Anthony Curwen and Denise Walton explain why they have taken on crucial leadership roles steering the organisation’s direction.
The NFFN Board has welcomed new leadership, with England steering group member Anthony Curwen stepping into the role of chair and Scotland chair Denise Walton becoming vice chair.
Anthony, who is estate manager at Quex Park in Kent, and Denise, who runs Peelham Farm in the Scottish Borders, share their reasons for taking on these roles and reflect on the importance of the Board within the organisation.
Why does the NFFN have a Board and what’s its role?
Anthony: “The Board provides the necessary governance and oversight of the NFFN’s policies. It is farmer-led, just like the organisation, and that is really important. It includes input from all four UK nations, which is vital to achieve the unity of purpose we are aiming across the whole country. It also exists to support the senior leadership team and the entire NFFN staff in carrying out their roles.”
Denise: “The Board exists to maintain the guardrails that ensure we meet our obligations to both our membership and employees. Sometimes that means change, sometimes it’s about providing stability, and sometimes it’s about managing uncertainty.”
Why did you want to become chair and vice chair?
Anthony: “I was very humbled to have my name put forward. I’m very lucky to be at a stage in my career where I have experience of non-executive board roles and all aspects of business management from running a large country estate. I hope I can use this experience to build on the brilliant work of the previous chair and help an organisation I knew I wanted to be part of as soon as I discovered it.”
Denise: “I wanted to be vice chair because of my belief in what the NFFN stands for about and what it is achieving, and because I feel I still have a lot to offer. Over the last few years, the NFFN has come together as a leading voice for nature-friendly farmers, and it is doing so much for the industry.”
What are your priorities for the role?
Anthony: “The best way to understand an organisation is to look at its mission, and the NFFN’s is ‘to take nature-friendly farming to the next level, making it mainstream’. Developing that mission has to be our fundamental goal. For me, that starts with learning from and understanding each other, a wonderfully eclectic mix of farmers from all parts of the UK, from crofts and smallholdings to large estates.
“After that, we need to focus on our vision, which is ‘to empower farmers to put nature at the heart of farming’. What does that mean in practice? Farmers need certainty, security and solid foundations for that to happen. We also need to recognise that we are all on a massive learning curve.”
Denise: “First and foremost, I see my role as supporting the chair and chief executive while maintaining the ethos and integrity of the organisation. We are farmers who farm with nature, and that’s absolutely fundamental to what the NFFN is. I don’t see being vice chair as about pursuing my own vision; I see it as a supporting role. I’m here to back the Board and leadership as they promote nature-friendly farming and work to make it mainstream, which needs to happen sooner rather than later.”
Is nature-friendly farming in a good position right now?
Anthony: “We are a solutions-focused organisation, and it’s vital that we continue in that role. We are turning a corner in many ways, not least in changing mindsets. The best example of this is how Groundswell has grown into one of the biggest farming events in the calendar.”
Denise: “I’m optimistic that nature-friendly farming can reinvigorate our industry. I hope it will be the approach that encourages young people to stay on their family farms, because it is where they can make a real difference.”
What are some of the challenges the NFFN faces?
Denise: “Politically, we face so much uncertainty and instability. We never know who will come into these roles or whether they will drive progress forward. We must act as a critical friend to policymakers and politicians - to inform and advise them. We need to be a voice of friendship and reason.”
Anthony: “The Board has to recognise and understand that the farmer’s job is to produce food sustainably while also delivering a range of other important outcomes - air, water, soil, community and more. Farming and nature are two sides of the same coin. To quote Martin (Lines, the CEO), it’s vital that we stop blaming farmers and work together, because farmers have the ability to deliver.”
How do you see yourselves working together as chair and vice chair?
Anthony: “I’m looking forward to working with Denise and the whole Board. We have astonishing experience and knowledge across all types of farming. The organisaiton is full of amazing people and skills, and together we can be really powerful.”
Denise: “I have complete confidence in the leadership and I am looking forward to working with Anthony, who brings such a calm, confident and knowledgeable approach to presenting nature-friendly farming. There is real strength in bringing farmers together for nature.”