UK-wide industry group, Ruminant Health and Welfare (RHaW), is inviting applications for a new chairperson.

The group, which formed in April 2020, aims to co-ordinate and focus the UK farming industry’s efforts to eradicate and control damaging cattle, sheep and goat diseases, improving the health, resilience and production efficiency of the national flock and herd.

The new chair will replace the group’s inaugural chair, Nigel Miller, who retired from the role earlier this summer.

They will be tasked with providing strong strategic leadership for RHaW’s small officer team, and ensuring the group is the ‘go to’ place for governments across the four nations of the UK, industry, and the media when looking for advice and input on ruminant health and welfare.

RHaW say the new chairperson must be a passionate advocate for the UK farmed ruminant sector, who will provide inspirational, independent leadership for the group and bring the four nations together.

They must have a proven ability to drive industry change, alongside a strong background in ruminant health and welfare.

The new chairperson will be joining the group at an exciting time – RHaW launched the UK Dairy Cattle Welfare Strategy for 2023-2028 in June, and a welfare strategy for the sheep sector will launch later this year.

The chairperson role is advertised by farm levy body, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, which will fund the role and provide a secretary for support.

It is offered initially as a position with a two-year term from November 1, 2023, with the option for two re-appointments of up to two years.

Full details about the position, which closes for applications on 31 August 2023, are available online at careers.ahdb.org.uk