resilient.

Dame Fiona is Chair of the National Audit Office and Chair of the Governing Council of the Royal Agricultural University (RAU). She was Chair of FFCC until March 2026 and continues to be involved as a Commissioner. Fiona was Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from 2012 to 2021, having previously served as Director-General of the National Trust from 2001 to 2012. During her time as DG she made the Trust warmer and more welcoming, bringing the houses to life and raising the profile of the Trust’s work in the countryside.

Before joining the Trust, she was Director of the Women’s Unit in the Cabinet Office (1998 to 2000), Director of the Council for the Protection of Rural England (now Campaign to Protect Rural England) (1987 to 1998), and Secretary to the Council for National Parks (now Campaign to Protect National Parks) (1980 to 1987). 

Fiona holds a number of non-Executive roles. She is Chair of the International National Trusts Organisation, the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden, and Cambridge’s Bennett Institute for Public Policy. She is also a Trustee of the Grosvenor Estate and Green Alliance; and a non-Executive Director of Wessex Water. Her book The Fight for Beauty was published in 2016.

Alongside her role as FFCC Commissioner, Fiona is also an FFCC Trustee, a member of the People and Culture Committee and chairs the Land Use National Group.

Sir Ian is Chair of Land Securities Group plc, Chair of Spire Healthcare Group Plc, and Chair of the King Charles III Charitable Fund and the corporate climate change coalition We Mean Business – and is Deputy Chair of the Institute for Government.

Former Chair of Channel 4, Barclays UK and Debenhams, former non-executive Director of BT, and former Lead non-executive director for the government, Sir Ian has won a number of awards including lifetime contributions to retailing, green business and the Fortune WEF award for leadership in the circular economy.

He was appointed Group Chief Executive of Kingfisher plc from January 2008 and left the group in early 2015. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of B&Q. His previous roles at Kingfisher from 1998 onwards include Chief Executive of International and Development, Chief Executive of e-Kingfisher and Group Director of Strategy and Development.

Sir Ian was knighted in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to Business, Sustainability and the Environment and is a Chevalier of the Ordre National du Merite of France. Other current principal external appointments: Chairman, Maisons du monde; Chairman, Menhaden plc.

Helen has a mixed organic farm in Wiltshire, with dairy, beef, pigs, cereals, and is now also experimenting with agroforestry. Her products are sold through the Helen Browning’s Organic brand in retailers big and small, as well as through her mini hotel and restaurant/pub on the farm, and through her restaurant in Swindon. She is Chief Executive of the Soil Association, a member of the Food Ethics Council, trustee of the RSPB. Prior to rejoining the Soil Association, Helen was Director of External Affairs for the National Trust. She has had a number of roles in agri-politics over the years, including the Government’s Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food (‘the Curry Commission’) and chaired the England Animal Health and Welfare Implementation Group. Helen was awarded an OBE in 1998 for her services to organic farming.

The Rt Hon. the Lord Jones of Penybont – Professor Carwyn Jones – retired as First Minister of Wales in December 2018 and brings with him extensive expertise as a leader and advisor. As First Minister, he led a government that introduced landmark legislation including the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act and Well-being of Future Generations Act, and prior to that he was Wales’s Environment Minister. As a seasoned politician and speaker he has been involved in events at the United States Congress, The United Nations, European Parliament, European Commission and more. Stepping down from his parliamentary duties in March 2021, he is now developing a new portfolio, in broadcasting, business and public life. A fluent Welsh speaker, his early career was spent as a barrister specialising in criminal, family and personal injury law and he is now a Professor of Law at Aberystwyth University.

Dawn Austwick OBE was the Chief Executive of the National Lottery Community Fund from 2013-2020, overseeing the distribution of £600 million of funding to communities across the UK each year, including the creation of the Fund’s £100 million Climate Action Fund.

Prior to the National Lottery, she was the Chief Executive of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation from 2005, and, before that, had established her reputation in the museum sector having been the Deputy Director of the British Museum, led reviews of English Heritage, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery for government and as Project Director oversaw the creation of Tate Modern.

Alongside her role as Deputy Chair at FFCC, Dawn is Chair Elect of the London Marathon Foundation, Trustee Wevolution, Advisory Board member Bradford Literature festival, and Cultural Advocacy Fellow at Queen Mary University.

Ufi is a strategic business leader with over 25 years experience in the hospitality, leisure, travel, and tourism industry. She is recognised for her success in cultivating mutually beneficial partnerships with businesses, associations, and governments, particularly as Chief Executive, British Hospitality Association and Chief Operations Officer, World Travel & Tourism Council.

Ufi was instrumental in the creation of the Government-led UK Tourism Industry Council, the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Visitor Economy, and the establishment of the International Competitiveness Monitor for Travel & Tourism, which is now operated by the World Economic Forum and recognised as the global benchmark for policy makers and investors. Ufi has also authored many destination strategies for the development of tourism economies including Croatia, Botswana and the State of Santa Catarina in Brazil, advising on policy reform to secure greater levels of Foreign Direct Investment, Exports and Competitiveness in domestic and international markets.

In May 2020, Shirley stood down from her role as Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, after 7 years at the helm. She has been a voluntary sector leader in both the UK and USA and also a non- executive in both countries. She was previously CEO of the National Centre for Learning Disabilities in New York and in the UK she was Chief Executive of Dyslexia Action for over a decade.

She is currently Chair of the think-tank, British Future and Chair of the Rare Dementia Support Groups Advisory Board at University College London. She is a trustee of Alzheimer’s Research UK and a member of the Advisory Board on health and care at the Institute of Public Policy Research. She is also an advisor to Breaking Barriers Innovations consultancy group.

Dr Marg Mayne is a founding member of RISE - Females in Fitness Collective, and was the Chief Executive of Mytime Active, a social enterprise focused on improving the health and wellbeing of local communities.

Marg has always been committed to social progress and supporting organisations to achieve their social objectives by applying commercial disciplines. She enjoys the challenge of managing both aspects to create a better world in a way that can be financially sustained.

Originally trained as a Chartered Accountant, her early career was as a finance professional, later Finance Director, for two leading Housing Associations during a decade of rapid growth in that sector. Marg then moved to the British Council as the Director of Finance and Resources globally. In 2008, Marg took up the role of Chief Executive of VSO, the international development NGO that works through volunteers.

Marg has held a range of non-executive board roles including Chair. She is currently Treasurer and Board member of Community Leisure UK as well being on the Board of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission.

Judith is Deputy Chair of the Environment Agency and Director of Food Matters International, and has worked in the food and drink industry for over 35 years, starting her life in manufacturing before moving into retail at Marks and Spencer. From 2004 to 2021 she worked for Sainsbury’s as Director of Sainsbury’s Brand with responsible for all aspects of Sainsbury’s product offer, from Policy formation on aspects such as Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing, through to Product Technology, Development, Safety, and Packaging along with Corporate Responsibility and Public Affairs, driving the Quality and Innovation agendas whilst protecting and enhancing the reputation of Sainsbury’s Brand.

She is a Biochemist, nutritionist, has an Honorary Doctorate in Agriculture from Harper Adams University, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), and the Royal Society of Arts and Manufactures (RSA). From 2013 to 2018 she was Chair of the Governments’ AgriTech Council, and now sits on both the Food and Drink Sector, and Natural Environment Research Councils. Judith is also Chair of the Rugby Players Association and is a Trustee of The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Accounting for Sustainability and The Matt Hampson Foundation, as well as an ambassador for the Woodland Trust.

She was awarded an OBE in 2015 for services to Farming and the Food Industry.

David is a qualified rural chartered surveyor with a background in private practice and consultancy for both large and small farms and Estates. Currently Chairman of Dyson Farming and Trustee of The Royal Countryside Fund – and former Chair of the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture and a former Trustee the National Trust – David is interested in the interaction between commercial farming and the environment.

His own commercial experience comes from running his own diversified family business in Devon and as a Director on various Boards such as the Crown Estate. He has championed new entrants in agriculture, chairing the Government sponsored 'Future of Farming' Review and is interested in the improvement of skills and training, chairing the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH). He was President of the CLA 2005 – 07 and served on the Affordable Rural Housing Commission.

David is an FFCC Commissioner and he co-Chairs the Farming Leadership Group.

Andrew has spent over 20 years with the Bidcorp business (formerly Bidvest Foodservice), primarily developing the food logistics business in the UK, as well as the businesses in Turkey, the Middle East, the Baltics and Spain. He became Chief Executive of Bidfood UK in 2014 and Chief Executive of Bidcorp in 2020, Bidfood’s parent company. Bidfood is the UK’s leading provider of food, beverages and packaging to the hospitality industry. Andrew is also Chairman of Arden Primary Care Limited, and a member on the Board of Trustees for Hospitality Action.

After serving as a Council Member for three years, Andrew was also appointed Chairman of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors in January 2017, through to January 2020, the industry body representing the interests of wholesale and cash & carry in the UK. As well as being a commissioner, Andrew also sat on the advisory body for the 2021 National Food Strategy.

The wider Bidfood business employs more than 6,000 people in the UK and has focus on food innovation, service excellence, sustainability, and delivering great value. Prior to joining Bidfood Andrew’s career began at Coca-Cola Enterprises, where he worked his way up from Graduate Trainee to Trading Director of the wholesale division.

Denise Bentley is a respected government advisor, who advised on the National Food Strategy document. Denise is Co-Founder and CEO of First Love Foundation, a charity supporting individuals facing crisis, within Tower Hamlets & the City of London, by tackling social injustice and the root causes of poverty. She is also Independent Chair of the Bank of England Citizens Panel for Greater London. Denise previously worked for a number of investment banks in Forex.

Barbara, Baroness Young of Old Scone, is a Member of the House of Lords with special interests, among others, in the environment, agriculture, natural resources and climate change. She is currently Chair of the Labour Climate and Environment Forum (LCEF) and the Royal Veterinary College – and is former Chair of the Woodland Trust.

Her other voluntary positions include Honorary President of the South Georgia Heritage Trust; Patron of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Management; and Vice President of RSPB, Bird Life International and Flora and Fauna International. She has formerly held a variety of environmental leadership roles, including Chief Executive of RSPB, Chairman of English Nature and Chief Executive of the Environment Agency.

Baroness Young has a number of honorary designations and was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2017.

Originally an animal ecologist, Patrick ran his family’s beef and sheep farm near Ballycastle for 30 years before returning to environmental work. He has been Chairman of the National Trust in N.Ireland, Chair of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside, and Chair of Northern Ireland Environment Link. He serves on the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ Expert Working Group on Sustainable Land Management, and is also a member of Steering Groups for the Giant’s Causeway World Heritage Site and the Heart of the Glens Landscape Partnership.

Julia is the Professor in Practice at the University of Cumbria. Other 'hats' include; Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land, Chair of the Uplands Alliance and she is a practicing Rural Chartered Surveyor and Agricultural Valuer. Julia was a Board Member of Natural England from 2014 - 2019. She worked from 1993-2001 as an environmental economist on National Park projects in Indonesia and the Philippines. Julia has a keen interest in land tenure and her PhD was entitled Governance of Common Land in National Parks: Plurality and Purpose.

Julia lives in the Eden Valley, Cumbria with her family at Susan's Farm; an organic Care Farm of which she is a Trustee and where she enjoys working on the farm.

Gavin is the founder and CEO of COFARM, a charity which aims to reposition agroecological food and farming at the heart of communities across the UK. He has spent the last 25 years leading, developing and advising community-based organisations, NGO’s, social enterprises and sustainable development organisations around the world.

This has included leading adventurous and scientific youth expeditions to polar, desert, rainforest and mountainous environments and running cross-cultural youth exchange; outdoor education and community-based development programmes.

Much of Gavin’s career has been spent bringing together diverse groups of stakeholders to collaborate on solving seemingly intractable sustainable development challenges, such as biodiversity loss. At Fauna & Flora International, Gavin conceived and co-founded the first global, open online community dedicated to conservation technology - WILDLABS. For Raleigh International, Gavin established and led a new country operation in India, as Country Director.

Gavin lives with his wife, two children and family dog, Wilf, in Cambridge. He is also a Fellow of the RSA and of the Royal Geographical Society and chairs the Partnership Board of Cambridge Sustainable Food.

Professor Dame Lorna Dawson is currently Principal Scientist and Head of Forensic Soil Science at the James Hutton Institute, Visiting Professor at RGU, Chartered Scientist, Fellow of the Institute of British Soil Scientists, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She is also an Advisor with the National Crime Agency, Expert Witness, holding diplomas in civil and criminal law and has worked on over 150 cases with police, agencies, and lawyers across the UK and overseas. In 2023, she became the first winner of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s (RSE) medal for earth and environmental sciences.

She has published over 100 scientific papers, sits on the BAS General Committee, and holds a diploma in Science Communication. She is Science Advisor and KE Lead for the Environment for SEFARI (Scottish Environment Food Agriculture Research Institutes) and she sits on the Environment Protection Scotland Land Quality Expert Advisory Group. 

Lorna graduated with a BSc in Geography, Edinburgh and PhD in Soil Science, Aberdeen.

Jonty Brunyee is an award winning tenant at Conygree Farm, a 73 hectare organic, nature focused and diverse National Trust farm in the Cotswolds, and an agroecological consultant and mentor.

He is the Founder/Facilitator of the Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme in the Cotswolds, a Founder/Director of the Emergent Generation youth network, and a Founder/Steer of the North East Cotswolds Farmer Cluster.

Prior to this he was Head of Sustainable Farming and Food Systems at FarmED, a senior lecturer in farm business management at the RAU and a Director of Pasture for Life. He has also worked as a farm adviser for the National Trust, Peak District National Park, Cumulus Consultants and FWAG.

Jonty is a Nuffield Farming Scholar.