Chair, Vice-Chair and Steering Group

The Chair: Graham Ward OBE, Y&H RAF Chair

Biography:

Since moving to Yorkshire in 1990, Graham has had notable success as General Manager of 'Snaith Salad Growers' - increasing their business direct with multiple retailers and is now Chairman of this group. He has been recognised for his services, having been awarded both a Lifetime Achievement Award by the horticultural industry and an OBE for services to horticulture in 2005. He also holds the Harlow Carr Medal for services to horticulture in the North of England.

New Vice-Chair and Steering Group – Chair’s Introduction

Following discussion and agreements at the RAF meeting 26th April 2007, nominations for a new Steering Group and Vice-Chair group were opened.  After a good response for both positions I have now made my decisions and all have accepted. I have chosen Shelagh Marshall as Vice-Chair as her wide range of experience and active ongoing involvement with the elected sector and the Y&H Assembly compliments my land based and commercial experience.  For the Steering Group I feel the group represents rural economic, social and environmental elements and covers a mix of funders, deliverers and receivers, including LEADER experience. I have also tried to ensure a regional spread, and except for South Yorkshire, have achieved this. I look forward to working with the group and will aim to structure our activity around the 10 Rural Priorities as set out in the Rural Framework.

Vice-Chair - Shelagh Marshall

Steering Group

Key regional bodies and budget holders:

Andy Tordoff: Yorkshire Forward
Andy represents the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward, where he is the Head of Rural Renaissance and Tourism. Yorkshire Forward lead on socio-economic and LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13 for the region and play a key part in a number of other rural socio-economic polices and programmes.  Andy's role requires strong partnership links inter and intra regionally and at a national level.

Mike Feist:  Defra/Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber
Mike is Senior Rural Advisor in the Sustainability and Rural Affairs Directorate of the Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber and represents Defra. He leads the RAF Secretariat and has strong links with other key rural governance groups in the region; the Rural Board, Practitioners’ Group and Observatory. He also has responsibility for wider rural community agendas. Mike's professional background is in planning and he has  previously worked for many years for the Countryside Agency/ Countryside Commission, with local authorities and in private practice.

Peter Nottage: Natural England
Peter is the Regional Director of newly formed Natural England, which has brought together English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance bio-diversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas and will be delivering the environmental schemes of the new Rural Development Programme for England in the region. Peter’s strategic leadership role involves partnership working with a wide range of stakeholders and delivery organisations.

Focusing on Economic Matters:

Richard Ellison:
Richard is the Regional Director of the National Farmers Union (covering the North East), who provide a lobbying, representational and advisory role on behalf of farmers and growers in the wider rural community. The role involves working with a wide range of organisations, from the State Veterinary Service to National Parks, and with farmers and stakeholders. Richard’s particular interests include the role of farmers as land managers and their economic, environmental and social contribution to rural areas.

Rob Scott:
Rob is the Vice-Chair of the York branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, a member of the North Yorkshire Regional committee and is the Federation’s rural affairs spokesperson for Yorkshire and The Humber. He has represented the Federation on a wide range of issues that have a rural focus and brings extensive expertise and knowledge of the self-employed sectors. Rob's originally comes from a corporate 'blue chip' background and has worked in senior positions in some of the worlds largest companies such as BT, EDS, SmithKline Beecham and JP Morgan.

Focusing on Environmental Matters:

Heather Garnett:
Heather is especially interested in environmental matters and chairs the Joint Advisory Committee of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. She has experience of livestock farming, is the Historic Environment Champion for North Yorkshire County Council and is the Vice-Chair of the Council's Planning Committee. Her interests include young people and she chairs the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee. She represents the Lower Nidderdale and Bishop Monkton division on North Yorkshire County Council.

Dave Melling: 
Dave is a Senior Policy Officer at Bradford Metropolitan District Council responsible for supporting the development and implementation of Bradford’s Rural Policy. He has recently played a major role to secure the council’s beacon status for ‘Improving Rural Services: Empowering Communities’. He is also Chair of the West Yorkshire Rural Partnership’s technical group, which aims to steer the delivery of a sustainable future for rural communities in West Yorkshire, which includes looking to develop a West Yorkshire LEADER approach for the Rural Development Programme for England.

Focusing on Social Matters:

Howard Petch:
Howard is a Commissioner for the Commission for Rural Communities, an independent statutory body with three key roles of Rural Advocate, Expert Advisor and Independent Watchdog with a particular focus on tackling disadvantage. He is a former principal of Bishop Burton College and currently; Chief Executive of Landex the association for Land Based Colleges; Vice Chairman of Farm Crisis Network; involved in several church based rural projects and is a magistrate on a bench serving a rural area.

Stephen Fox:
Stephen is the Regional Policy Co-ordinator for the region’s two Rural Community Councils (RCCs), Yorkshire and Humber & Wolds, who support the development of rural communities. As well as spending time working at each council, Stephen also works more centrally with at the ‘hub’ for voluntary and community organisations – The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Forum. The role involves extensive networking and strategic communication both to and from the RCCs and the wider sector.

Helen Wright:
Helen is the Rural Policy and Partnerships Manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council.  She has worked in local government for many years on rural planning, development and regeneration issues. She played a key role in setting up the East Riding Rural Partnership in 1998 and securing Beacon Status for ERYC under the theme of ‘Supporting the Rural Economy'. On the RAF she also represents the Humber Sub-Region of Local Authorities and the Humber Rural Pathfinder as well as bringing significant LEADER experience.