The Soil Association has announced three new appointments with Nick Buckland joining as non executive chair and Beth Thoren and Sonny Masero appointed as board members.
Buckland replaces Linda Campbell who has served as chair for two and a half years and is credited with developing the body into a leading organic certifier and creating a wider sustainable business offer.
Based in Cornwall as an organic livestock farmer, Buckland has experience in strategic planning, governance, review processes and quality from a range of private sector executive and non executive roles. He said his priorities will be to clearly communicate the business’ aims and link processing, forestry, textiles and farming to help consumers understand how organic certification can work.
“I am thrilled to join Soil Association Certification at this exciting time. It is a hugely important organisation within the organic and sustainable world and I hope to be able to share the breadth of processes the business is involved in with more people,' Buckland said.
“I hope that my skills and knowledge in governance and review will further help develop Soil Association Certification and in turn, clearly communicate the business’s aims. I look forward to joining the dots between processing, forestry, textiles and farming and helping consumers understand what certification can mean.”
As well as his new role at the Soil Association, Buckland remains chancellor of Plymouth University and chair of Peninsula Community Health CIC, and chair of the board of Education and Development Trust (EDT).
New board member Thoren works in strategic development and marketing, with previous roles including director of fundraising and communications at the RSPB and leading communications in the switchover from analogue to digital television for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five.
Masero is an entrepreneur, investor and advisor focused on working with companies to bring to market technology that addresses energy, environmental and climate change challenges.
The Soil Association said the appointments come at a positive time as it continues to expand its offerings including sustainable forestry and catering. In addition, it said the organic market remains in steady growth, continuing the trend seen since 2013.
