Standards Board

Ben has advised the Soil Association’s organic standards development since 2006; been a member of the Standards Board since 2013, and its chair since 2017. He is a Senior Associate at Value Chain Management International; an Associate Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, Queensland University; a Board member of the Cotswold National Landscape, and leads the Gloucestershire Food and Farming Partnership. He is a former director of the Farm Retail Association.

Andrew founded RB Organic, an organic vegetable growing, processing and marketing business. They work with their own produce and a small group of likeminded growers, supplying every UK retailer directly. Andrew has held national posts in the National Farmers Union and British Growers, and he has worked with Defra on agricultural policy in an advisory role. Recently retired, Andrew retains a passion for all things organic.

Ian worked with the Fairtrade movement for over 30 years, starting with Oxfam in the mid 1980s before leading the work on business partnerships for the Fairtrade Foundation and then on governance and strategic planning for Fairtrade International. His work often collaborated with the Soil Association and he was a Lay Member of the Standards Board from 2008–2012, and rejoined in 2020. He now works with various charities and social enterprises in non‑executive and advisory roles.

John has been Farm Manager at Abbey Home Farm, Cirencester since 1992. A family partnership of 650 ha of award winning mixed organic farming comprising of dairy, sheep, pigs, poultry, beef, arable, grassland and vegetable enterprises. The farm was a founder member of The Organic Milk Suppliers Co‑Op Ltd and has been involved with several collaborative organic marketing initiatives. John is a Director of Organic Arable.

Mike has worked in farming for the past 45 years, starting in top fruit and strawberry production, followed by arable and field‑scale vegetables and more recently, poultry. He switched to organic principals in 2007 and now manages Maple Farm Kelsale, a 137ha family‑owned mixed organic farm on the Suffolk Coast. The farm is mostly arable, but also produces Maple Farm Kelsale brand organic eggs, which is integrated into the arable rotation.

Dr Dionysios Dennis Touliatos is an organic grower and FarmStart trainer at The Plot in Lancaster, helping train organic growers across northwest England. Originally from Greece, Dennis is an agronomist, specialising in organic agriculture. He has 25 years’ experience in commercial agriculture, academic research, and R&D in sustainable food and plant systems.

Louise spent 25 years at Neal’s Yard Remedies, taking a leading role in the development of the organic and ethical supply chain through her role as Head of Sustainability and in Product Development. Louise is a passionate advocate of third‑party certification to validate ethical claims. She has led the brand though a wide range of independent accreditations including fair trade, sustainable wild harvesting, GM‑free, social responsibility, organic certification and CarbonNeutral.

Simon founded OF+ Consulting and has worked in sustainable food since 1986. He has a degree in Food Science & Nutrition, is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Simon is editor of both The Handbook of Organic and Fairtrade Food Marketing and The Handbook of Organic Food Processing and Production. Most recently Simon has been appointed to Defra’s Expert Group on Organic Production (EGOP).

Dr Andrew Davie is Head of Aquaculture in the Employee‑owned Scottish Seafood business, Aquascot. Within this role, Andrew supports Waitrose in its responsible sourcing for both organic and conventionally farmed salmon and trout. Aquascot champion responsible and sustainable development of the aquaculture sector with a focus on ensuring the highest animal‑welfare and environmental‑stewardship standards.

Pip has worked at the Parliamentary Research Service since 2018, where she is the Editor and Women & Equalities Policy Specialist. Previously, she has worked for a number of MPs and has worked in the distance learning department of the University of London. She also volunteers at her local nature park, at Bedford Repair Cafe and with a number of local environmental projects.

Catherine is a qualified nurse, having worked in a variety of settings and has long been interested in the influence of diet on human health and disease. She went on to study animal welfare and now works as a Science and Policy Advisor at Compassion in World Farming. Catherine has always been passionate about the need to farm organically, recognising its fundamental benefits for the environment, wildlife and for human and animal health and wellbeing.

Steph works in corporate sustainability at Lloyds Banking Group, looking at nature and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risk in their supply chain. She started her sustainability career over 15 years ago at the Sustainable Restaurant Association. She has worked on decarbonisation and human rights issues in the media and finance sectors, campaigned on issues such as wildlife laws, food, farming and protecting the UK and Europe’s most important places for nature at the RSPB.