Environment Secretary George Eustice has appointed Judith Batchelar as Deputy Chair of the Environment Agency.
Judith's term will run from 1 April 2022 until the end of her second term on 31 March 2025. This follows the announcement of her reappointment to the EA Board in October 2021.
Richard Macdonald's term as Deputy Chair ends on 31 March 2022.
This appointment is made by the Environment Secretary on the recommendation from the Chair of the Environment Agency and in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice. Remuneration is £21,002 per annum based on a time commitment of 5 days a month, with an additional responsibility allowance of £4,199 per annum.
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. It 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.
Judith Batchelar biography
- Judith is Chair of the Environment and Business Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and the People and Pay Committee.
- She has worked in the food and drink industry for over 35 years starting her life in manufacturing before moving into retail at Marks and Spencer. From 2004 to 2021, she worked for Sainsbury's as Director of Sainsbury's Brand with responsible for all aspects of Sainsbury's product offer.
- Judith is a biochemist, nutritionist, has an Honorary Doctorate in Agriculture from Harper Adams University, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), and the Royal Society of Arts and Manufactures (RSA).
- From 2013 to 2018 she was Chair of the Governments' AgriTech Council, and now sits on both the Food and Drink Sector, and Natural Environment Research Councils.
- Judith is Chair of the Rugby Players Association and is a Trustee of The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Accounting for Sustainability and The Matt Hampson Foundation. Judith is also an ambassador for the Woodland Trust.
- She was awarded an OBE in 2015 for services to Farming and the Food Industry, and is a Commissioner on the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission.
