Debbie Beaton BSc MSc FRAGS

Debbie was appointed AFCP CEO in November 2016

Debbie Beaton has more than 32 years experience in agriculture and the media. She won several journalistic awards during her career at Farmers Weekly and Crops including the prestigious Netherthorpe Communicator of the Year.

As Farmers Weekly Editorial Projects Director she built a reputation for delivering unique, high impact inspiring initiatives that have changed public understanding - and farming behaviours including these campaigns:

• Farmers Weekly Awards: UK farming’s biggest showcase of excellence and innovation
• Farmers Academy: the first bespoke on-line learning centre for farmers and advisors
• Farmers Apprentice: a film-based web series and competition to inspire, and mentor, bright graduates to come into UK agriculture
• Fertile Minds: an annual conference inspiring young farming entrepreneurs

Partnerships with industry at farming, commercial and Government level have been crucial to the success of these high impact national campaigns.

She has used her industry networks to champion professionalisation in agriculture and ways to attract bright talent to enter the industry; she became a director of the Oxford Farming Conference and a member of the Future of Farming Review Group in 2013.

She left Farmers Weekly in April 2016 to set up Debbie Beaton Consulting, where she provides a range of strategic communications advice.

Recent work includes the communication of the director’s strategic vision, and stakeholder engagement, for Rothamsted Research, CEO of AFCP and various speaking engagements.

In summary

• BSc Agriculture and Environmental Science graduate at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne University
• MSc Bio-Aeronautics from Cranfield University
• Editorial Projects Director, Farmers Weekly
• Editor, Crops magazine
• Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society of England
• Director of Oxford Farming Conference
• Director of the Government’s Food and Farming Review
• MD of Debbie Beaton Consulting

Why AFCP?

“I want to support the charity sector, who make a such major investment in British food and farming, to deliver even greater impact at this critical moment in our history. British farming must quickly adopt the skills and science necessary to make it globally competitive - and economically and environmentally resilient. The charity sector has an important role to play in that endeavour.”