FUW Board Farmer Directors
The Board of Directors is made up of FUW President Glyn Roberts, FUW Deputy President Ian Rickman, Finance Director Simon Longworth, farmer Directors Darren Williams, Iwan Jones and Alan Gardner, as well as Non-Executive Directors Nerys Evans and Sara Jones, which bring to the table diverse expertise in terms of business and governance.
“Our farmer Directors bring the much needed grassroots element to the table with their wealth of expertise from farming to business, and I thank all three of them for the work they have already done over the years and their continued commitment to the future of this Union.
“I look forward to creating fresh strategies for the FUW and I am excited to work with such a great team. Our strategies will continue to be driven by effectiveness, better governance, transparency and efficiency,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts.
Darren Williams
Darren Williams is a tenant farmer on a 270 acre farm outside Brecon. Together with his wife Rachel and two young sons, they run 500 ewes, 100 ewe lambs and 100 cattle. After gaining a BSc in agriculture at Aberystwyth, he began farming on a county council holding in Glasbury and was then fortunate enough to move to a larger tenanted farm 9 years ago. The farm is a mixed farm, growing their own corn for finishing cattle, and fattening their lambs from forage crops and grass and red clover leys. He also represents the FUW on the Agricultural Advisory Panel dealing with Agricultural Wages.
Iwan Jones
Iwan Jones farms with his wife Menna and parents at Groes Bach, Denbigh, a dairy farm of some 140 cows, producing organic milk for Arla. Since graduating from Aberystwyth with a degree in Agriculture with Business along with farming at home with his parents, he has previously been a Director of a dairy co-operative, worked on agricultural statistics for the university and held a number of voluntary positions.
Alan Gardner
Alan Gardner was brought up on a hill beef and sheep farm near Newtown, he moved to Flintshire in 1991 to operate a share-farming agreement, developing the farm from 150 acres to a 300 acre Farm Business Tenancy. Alan diversified into livery, storage and timber processing on a former pig farm. Alan is an Agrisgôp Leader with Farming Connect, having established many groups including women’s and young dairy farmers. He is also a member of the Welsh Food Advisory Committee and former Chairman, he has recently completed a postgraduate certificate in Leading Change at Aberystwyth University Business School. Alan has held a number of previous FUW roles including Vice President, Livestock, Wool and Marts Committee Chairman, and was the Union's nominated Director during the creation of Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales subsequently becoming a Board member of the organisation.
