The Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has reappointed Richard Macdonald to the Environment Agency Board for a second term from 31 May for a further four years. He will also take up the post of Acting Deputy Chairman.
Board members provide non-executive leadership challenge and support to the executive through regular Board meetings, committees and groups. They also undertake individual lead roles on relevant issues and with local operational teams.
All non-Executive appointments to the Environment Agency Board are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. The appointments comply with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body, set up under the Environment Act 1995 to take an integrated approach to environmental protection and enhancement in England.
The Environment Agency has major responsibilities in flood management, water resources and quality, climate change, land quality, chemicals, pollution prevention and control, waste, conservation and biodiversity, fisheries conservation, air quality and navigation.
There is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if significant) to be declared. Richard Macdonald has confirmed that he has not undertaken any significant political activity during the past 5 years.
Biography
Appointed Board member June 2013-2020 5 days per month
Richard is a member of the Audit and Risk Assurance, Remuneration, and the FCRM Committees. He is the lead Board member for Land Agriculture and is also Area Board member for Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Midlands.
Richard was the Chair of the Better Regulation Task Force taking on responsibility for its implementation. He has a strong farming background and was the Director General of the National Farmers’ Union from 1996 - 2009. He is the Chairman of Farm Africa, a Trustee of the Earth Trust and Chairman of the Food Standard Agency’s Action on Campylobacter Board.
Richard is also currently a Non-Executive Director at Dairy Crest and Moy Park and is also the Vice Chairman of the National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB).