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Warwickshire born and bred, George has been working for the NFU since graduating from Oxford Brookes University in 2013 with a 2:1 degree. Joining the NFU and working in CallFirst advising members on various topics, George has moved across various teams and positions: the NFU bTB team in the south-west for two years and assistant county adviser for Warwickshire before becoming the full county adviser after spending time on secondment as Gloucestershire county adviser.

George is a partner in a 300-acre family farm, assisting when time allows. The farm has changed in recent years since selling the 200 strong dairy herd in 2012 and moving into beef and now more crops. They have also introduced diversification, including a biomass boiler, selling firewood across the county as well as pick your own sunflowers during the summer months.

He has a wife and two children and most Saturdays you can find him playing rugby in the winter and cricket during the summer for his local teams.Ìý

Having gained an honours degree in agricultural science from Nottingham University in 1986, he returned to the family farm in Edale, Hope Valley, then a small dairy and sheep farm which he modernised and expanded. He also took on the management of a small upland estate in the valley which included 1,200 acres of moorland on Kinder Scout.

In 2006 Andrew decided to cease full-time farming, sold the dairy herd and embarked on a series of short term contracts, which included advising Defra’s Catchment Sensitive Farming team and delivering advice to farmers on behalf of Business Link and Natural England.

When the county adviser's role became available, Andrew jumped at the opportunity, being familiar the work the NFU does for the industry having been an active member since he was 20, including Derbyshire county chair in 2004-5.

As well as dealing with all things Derbyshire, Andrew is the Midlands NFU Dairy lead and picks up uplands issues for the Peak District area of the Midlands.

Outside of NFU, Andrew still farms, rearing Mule and Masham shearlings from bought-in, six-month-old lambs, plus dairy heifers on a B&B basis in the winter. This, he says, keeps him very grounded and in tune with the realities of what NFU members face.Ìý

As well as lobbying local authorities and public bodies, in her role public engagement is fundamental to reach out to the general public, particularly the younger generation, so that they can develop a better understanding of UK agriculture.Ìý

Aside from her county adviser role, Ali also leads the NFU Midlands Poultry Commodity Board which identifies challenges poultry producers across the region are facing and inputs views to shape the policy positions and arguments the NFU take to the top of government and the supply chain.

As someone who has grown up on a poultry and arable family farm in Herefordshire, Ali is aware of the immense pressure farmers are under to operate successful businesses and works to help the farming community move forwards.

Prior to her role at the NFU, Ali worked for an agricultural PR company, working across a number of different global businesses within the sector. This emphasised the importance of good communication, particularly for an industry that is often mis-represented, and making sure the wider population understand farming principles and the challenges it faces.

Outside of work Ali is usually helping out on the farm, spending time with her black Labrador, playing hockey, or enjoying Herefordshire’s social farming community. In recent years she also completed the Tesco Future Farmers Foundation which was a fantastic programme that enabled her to meet and learn from top industry professionals and senior executives in retail and food businesses across the supply chain.Ìý

Bella joined the NFU from the hospitality and leisure industry. Working within the food and drink world with a retail and consumer focus, she wanted to flip that table to champion British produce and all the dealings our network of farmers and growers face day-to-day.Ìý

Originally from Cheshire, he got into farming by milking for an ICI test farm as a holiday job whilst a teenager. He came to Shropshire to attend Harper Adams over 30 years ago and has remained living in the county ever since. He has worked for the NFU for more than 23 years in various roles.Ìý

Prior to joining the NFU, Jeremy worked as a farm manager, mostly on dairy farms, and then joined MAFF State Veterinary Service (now the Animal and Plant Health Agency, APHA) in 1996 based in Devon, initially as an animal health officer and then for 10 years as a senior animal health officer. During this time, he gained a wealth of experience dealing with animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease (2001 and 2007), Newcastle disease, avian influenza and bovine TB. During his last two years at what had become the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Jeremy managed a headquarters project, writing farmer-focussed guidance, providing comprehensive information on bovine TB and animal by-products.

Away from the ‘day job’, Jeremy is a licensed lay minister (reader) in the Church of England’s Hereford Diocese, an agricultural chaplain and member of Lichfield Diocese’s Community of Chaplains. Jeremy also helped set up the Staffordshire Group of the Farming Community Network in 2016 and is especially interested in supporting the mental health and welfare of the farming community and promoting the positive role the land-based sector can have in mitigating the effects of climate change.Ìý

Emma graduated from the University of Leicester with a degree in biology and worked as a plant breeder for CPB Twyford before becoming a plant health and seeds inspector with MAFF – now Defra.

As well as the day job, she and her husband run a small beef and arable enterprise where they practice regenerative or conservation agriculture. Emma is a BASIS and FACTS qualified agronomist and sits on the NRoSO register. Her keen interest in botany and agronomy helps in her role as secretary to the NFU Midlands Combinable Crops Board.

Outside work, Emma is active on several community groups and enjoys sewing, walking, travel, natural history, conservation and spending time with her family.Ìý

He joined the NFU in 2018 after 14 years as a senior news and court reporter for the award-winning Retford Times newspaper in Nottinghamshire. He has also worked for the Lincolnshire Echo and Target series in south Lincolnshire, as well as writing articles that have appeared in the Daily Mirror, the Daily Mail and other national titles.

He lives in north Nottinghamshire with his wife, two young children and West Highland terrier and is a keen countryside walker, cook and cricketer. James is also an award-winning cricket commentator with his YouTube channel Wheatley TV, which follows the ups and downs of his beloved local club, North Wheatley with Leverton.Ìý

In October 2023, she moved across to support the Midlands region.

Her role includes overseeing and ensuring a coordinated administration service to regional staff, as well as the NFU's boards and committees.

Her specialisms are the CRM, membership and WATO training as well as working together with the admin team to assist staff and members with events and queries.

Suzanne is a keen potter, enjoys the great outdoors, reading and spending time with family.Ìý

She is also a qualified events & wedding planner, mental health first aider as well as an emergency first aider, she also passed her bereavement & grief counselling diploma.

Outside of work, Jenny is an active member of several choral societies, enjoys travelling and exploring new places, listening to podcasts and reading.