PCF welcomes three new trustees

The Prince’s Countryside Fund is delighted to announce the appointment of three new trustees to their board: Heather Hancock, Steve Murrells, and Baroness Kate Rock. The appointments follow the completion of the terms of office of trustees Sara Bennison (Chief Product & Marketing Officer at Nationwide Building Society) and Steve McLean (Head of Agriculture & Fisheries at Marks & Spencer plc) who will step down in September 2021 after, respectively, 10 years and 9 years on the board.

Heather Hancock is the Master of St John’s College, Cambridge. Previously Chair of the Food Standards Agency, Heather’s non-executive appointments include being a Director of Rural Solutions Ltd.

Heather said: “I’ve long admired The Prince’s Countryside Fund. The PCF truly understands the needs of families who farm and of rural life. That’s why the support it provides is right on target to help family farms and rural communities secure a sustainable future. It’s an honour to be invited to join the PCF as it champions the people who provide the backbone of rural Britain.”

The second new addition to our board of trustees is Steve Murrells. Steve became Co-op Group CEO in March 2017 having previously led the Co-op’s Food business. Before joining the Co-op, Steve had been CEO at Tulip. Steve told us: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the PCF as a trustee, and to play my part in helping support family Farms and local communities deal with the immense commercial and social challenges that sit before them.”

Thirdly, Baroness Kate Rock holds a portfolio of non-executive appointments, including being a Senior Independent Director of Keller Group, Chairman of Wrackleford Farms Ltd, and a Board Member of the Centre for Data Ethics & Innovation. Kate was appointed a Life Peer in 2015, and also sits on the House of Lords Select Committees for Science and Technology and the Rural Economy.

Kate said: “It is a great honour to be appointed a Trustee of The Prince’s Countryside Fund. The work that PCF does in empowering family farms and rural communities to ensure their future, as well as providing training for young people is truly inspiring. As a tenant farmer myself, I am particularly pleased that PCF champions the importance of tenant farmers to our national farming community.”

Lord Curry of Kirkharle, Chair of PCF Board of Trustees said, “I would like to extend my thanks to Heather, Steve, and Kate for joining the Board and helping us to continue to make a remarkable contribution to the future of our countryside and the viability of British farming. Their combined, in depth, knowledge of farming and rural life will be immensely beneficial to the PCF at this time of uncertainty and significant change.

“I would also like to thank Sara and Steve for their significant contribution to the PCF over the past decade. I have very much appreciated their dedication to the PCF and invaluable sound advice.”