Appointments made to Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales
Penodiadau i Banel Cynghori ar Amaethyddiaeth Cymru
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths has today announced three appointments to the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales.
Nerys Llewellyn Jones has been appointed Chair of the Panel while Janatha Stout and Steve Hughson have been appointed board members.
The Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales is responsible for ensuring minimum rates of agricultural pay and allowances are fair, up to date and in line with wider employment law; they also work to enhance the development of skills, training and career progression in the agriculture sector in Wales.
Announcing the appointments Lesley Griffiths said: “I’m delighted to confirm the appointments being made to the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales for the next four year term.
“Nerys is well-known within the agricultural sector in Wales and will bring a large degree of knowledge of agriculture and the legislation which underpins it to the fore.
“Janatha will bring a wealth of experience from both the agricultural and educational sectors, which will provide a solid knowledge base for the Panel. I’m also very pleased to welcome back Steve Hughson as the third independent member. Steve, who is no stranger to the agricultural industry in Wales; and having served on the Panel for a previous term, will maintain a strong level of experience and continuity into the operations of the Panel.
“I would like to thank the outgoing Chair Dr Lionel Walford, and Panel Member Peter Rees for their commitment and contribution since the establishment of the Panel in 2016.”
Notes to editors
Notes:
The Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales was created under the provision of the Agricultural (Sector) (Wales) Act 2014 and established through the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales (Establishment) Order 2016.
The Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales (Establishment) Order 2016 provides for membership of the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales to consist of an independent Chair and two independent Panel Members appointed by the Welsh Ministers, two members from the Unite the Union to represent agricultural workers, one member from the Farming Union of Wales and one further member from the National Farmers Union Cymru both representing agricultural employers.
These appointments were regulated by the Commissioner’s Code of Practice on Ministerial Appointments.
None of the appointed members have carried out any political activities in the last five years. Nerys Llewellyn Jones has recently been appointed interim Environmental Protection Assessor.
Two of these appointments will run from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2025 with one appointment running until 31 March 2024.
Nerys Llewellyn Jones:
Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones is the founder and current Managing Partner which was established on her home farm in Pumsaint, Carmarthenshire in 2011. Nerys is an experienced agricultural solicitor who also has first-hand knowledge of the farming industry.
She has a PhD in Sustainable Agriculture and its Implementation and Enforcement at an International, European and regional level. She is a regular speaker on agricultural policy in the UK and Europe. A fellow of the Agricultural Law Association, Nerys can provide advice on all aspects of agricultural law and can offer holistic farm business planning.
She is an ADR Accredited Mediator and her agricultural background makes her the obvious choice as a mediator for any agricultural, rural property and commercial disputes.
Nerys has two young sons and farms a sheep farm in conjunction with her husband. She is a native Welsh speaker
Janatha Stout:
Janatha currently lives and farms in the Cotswolds. She began her career following an agricultural degree at University College of North Wales (Bangor). After graduation she worked as a Land Agent for the Duchy of Cornwall followed by several private firms.
Then followed 20 years in agricultural education. Following a successful time lecturing at several colleges she became Director of Agriculture at Hartpury College.
She now works as an Operations Director for a food certification company involved in all aspects of agriculture.
Steve Hughson:
Steve has been the Chief Executive at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) since March 2013. He has brought a wealth of leadership and business focus to the industry following a distinguished 30-year career in the Police starting with the Metropolitan Police and culminating in the position as Head of Territorial Policing with Dyfed-Powys Police.
Steve comes from a farming background having been born and brought up on the family farm where he now lives, near Builth Wells. This strong agricultural background plays out in Steve’s understanding and empathy towards those traditional values that have ensured that the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has gone from strength to strength over many years. Balancing the need to continually change and to remain relevant, with the need to value tradition is a key pillar of Steve’s leadership strategy and challenge.
Steve is Chair of the Mid Wales Regional Tourism Forum (part of Visit Wales). He was made an associate of CARAS (Council of Awards of the Royal Agricultural Societies) for his submission ‘Leadership in Agriculture’ and is a member of the Wales YFC Finance and Management Committee.