Chair

Professor Mathew Williams, University of Edinburgh

Mathew was appointed Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture in January 2022. Professor Williams leads the Global Change Ecology Lab in the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh. He was educated at the University of Oxford, and the Climatic Research Unit at UEA Norwich. After postdoctoral research, followed by a role as Assistant Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, he moved to the University of Edinburgh in 2000.

panelists

Jayne Jones, CEO, Scottish Food Commission

Jayne Jones, is the inaugural Chief Executive of the Scottish Food Commission, and her focus is to work in partnership with a range of interested parties, taking a sustainable food systems approach, to make food work for all. Until late 2025, Jayne was Chair of the Public Sector Catering Alliance and Assistant Director for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with responsibility for Soft FM Services including catering, cleaning and portering services. She also has extensive leadership experience in a rural Local Authority.  Over the past ten years, Jayne has participated in a number of Scottish Government steering groups including those developing Local Food Strategies, ending the need for foodbanks in Scotland and in developing proposals for the next Scottish Organic Food Action Plan.  Jayne is past Chair of both the Public Serctor Catering Alliance and ASSIST FM. Jayne has been previously recognised as one of the UK Public Sector Catering's Most Influential People, won the Public Sector Catey in 2023, is a 2021 Acumen Academy UK Fellow and holds an Honorary Professorship from the University of Edinburgh Business School. 

David Michie, Senior Policy Manager Food and Farming Team, NFU Scotland

David heads up NFU Scotland's Food and Farming policy team, with oversight of policy relating to Scotland's major agricultural enterprises. He also have direct responsibility for combinable crops and potatoes policy. After obtaining a degree in agriculture, David worked on the family farm in Aberdeenshire for several years. Since then, he has held significant roles in the agricultural sector including as a farm business consultant at SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College), Associate Director of Farming and Land Use for Soil Association Scotland.

Professor Peter Alexander, Professor of Global Food Systems, University of Edinburgh

Peter is Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences and the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security. His research aims to better understand the socio-economic and environmental interactions and trade-offs associated with the global food system. His research focuses on modelling the food and land-use systems, including biodiversity, food security and climate change.

Ruth Ashton-Shaw, vice chair, Nature Friendly Farming Network, Scotland (NFFN)

Ruth is an organic farmer on an 80-acre farm producing wool, meat, and eggs through regenerative practices. Ruth focuses on rare and native breeds, supporting resilient, localised food systems that are both environmentally and economically sustainable. She was awarded Sustainable Small Farm of the Year in the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Awards 2025 at the RHS. Ruth and her husband had previously lived in Manchester, where they operated a design consultancy with international clients. She is Vice Chair of the Scottish Steering Group for the Nature Friendly Farming Network.