The National Sheep Association (NSA) is congratulating influential Defra official Janet Hughes who, it has been announced this week, is vacating her position as Director of Defra’s Farm and Countryside Programme after five years of committed service.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker as well as other industry bodies and Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner have thanked and congratulated Janet for being at the helm of agricultural policy at a time of great change.

Janet is set to move into the Director General for Civil Service Efficiency and Reform at the Cabinet Office in June.

Mr Stocker said he would personally like to thank Janet for all the work she has done, and the organisations, farms and farmers she worked with.

Phil says: “Janet was the architect for several food and farming programmes during a huge state of flux for the industry and in many ways was the engineer of all the codesign work that took place in recent years.

“Her level of engagement will perhaps be her defining attribute. She ensured she was visiting farms and her team got out and about to learn about what was needed on the ground. She attended every one of NSA SFI pilot meetings over a period of two years, such was her interest and commitment in the job and her desire to get things right.

“We wish her best luck in her new role, which sounds like a challenge but one she has the skills to meet. The fresh thinking Janet brings will be exactly what the civil service needs if it is to reform and increase efficiency in a very challenging environment.”

NSA now looks forward to working with Janet’s successor expected to be appointed by Defra in the near future.

Janet pictured speaking at NSA Sheep Event