The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a Government Department in the UK.

We cover – we make policy and legislation, and work with others to deliver our policies in - areas such as:

  • the natural environment, biodiversity, plants and animals
  • sustainable development and the green economy
  • food, farming and fisheries
  • animal health and welfare
  • environmental protection and pollution control
  • rural communities and issues.

Although we only work directly in England, we work closely with the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and we generally lead on negotiations in the EU and internationally.

The Government believes that we need to protect the environment for future generations, make our economy more environmentally sustainable, and improve our quality of life and well-being. We also believe that much more needs to be done to support the farming industry, protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable food production.

Members

Dr Ailsa Benton

Air Quality Science Policy Advisor

Professor Ian Boyd

Chief Scientific Adviser

Nigel Campbell

Head of Delivery Analysis and Defra Covid Data

Emily Cattell

Chief Social Researcher

Sarah Church

Director, Food and Farming

Georgina Collins

Deputy Director for Floods, Water and CBRN Emergencies

Lucia Costanzo

Senior Manager, Engagement | Joint Air Quality Unit | Defra/DfT

John Curnow

Chief Economist

Henry Dieudonné-Demaria

Former Lead, Climate Strategy

Dr Tracie Evans

Head of Natural Science Strategy, Environmental Land Management team

Tamara Finkelstein

Permanent Secretary

Rachel Fisher

Deputy Director Land Use Policy

Tom George

Head of Food Security, Domestic Production and Trade

Davina Henderson

Chief of Staff to the Permanent Secretary

David Hill

Director General

Elizabeth Hurley

Deputy Director

Simon James

Deputy Director, Joint Air Quality Unit

Dr David Kennedy

Director General for Food, Farming and Biosecurity

Dr Lara Langston

Senior Policy Advisor

Dr Christopher Moses

Policy Lead - Future of Lowland Peat

Frances Pimenta

Head of Climate Adaption Policy

Thomas Pryke

Policy Lead - kept animals (primates)

James Quinault

Director for Environment strategy

James Smith

Deputy Director for Marine Policy

Lucy Smith

Director General, Strategy and Change

Professor Sir Robert Watson

Former Chief Scientific Adviser

Dr Iain Williams

Former Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser

Katrina Williams

Former Director-General, International and Borders

Dr Kay Williams

Head of International Chemicals and Nanotechnology

Dr Ben Woden

Former Senior Scientific Officer, Environmental Land Management

Wilfred Wong

Senior Policy Advisor