Sarah Church, director for food and environmental risk at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), has been made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List for her services to British food and farming.
Church took up her current post in April 2014, following Neil Thornton’s retirement.
She has worked in Defra since 2002, having previously worked in the Cabinet Office, No 10 Policy Unit and Welsh Office. In Defra she has had roles on rural policy, EU and international policy (for the G8 and EU presidencies), and exotic animal diseases.
She also worked in the Food Policy Unit from 2009 to 2012, primarily on food security and sustainability issues. Most recently she has spent two years working within Defra’s Commercial Directorate supporting the CAP Delivery Programme, and as head of Defra’s Estate.
Other food figures to have been recognised in the list include Anthony Christopher O’Neill, Evelyn Findlater and John Park Campbell.
O’Neill is to be made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland.
He has held the role of director at a number of food companies and currently serves as a director at the Northern Ireland Food Marketing Association Ltd.
Findlater, CEO and founder of Good Food Matters, has been recognised with an OBE for her services to young people.
Good Food Matters is a charity dedicated to helping people of all abilities, ages and backgrounds to build healthier lifestyles.
Finally, John Park Campbell OBE, chairman of egg producer Glenrath Farms Ltd, has been honoured with a knighthood for his services to farming and charitable service.
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