Chairman’s Report

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR 2020

HELEN WOOLLEY NSch

What a difference a year makes! Last year my report was framed around uncertainty as we faced an election, a new government and our departure from the European Union, whilst also looking forward to the potential opportunities for Nuffield and our scholars to respond positively to a major transition in UK farming. My 2020 report is again framed against a background of uncertainty dominated by the Covid -19 pandemic which continues to impact the way we all live our lives.

Celebrating the 1000th UK scholar, 2020 was to be a year of high profile events with the Nuffield Triennial conference in New Zealand, the Nuffield Lecture in London and of course our traditional Annual Conference. In mid-March our 2020 scholars along with our Director and myself arrived in Australia full of enthusiasm and looking forward to the CSC on Tangalooma Island just off the Brisbane coast. Whilst there the extent and international response to the pandemic developed with speed and the tough decisions to shorten the CSC and cancel the Triennial Conference were made. For a charity whose purpose is to provide international travel scholarships it was inevitable that a pandemic with such devastating global impact would ‘hit us hard’. Throughout this crisis Nuffield Farming Trustees have overseen the charity’s response considering its impact on our Scholars, supporters and future applicants. The Trustees have been determined that the Trust would not ‘shut up shop’ but look for different ways of working, engaging with our Alumni, progressing projects and managing the trusts finances to ensure its long term viability. The trust is in the fortunate position of having significant financial reserves held to protect it through difficult periods – a rainy day fund - and to quote one of our Trustees ‘it is raining pretty hard at the moment’! The impact has been greatest on our 2019 and 2020 Scholars, whose travels, studies and reporting have been severely disrupted. The Trustees are determined that all scholars will have the opportunity to fulfil their scholarship experience when international travel becomes possible with flexible deadlines for the time being. In the meantime, scholars are being encouraged to develop broad travel plans and timelines; to undertake online research; and make virtual connections so they are well prepared when international travel becomes possible. After careful consideration, including consulting with other Nuffield Countries, Trustees made the decision that we should recruit scholars this year and ‘virtual’ selection interviews have recently been completed. That we are able to do this in such an uncertain economic climate is due to the very generous sponsorship we continue to receive from our loyal and committed scholar sponsors, and I would like to offer sincere thanks to all of them for their continued support. Throughout this year the Nuffield Farming Office team have been imaginative, enthusiastic and committed to finding new ways of doing things. I would like to recognise the efforts of them, and all the many Scholars, who have continued to support the Trust as we adapt to the new environment and provide a topical range of virtual events and communications.

The Nuffield Lecture ‘Brick to Click: How will the retail revolution impact UK farmers?’ scheduled to be delivered in July had to be postponed, but as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is so momentous for the subject Professor Andrew Fearne was asked to give a webinar to update and focus on some of the immediate opportunities and challenges facing farm businesses. Chaired by Prof David Hughes, this event was a huge success attended by over 150 and viewed online by at least 364 additional people. The Nuffield Lecture will now be given in July 2021 allowing Andrew time to reflect and better understand the impacts of events in 2020 on his research study. In the light of Government advice, no physical Nuffield conference will take place in 2020. Having consulted with the 2019 scholars, the decision has been made to run a series of virtual events where scholars will present their findings followed by a Q&A session chaired by a Trustee – please support scholars by attending these Mini-Conferences. Our annual new scholar briefing and AGM will also take place as virtual meetings during November. Last year’s Annual Conference held in Warwickshire was another excellent event thanks to the hard working organising committee ably led by Julie Mate with support from the Nuffield executive team – my thanks to you all. Looking forward, Covid permitting, next year will be very busy as the UK is scheduled to host the 2021 CSC in Norfolk and the organising committee, led by Chris Graf Grote, have developed a fantastic programme – as I write there is real uncertainty whether the event will go ahead in 2021 but if not it will be rescheduled for 2022. The postponed Nuffield Farming Lecture and our Annual Conference will also be back, so please put the dates in your dairy. Despite the pandemic, work has continued to implement the Strategic Plan with a focus this year on improving our virtual presence and in particular the website and better integration of the database, report library, finances, scholar application and event booking processes. This will improve the user experience, compliance with data protection regulations, dissemination of scholar findings and provision of management information. The project is on schedule to launch a new look website at the end of November. In concluding there are very many people I would like to thank for their unstinting support, enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to the trust and myself: Mike Vacher and his dedicated and hard-working executive team; our report editors; my fellow selectors and in doing so to offer my sincere thanks to Frank Thompstone who retires after 6 years as a selector; all of our sponsors and partners for their very generous support; and last, but by no means least, my fellow Trustees for giving so freely of their time. At the AGM this year a number of Trustees, Ali Capper (co-opted), Sarah Hughes (returning 2018 scholar), Tom Rawson (completing his first term but standing for re-election), Oliver Surman and myself retire from the Board. My sincere thanks to Ali, Sarah, Tom and Oliver for all your hard work and commitment. As I retire after 10 years as a Trustee and the last two as your Chairman, I would like to close by saying what a privilege and a pleasure it has been to work as a Trustee and Director of both NFST and Nuffield International. I have been very fortunate to work alongside some very talented and committed individuals – I wish Chris Graf-Grote and Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust every success for the future.

2020 Selection Committee during virtual interviews