The Guild has a new general secretary: Nikki Robertson has been appointed to the post following a round of interviews with several candidates keen to take on the part-time role.
She will also be secretary to the organising committee of the IFAJ Congress 2014, which the British Guild is staging in north-east Scotland.
“We’re delighted to appoint someone with past experience of Guild affairs and a talent for efficient organisation and administration,” says Guild deputy chairman, Jane Craigie. “It’s clear from talking with Nikki that she still has a lot of enthusiasm for our organisation and will help us keep it relevant and of value to members.”
Nikki is not a member but has a long association with the Guild through her time working as events and services manager at Pharo Communications, the agricultural PR and marketing agency, working alongside several enthusiastic Guild members.
Apart from fulfilling her day job organising press conferences and other media events, Nikki maintained the Guild membership database, which Pharo hosted at the time, helped stage the Guild Royal Show party and on occasion assisted Steve Mitchell with the administration of the Guild’s John Deere-sponsored new entrants’ training scheme.
Nikki was also involved for two years in preparations and administration for the IFAJ Congress when it was last held in Britain in 1997.
She now works as a freelance administration and event manager; her main client is the Foodchain & Biomass Renewables Association (FABRA), providing all secretarial and accounts support, liasing with other industry organisations and preparing media releases on topical issues.
“I have worked within the agricultural sector for more than 17 years and for most of that time have had links with the Guild,” says Nikki. “I am thrilled to have been offered the position of Guild secretary and IFAJ Congress secretary, and look forward to working with Guild members once more.
“The strength of community within the Guild is invaluable to its members and extremely rare nowadays,” she adds. “I am very pleased to be involved again.”
Nikki lives in Coventry with her husband Keith and five-year old daughter Milli. She lists antiques and collectibles as her main hobby.
