Soil Association appoints Helen Browning as director

The Soil Association, has appointed Helen Browning as its new leader.

Ms Browning takes over as director from Patrick Holden who stood down in September after more than a decade in the post.

A former chairwoman of the Soil Association, Ms Browning is currently director of external affairs at the National Trust, chairwoman of the Food Ethics Council and won an OBE for her services to organic farming.

She also runs a 1350-acre organic livestock and arable farm in Wiltshire.

She will take on the directorship in the spring and said that she was looking forward to continuing the momentum of the past 65 years.

“Together with the support of our members, farmers and growers, council and staff, we will take the association into a new era,” Ms Browning said.

The Soil Association’s current chairwoman, Orna Ni-Chionna, said: “Helen Browning is one of the true pioneers of the organic movement, and she has a unique breadth of practical experience as well as being an inspirational campaigner.”