News Archive

Dame Deirdre Hutton DBE gives Memorial Lecture – University of Reading

This year's renowned Edith Mary Gayton Memorial Lecture in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development will be given by Dame Deirdre Hutton on Monday, 8 November, at 8pm. Dame Deirdre is speaking on "Connecting with consumers – farmers' customers". It constitutes the 2004 Edith Mary Gayton Memorial Lecture, which is an annual event at the University where issues of concern to farming and land use are debated. Deirdre Hutton is Chair of the National Consumer Council, Deputy Chair of the European Food Safety Authority, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Financial Services Authority and a member of the Better Regulation Task Force. Dame Deirdre has made outstanding contributions to public life in the arenas of food, environment and health. She was educated at Sherborne School for Girls, became a freelance researcher and then joined the Scottish Consumer Council, where she was Chairman from 1991 to 1999. She chaired a Department of Trade and Industry Foresight Panel on the Food Chain and Crops for Industry and more recently was a member of the Government's Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, who produced the "Curry Report". Dame Deirdre now chairs the Steering Group of the Food Chain Centre, established on the recommendation of this Commission. Dame Deirdre was a member of the Music Committee of the Scottish Arts Council and is a keen supporter of the performing arts. She was the founder and Chair of Enterprise Music Scotland Limited and acted as a non-executive Director of Edinburgh Festival Theatres. The event is open to all and free, no ticket required. For further information, please contact Dr Tahir Rehman in the School of Agriculture on (0118) 378 8480, e-mail: t.rehman@reading.ac.uk. EVENT: Edith Mary Gayton Memorial Lecture with Dame Deirdre Hutton WHERE: John Madejski Lecture Theatre, Agriculture building, The University of Reading Whiteknights campus WHEN: 8pm, Monday 8 November End Notes for editors For media enquiries only, please contact Craig Hillsley, Press Officer, on (0118) 378 8005, e-mail: c.hillsley@reading.ac.uk -The Edith Mary Gayton Memorial Lecture has taken place every year since 1984, and guest speakers have included the Earl of Selborne, Professor David Harvey, Professor Sir John Marsh, Richard Simmonds CBE and most recently, last year, Lord Haskins, the Prime Minister's advisor for the Government's rural recovery programme. The EMG Memorial Fund is a bequest from a former student to be used specifically for sponsoring research in the farm management arena as well as to host the annual lecture. -The School of Agriculture, Policy and Development promotes excellence in research and teaching in the natural and social sciences relating to agriculture, rural environments and the countryside, the businesses and people associated with these sectors and the policy cum political environments in which they function locally, nationally, regionally and globally.