New appointments to the Seafish Board

New appointments to the Seafish Board

Chair, Deputy Chair and six members appointed to the board of the Sea Fish Industry Authority

The Chair, deputy chair and six members have been reappointed to the board of the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish).

Seafish is a non-departmental public body which carries out a wide range of activities to support a thriving seafood industry, working with the fishing industry and processors through to importers, retailers and food service providers.

Michael Sheldon has been reappointed as Seafish Chair for a second term of three years from 1 April 2024 until 31 March 2027.

Deputy Chair, Jeff Halliwell, has also been reappointed for a second term of three years from 1 May 2024 until 30 April 2027.

The further six appointments as board members include Harry Wick and Heather Jones who have been reappointed for a second term of three years from 1 April until 31 March 2027. Dave Brooks and Graham Black who have been reappointed for a second term of two years from 1 April 2024 until 31 March 2026. And lastly, Nathan de Rozarieux who has been reappointed for a third term of one year from 1 April 2024 until 31 March 2025.

These are ministerial appointments agreed by the four fisheries administrations, who jointly sponsor Seafish.

The recruitment was carried out in accordance with the Ministerial Code of Practice for Appointments to Public Bodies. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, there is a requirement for the political activities of appointees to be made public. None of the appointees have declared any significant activity.

Biographies

Michael Sheldon has over twenty years' experience in the agri-food industry. Michael is also an experienced non-executive director, having formerly served as Deputy Chair of Seafish as well as currently serving on the board of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Jeff Halliwell has non-executive experience in the food sector, the NHS, Higher and Further Education and as a Charity Trustee, and has senior executive experience in the food, healthcare, technical and regulated markets.

Harry Wick is chief executive of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation which represents the interests of around 140 member vessels fishing for a wide variety of species in waters right across the UK. Harry also co-chairs the Northern Ireland Fishermen's Federation and is a member of the United Kingdom Association of Fish Producer Organisations.

Heather Jones was formerly the Head of International Division in the Scottish Government and a Deputy Director in Marine Scotland. She has experience as a CEO; operating strategically at board level for 14 years. Heather established the UK's first industry-led aquaculture innovation body, with 200 organisations in membership.

Dave Brooks has extensive non-executive experience across a wide range of sectors encompassing food and drink, healthcare, housing and technology, including a five-year term to April 2021 as a board member with the Food Standards Agency.

Graham Black brings significant experience of working within government; as Director for Marine Scotland until last year, and previously as Head of large business at HMRC. Whilst in both roles Graham took both organisations through significant organisational change and reform programmes.

Nathan de Rozarieux is currently Managing Director of Tegen Mor Fisheries Consultants Limited, a firm offering a range of industry services. For the past 16 years Nathan has sat as a director of the Duchy Fish Quota Company, a not-for-profit seeking to support the Cornwall inshore fishing industry and is a former committee member of the Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.

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