tom hind

Responsible for delivering more effective lobbying in a major trade association through the formation of a new function that brought together two teams in separate locations: Shaped NFU strategy with regard to food supply chain relationships, seeking to build closer, direct relationships between retailers and producers Built a network of influential contacts and relationships across the grocery supply chain Managed parliamentary lobbying efforts that secured the adoption of the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill. A member of Senior Management Board responsible for developing people plans and policies, financial management and business operations. Supported the introduction of new reward and recognition policies to bring a more robust, objective approach to management in the organisation

In this role I took temporary control of a business unit of the UK farming unions based in Brussels that provides insight into EU regulatory and policy developments and influences the shape of legislation through effective lobbying of EU institutions. During my 6-month posting I provided relief for the permanent Director, managing people and departmental budgets as well as leading effective representation of the interests of UK farmers and growers with the European Commission, European Parliament and representatives of national governments.

Overall responsibility for understanding and representing the needs of the NFU's dairy farming members and leading the development of policy in the dairy sector. I supported the work of the NFU's dairy board chairman and national dairy board. Main achievements: - Prepared the NFU's Vision for the dairy industry, a major piece of thought leadership on the direction of the British dairy industry that championed more effective contracts and relationships in the dairy supply chain. The document and lobbying efforts I led had a direct influence on the architecture of relationships between dairy farmers and retailers leading to the development of aligned contracts - Re-established the NFU's profile as the leading voice for dairy farmers in the wake of significant frustration caused by the milk price crises of 2002-3

* Appointed as the first Agriculture Director in Tesco my primary responsibilities were to shape the agriculture strategy for the business, provide expertise to colleagues including Executive committee members and business leaders and represent Tesco externally. * I was accountable for: * Improving the reputation of the Tesco brand * Agricultural policies and standards * Developing relationships with farmers & growers and key stakeholders * Ensuring product quality in line with customer expectations * Communicating more effectively with customers * May main achievements were: * Drawing together a coherent agriculture strategy for Tesco taking account of customer insight, supply chain dynamics and future challenges to supply * Leading the Agriculture Team through change * Upholding the reputation of the business through external and reputational challenges in connection with agricultural standards, sourcing policies and practices * Building extensive and commercial experience of the grocery supply chain

* Responsible for leading a team of economists providing expert analysis and insight to support policy making. Overall lead for international policy including Common Agricultural Policy reform and international trade. Key achievements were: * Built up the economics team and developed the capability of colleagues to provide expert policy and economic analysis to farmers * Developed understanding and thought leadership on food security in order to design policies that enhanced the performance of UK agriculture * Set-out the NFU * s vision for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and led lobbying activities in the UK and Brussels ahead of the 2012 reform process * Led the development of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment persuading government to support voluntary environmental management over compulsory set-aside of farmland.

BA Joint Hons, Politics & French