RABI is honoured that King Charles III is our patron and that His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester is our president.
Our role and remit are set out in our Royal Charter and by-Laws and our work is governed by a council of up to 12 Trustees. Trustees meet at least four times a year and have overall responsibility for running the charity. Reporting to members at our annual meeting, Trustees normally serve for four years but may be re-elected for a further term.
Membership of the charity includes the chairs of each of our county committees that work at local level across England and Wales to raise awareness of our work and funds to support it.
The charity’s day to day work is carried out by our team of full and part-time staff, led by Chief Executive Alicia Chivers. Based in Oxford, employees work to provide support to farming people or raise funds and awareness for RABI throughout England and Wales.
PATRON
His Majesty The King
President
HRH The Duke Of Gloucester KG GCVO
Chief Executive
Alicia Chivers
Alicia joined RABI as Chief Executive in 2018. Since then, she’s been leading the charity through an exciting period of transition to ensure it is best placed to provide farming people with enduring, relevant and accessible support.
Alicia initially trained and worked in commercial legal services before retraining as a charity-focused Chartered Accountant and moving into her first charity management role. Alicia has also served as a trustee and treasurer on the boards of several national charities, and brings over 25 years of experience of senior leadership across the voluntary sector to RABI.
Trustees
Chair
Mark Herrod
Mark Herrod brings a wealth of experience from his role as Chief Executive of the Lamport Group and more than a decade as a rural asset consultant. Mark holds Trustee and committee roles at a number of organisations including the Stowe House Preservation Trust and the CLA.
As Chair, Mark offers thoughtful advice and guidance to RABI's professional staff, supporting sound governance and the charity's strategic direction. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn.
Deputy Chair
John Lelliott OBE
John Lelliott OBE brings a distinguished background in finance, having served as Finance Director of The Crown Estate. Currently holding several non-executive roles across government and health sectors, John provides invaluable strategic and governance oversight. His commitment to sustainability and the rural sector underpins his contribution to RABI's mission. Connect with John on LinkedIn.
Deputy Chair
Jean Woolliscroft
With a professional background in Health and Social Care and deep-rooted ties to farming life as a farmer’s daughter and wife, Jean Woolliscroft combines personal insight with sector expertise in her role as Deputy Chair. Her focus lies in ensuring that Trustees collectively provide strong governance, represent the diversity of farming life, and help guide RABI’s long-term vision to support farming people across England and Wales.
Honorary Treasurer
Diana Overton
Diana Overton is Group Managing Director of Frontier Agriculture and brings extensive commercial and financial acumen to her role as Treasurer. With a strong personal and professional commitment to mental health and employee wellbeing, Diana champions collaborative partnerships that enhance access to RABI's support services for the farming community. Connect with Diana on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Delme Harries
Delme Harries is a farmer's son from Pembrokeshire with over 35 years' experience working with NFU Mutual and the NFU, alongside longstanding leadership roles in the YFC movement. As a county councillor and active member of the rural community, Delme is passionate about strengthening RABI's links with volunteers and grassroots organisations to extend its reach and impact. Connect with Delme on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Terry Jones
Terry Jones is the former Director General of the NFU. He has a number of years’ experience working in trade associations across food and farming including as Director of Communications at the Food & Drink Federation and Director General at the Provision Trade Federation. Terry has also held a number of industry roles while at the NFU, including Industry Co-Chair of the Food and Drink Sector Council, a formal industry partnership with Government to create a more productive and sustainable food, drink and agricultural sector.
Previously, Terry worked for the NFU from 2002-2011 in a variety of roles including Head of Government Affairs, Head of Food Chain and Director of Communications. Originally from a farming family in Monmouthshire in South Wales, Terry and his family live on a farm in Cheshire where his wife Emma is a partner.
Trustee
Sue Lister
A retired solicitor with expertise in agricultural and rural law, Sue Lister supports RABI with legal insight and a compassionate understanding of the challenges facing farming families. Her experience across property, succession and employment law, combined with her personal involvement in the Kent Committee, reinforces her belief in RABI's proactive, tailored support. Connect with Sue on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Tom Rawson
Tom is a tenant dairy farmer milking 250 cows on 200 hectares in West Yorkshire, where he lives with his wife Catherine and their three teenage children.
Tom has a breadth of experience in the wider farming industry including past roles as national vice chair of NFU Dairy, former board member of AHDB Dairy and most recently, Chairman of the Nuffield Farming Trust and Chairman of the 1000 Cow Club.
Trustee
Graeme Taylor
With more than 20 years' experience in food and agriculture policy, Graeme Taylor is a respected public affairs expert and Director of Endure Consulting. His extensive UK and international policy experience enables him to support RABI's work with strategic insight, helping the charity navigate change and advocate for farming people at every level. Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Simon Thorp
Following a career as a Seaman Officer in the Royal Navy, Simon Thorp became a rural chartered surveyor, and gained broad expertise in land and estate management. Through roles with The Heather Trust, Scotland's Moorland Forum, the England & Wales Wildfire Forum and the Bracken Control Group, Simon obtained a unique blend of practical experience and policy awareness to support the stewardship of RABI's property assets. Connect with Simon on LinkedIn.
PATRON
His Majesty The King
President
HRH The Duke Of Gloucester KG GCVO
Chief Executive
Alicia Chivers
Alicia joined RABI as Chief Executive in 2018. Since then, she’s been leading the charity through an exciting period of transition to ensure it is best placed to provide farming people with enduring, relevant and accessible support.
Alicia initially trained and worked in commercial legal services before retraining as a charity-focused Chartered Accountant and moving into her first charity management role. Alicia has also served as a trustee and treasurer on the boards of several national charities, and brings over 25 years of experience of senior leadership across the voluntary sector to RABI.
Trustees
Chair
Mark Herrod
Mark Herrod brings a wealth of experience from his role as Chief Executive of the Lamport Group and more than a decade as a rural asset consultant. Mark holds Trustee and committee roles at a number of organisations including the Stowe House Preservation Trust and the CLA.
As Chair, Mark offers thoughtful advice and guidance to RABI's professional staff, supporting sound governance and the charity's strategic direction. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn.
Deputy Chair
John Lelliott
John Lelliott OBE brings a distinguished background in finance, having served as Finance Director of The Crown Estate. Currently holding several non-executive roles across government and health sectors, John provides invaluable strategic and governance oversight. His commitment to sustainability and the rural sector underpins his contribution to RABI’s mission. Connect with John on LinkedIn.
Deputy Chair
Jean Woolliscroft
With a professional background in Health and Social Care and deep-rooted ties to farming life as a farmer’s daughter and wife, Jean Woolliscroft combines personal insight with sector expertise in her role as Deputy Chair. Her focus lies in ensuring that trustees collectively provide strong governance, represent the diversity of farming life, and help guide RABI’s long-term vision to support farming people across England and Wales.
Honorary Treasurer
Diana Overton
Diana Overton is Group Managing Director of Frontier Agriculture and brings extensive commercial and financial acumen to her role as Treasurer. With a strong personal and professional commitment to mental health and employee wellbeing, Diana champions collaborative partnerships that enhance access to RABI’s support services for the farming community. Connect with Diana on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Delme Harries
Delme Harries is a farmer’s son from Pembrokeshire with over 35 years’ experience working with NFU Mutual and the NFU, alongside longstanding leadership roles in the YFC movement. As a county councillor and active member of the rural community, Delme is passionate about strengthening RABI’s links with volunteers and grassroots organisations to extend its reach and impact. Connect with Delme on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Terry Jones
Terry Jones is the former Director General of the NFU. He has a number of years’ experience working in trade associations across food and farming including as Director of Communications at the Food & Drink Federation and Director General at the Provision Trade Federation. Terry has also held a number of industry roles while at the NFU, including Industry Co-Chair of the Food and Drink Sector Council, a formal industry partnership with Government to create a more productive and sustainable food, drink and agricultural sector.
Previously, Terry worked for the NFU from 2002-2011 in a variety of roles including Head of Government Affairs, Head of Food Chain and Director of Communications. Originally from a farming family in Monmouthshire in South Wales, Terry and his family live on a farm in Cheshire where his wife Emma is a partner.
Originally from a farming family in Monmouthshire in South Wales, Terry and his family live on a farm in Cheshire where his wife Emma is a partner.
Trustee
Sue Lister
A retired solicitor with expertise in agricultural and rural law, Sue Lister supports RABI with legal insight and a compassionate understanding of the challenges facing farming families. Her experience across property, succession and employment law, combined with her personal involvement in the Kent Committee, reinforces her belief in RABI’s proactive, tailored support. Connect with Sue on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Tom Rawson
Tom is a tenant dairy farmer milking 250 cows on 200 hectares in West Yorkshire, where he lives with his wife Catherine and their three teenage children.
Tom has a breadth of experience in the wider farming industry including past roles as national vice chair of NFU Dairy, former board member of AHDB Dairy and most recently, Chairman of the Nuffield Farming Trust and Chairman of the 1000 Cow Club.
Trustee
Graeme Taylor
With more than 20 years’ experience in food and agriculture policy, Graeme Taylor is a respected public affairs expert and Director of Endure Consulting. His extensive UK and international policy experience enables him to support RABI’s work with strategic insight, helping the charity navigate change and advocate for farming people at every level. Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Simon Thorp
Following a career as a Seaman Officer in the Royal Navy, Simon Thorp became a rural chartered surveyor, and gained broader expertise in land and estate management. Through roles with The Heather Trust, Scotland’s Moorland Forum, the England & Wales Wildfire Forum and the Bracken Control Group, Simon obtained a unique blend of practical experience and policy awareness to support the stewardship of RABI’s property assets. Connect with Simon on LinkedIn.
RABI is honoured that King Charles III is our patron and that His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester is our president.
Our role and remit are set out in our Royal Charter and by-Laws and our work is governed by a council of up to 12 Trustees. Trustees meet at least four times a year and have overall responsibility for running the charity. Reporting to members at our annual meeting, Trustees normally serve for four years but may be re-elected for a further term.
Membership of the charity includes the chairs of each of our county committees that work at local level across England and Wales to raise awareness of our work and funds to support it.
The charity’s day to day work is carried out by our team of full and part-time staff, led by Chief Executive Alicia Chivers. Based in Oxford, employees work to provide support to farming people or raise funds and awareness for RABI throughout England and Wales.
PATRON
His Majesty The King
President
HRH The Duke Of Gloucester KG GCVO
Chief Executive
Alicia Chivers
Alicia joined RABI as Chief Executive in 2018. Since then, she’s been leading the charity through an exciting period of transition to ensure it is best placed to provide farming people with enduring, relevant and accessible support.
Alicia initially trained and worked in commercial legal services before retraining as a charity-focused Chartered Accountant and moving into her first charity management role. Alicia has also served as a trustee and treasurer on the boards of several national charities, and brings over 25 years of experience of senior leadership across the voluntary sector to RABI.
Trustees
Chair
Mark Herrod
Mark Herrod brings a wealth of experience from his role as Chief Executive of the Lamport Group and more than a decade as a rural asset consultant. Mark holds Trustee and committee roles at a number of organisations including the Stowe House Preservation Trust and the CLA.
As Chair, Mark offers thoughtful advice and guidance to RABI's professional staff, supporting sound governance and the charity's strategic direction. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn.
Deputy Chair
John Lelliott OBE
John Lelliott OBE brings a distinguished background in finance, having served as Finance Director of The Crown Estate. Currently holding several non-executive roles across government and health sectors, John provides invaluable strategic and governance oversight. His commitment to sustainability and the rural sector underpins his contribution to RABI's mission. Connect with John on LinkedIn.
Deputy Chair
Jean Woolliscroft
With a professional background in Health and Social Care and deep-rooted ties to farming life as a farmer’s daughter and wife, Jean Woolliscroft combines personal insight with sector expertise in her role as Deputy Chair. Her focus lies in ensuring that Trustees collectively provide strong governance, represent the diversity of farming life, and help guide RABI’s long-term vision to support farming people across England and Wales.
Honorary Treasurer
Diana Overton
Diana Overton is Group Managing Director of Frontier Agriculture and brings extensive commercial and financial acumen to her role as Treasurer. With a strong personal and professional commitment to mental health and employee wellbeing, Diana champions collaborative partnerships that enhance access to RABI's support services for the farming community. Connect with Diana on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Delme Harries
Delme Harries is a farmer's son from Pembrokeshire with over 35 years' experience working with NFU Mutual and the NFU, alongside longstanding leadership roles in the YFC movement. As a county councillor and active member of the rural community, Delme is passionate about strengthening RABI's links with volunteers and grassroots organisations to extend its reach and impact. Connect with Delme on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Terry Jones
Terry Jones is the former Director General of the NFU. He has a number of years’ experience working in trade associations across food and farming including as Director of Communications at the Food & Drink Federation and Director General at the Provision Trade Federation. Terry has also held a number of industry roles while at the NFU, including Industry Co-Chair of the Food and Drink Sector Council, a formal industry partnership with Government to create a more productive and sustainable food, drink and agricultural sector.
Previously, Terry worked for the NFU from 2002-2011 in a variety of roles including Head of Government Affairs, Head of Food Chain and Director of Communications. Originally from a farming family in Monmouthshire in South Wales, Terry and his family live on a farm in Cheshire where his wife Emma is a partner.
Trustee
Sue Lister
A retired solicitor with expertise in agricultural and rural law, Sue Lister supports RABI with legal insight and a compassionate understanding of the challenges facing farming families. Her experience across property, succession and employment law, combined with her personal involvement in the Kent Committee, reinforces her belief in RABI's proactive, tailored support. Connect with Sue on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Tom Rawson
Tom is a tenant dairy farmer milking 250 cows on 200 hectares in West Yorkshire, where he lives with his wife Catherine and their three teenage children.
Tom has a breadth of experience in the wider farming industry including past roles as national vice chair of NFU Dairy, former board member of AHDB Dairy and most recently, Chairman of the Nuffield Farming Trust and Chairman of the 1000 Cow Club.
Trustee
Graeme Taylor
With more than 20 years' experience in food and agriculture policy, Graeme Taylor is a respected public affairs expert and Director of Endure Consulting. His extensive UK and international policy experience enables him to support RABI's work with strategic insight, helping the charity navigate change and advocate for farming people at every level. Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Simon Thorp
Following a career as a Seaman Officer in the Royal Navy, Simon Thorp became a rural chartered surveyor, and gained broad expertise in land and estate management. Through roles with The Heather Trust, Scotland's Moorland Forum, the England & Wales Wildfire Forum and the Bracken Control Group, Simon obtained a unique blend of practical experience and policy awareness to support the stewardship of RABI's property assets. Connect with Simon on LinkedIn.
PATRON
His Majesty The King
President
HRH The Duke Of Gloucester KG GCVO
Chief Executive
Alicia Chivers
Alicia joined RABI as Chief Executive in 2018. Since then, she’s been leading the charity through an exciting period of transition to ensure it is best placed to provide farming people with enduring, relevant and accessible support.
Alicia initially trained and worked in commercial legal services before retraining as a charity-focused Chartered Accountant and moving into her first charity management role. Alicia has also served as a trustee and treasurer on the boards of several national charities, and brings over 25 years of experience of senior leadership across the voluntary sector to RABI.
Trustees
Chair
Mark Herrod
Mark Herrod brings a wealth of experience from his role as Chief Executive of the Lamport Group and more than a decade as a rural asset consultant. Mark holds Trustee and committee roles at a number of organisations including the Stowe House Preservation Trust and the CLA.
As Chair, Mark offers thoughtful advice and guidance to RABI's professional staff, supporting sound governance and the charity's strategic direction. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn.
Deputy Chair
John Lelliott
John Lelliott OBE brings a distinguished background in finance, having served as Finance Director of The Crown Estate. Currently holding several non-executive roles across government and health sectors, John provides invaluable strategic and governance oversight. His commitment to sustainability and the rural sector underpins his contribution to RABI’s mission. Connect with John on LinkedIn.
Deputy Chair
Jean Woolliscroft
With a professional background in Health and Social Care and deep-rooted ties to farming life as a farmer’s daughter and wife, Jean Woolliscroft combines personal insight with sector expertise in her role as Deputy Chair. Her focus lies in ensuring that trustees collectively provide strong governance, represent the diversity of farming life, and help guide RABI’s long-term vision to support farming people across England and Wales.
Honorary Treasurer
Diana Overton
Diana Overton is Group Managing Director of Frontier Agriculture and brings extensive commercial and financial acumen to her role as Treasurer. With a strong personal and professional commitment to mental health and employee wellbeing, Diana champions collaborative partnerships that enhance access to RABI’s support services for the farming community. Connect with Diana on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Delme Harries
Delme Harries is a farmer’s son from Pembrokeshire with over 35 years’ experience working with NFU Mutual and the NFU, alongside longstanding leadership roles in the YFC movement. As a county councillor and active member of the rural community, Delme is passionate about strengthening RABI’s links with volunteers and grassroots organisations to extend its reach and impact. Connect with Delme on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Terry Jones
Terry Jones is the former Director General of the NFU. He has a number of years’ experience working in trade associations across food and farming including as Director of Communications at the Food & Drink Federation and Director General at the Provision Trade Federation. Terry has also held a number of industry roles while at the NFU, including Industry Co-Chair of the Food and Drink Sector Council, a formal industry partnership with Government to create a more productive and sustainable food, drink and agricultural sector.
Previously, Terry worked for the NFU from 2002-2011 in a variety of roles including Head of Government Affairs, Head of Food Chain and Director of Communications. Originally from a farming family in Monmouthshire in South Wales, Terry and his family live on a farm in Cheshire where his wife Emma is a partner.
Originally from a farming family in Monmouthshire in South Wales, Terry and his family live on a farm in Cheshire where his wife Emma is a partner.
Trustee
Sue Lister
A retired solicitor with expertise in agricultural and rural law, Sue Lister supports RABI with legal insight and a compassionate understanding of the challenges facing farming families. Her experience across property, succession and employment law, combined with her personal involvement in the Kent Committee, reinforces her belief in RABI’s proactive, tailored support. Connect with Sue on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Tom Rawson
Tom is a tenant dairy farmer milking 250 cows on 200 hectares in West Yorkshire, where he lives with his wife Catherine and their three teenage children.
Tom has a breadth of experience in the wider farming industry including past roles as national vice chair of NFU Dairy, former board member of AHDB Dairy and most recently, Chairman of the Nuffield Farming Trust and Chairman of the 1000 Cow Club.
Trustee
Graeme Taylor
With more than 20 years’ experience in food and agriculture policy, Graeme Taylor is a respected public affairs expert and Director of Endure Consulting. His extensive UK and international policy experience enables him to support RABI’s work with strategic insight, helping the charity navigate change and advocate for farming people at every level. Connect with Graeme on LinkedIn.
Trustee
Simon Thorp
Following a career as a Seaman Officer in the Royal Navy, Simon Thorp became a rural chartered surveyor, and gained broader expertise in land and estate management. Through roles with The Heather Trust, Scotland’s Moorland Forum, the England & Wales Wildfire Forum and the Bracken Control Group, Simon obtained a unique blend of practical experience and policy awareness to support the stewardship of RABI’s property assets. Connect with Simon on LinkedIn.
