The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland has appointed Lauren Worrell as the new regional manager for Argyll and the Islands.
Worrell takes over the position from Lucy Sumsion while she is on secondment to the Scottish Government for 23 months to work in a team leading on tenant farming and women in agriculture, focused on increased equality of opportunity within Scottish agriculture.
NFU Scotland’s director of regions, James Buchanan, wished Lucy well in the future and said he is “pleased to welcome Lauren to the NFU Scotland regional team”.
“Through her work with NFU Mutual, Lauren has a good understanding of how diverse the region is, and how passionate the members there are about agriculture,” he added.
“Coming from a farming background, Lauren is very aware of the current challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Her experience will be of huge benefit to members across the region.”
Lauren grew up on a hill farm in Perthshire and moved to Argyll after graduating from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) Auchincruive and Riverside Campus with an honours degree in Activity Tourism Management.
For the past eight years she has worked as a sales executive at the NFU Mutual office in Oban, near to where she hill-farms with her partner in Kilmore.
Looking at her new role within NFU Scotland, Lauren said: “I am very aware of the current challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
“I look forward to getting out into the region to meet members, hear your views, and ensure that we get maximum input from you on these many important issues.
“Like so many people within the rural sector I am dyslexic, which has presented me with a few challenges throughout my career,” she added.
“However, I look forward to channelling my strengths and experience to benefit the members across both the region I represent, and the wider NFU Scotland membership.”
