Aileen Lawson has joined the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association (NIGTA) as chief executive officer, bringing more than 25 years of experience at the Ulster Farmers’ Union, a move that matters to association and institute professionals as a trade body hires a policy and governance specialist from a sister membership organisation to lead through regulatory change.

NIGTA was founded in 1966 and represents traders, manufacturers, processors, distributors, brokers and service providers in Northern Ireland’s agricultural supply trade, covering animal feed and fertiliser.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union is the farming representative body in Northern Ireland, where Lawson worked in policy, stakeholder engagement, governance and advocacy. She succeeds Gill Gallagher.

Aileen Lawson said, “I am delighted to be joining NIGTA and look forward to building on the strong foundations established by my predecessor Gill Gallagher and working with members, stakeholders and policymakers to support a successful and sustainable future for the sector.”

Aidan Fisher, president of NIGTA, said, “As the industry continues to evolve, the Association will benefit greatly from Aileen’s strategic insight, professionalism and commitment to delivering positive outcomes for members.”

The appointment reflects the weight of environmental regulation on the feed and fertiliser trade rather than a routine succession.

Northern Ireland farms purchased 3.0 million tonnes of feed in 2023, up 3.3 per cent, according to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Proposed fertiliser reductions in the Nutrients Action Programme could cost the agri-food sector more than 1.5 billion pounds a year, according to an AgriSearch analysis reported by Farmers Weekly.

For the sector, a chief executive from a farming union brings direct experience of the policy processes that shape rules on feed and fertiliser, and of the relationships with farmers who buy from members. For the sector’s trade bodies specifically, hiring from a peer organisation shows how association leadership moves between member groups that share policy ground.

Whether the new chief executive turns policy experience into influence on nutrient rules and supply chain issues will indicate how far trade bodies benefit from leaders with advocacy backgrounds across the sector.

Source: Farming Life / DAERA / Farmers Weekly