FOOD AND FARMING COMPLIANCE - Key Persons

Eddie Harper

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
  • Livestock Transport Consultant
Eddie Harper's experience and expertise as a consultant in the transport of animals is recognised in the UK, the European Union and further afield. Eddie was, for 17 years, National Chairman of the Road Haulage Association's Livestock Group and has served as a member of the Farm Animal Welfare Council. He has extensive personal experience, including as driver and owner, of transporting a variety of livestock and other animal species to destinations around the globe. His root and branch knowledge of the subject has led to his being regularly consulted by and working with, both private companies and a number of official and Government bodies. These have included, notably, the European Commission and Defra (MAFF) where his expertise has been used in development of effective policy and where his breadth of hands-on experience has been called upon to deal with current practical problems. Eddie was central to the development and implementation of the Livestock Driver Training Scheme (National Proficiency Tests Council) and also in running a series of roadshows on welfare in transit legislation for Defra. As a leading authority on livestock transport he has lectured extensively in the UK, Europe, the USA and Mexico. Eddie's contribution to improving livestock transport has been appropriately recognised domestically with the award of MBE (2007), and internationally, with Animal Transport Associations Welfare of Animals Award for his "Outstanding Contribution to International Welfare of Animals during Transport". (2002)

Guda van der Burgt

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
  • Member of the British Cattle Veterinary Association
Guda is a member of the British Cattle Veterinary Association and Sheep Veterinary Society; was secretary of the National Mastitis Group for 7 years; was chairman of the Wiltshire Veterinary Club for three years; regularly reviews papers for the Veterinary Record and The Veterinary Journal on topics relating to mastitis, botulism and TB; in partnership with her husband running a commercial sheep farm - "We have kept pigs and beef cattle in the past. I am involved in the day to day work and management of the farm including the financial side. We have diversified into establishing areas of woodland, camping and allotments for the village."; has lectured for several years at Hartpury College (MSc course) on infectious diseases in farm animals and various other topics; is fluent in Dutch, English and speaks some Italian and can read German

Janet Berry

Job Titles:
  • Training Officer
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel
Janet Berry started her career as a lecturer in Marketing at Brighton Polytechnic, but, for the past 20 years, has been working in learning and development, and has gained considerable experience in the design, marketing and organization of training provision for local authorities. This has included nine years as Head of Learning and Development at South West Provincial Employers specializing in the provision of trading standards qualification courses and a range of animal health and welfare courses, responding to changes in legislation and national agendas in a timely, informed and robust way. Janet is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, with specialist subjects in people resourcing and the design and delivery of training.

Nigel Durnford

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Environmental Health Officer
Nigel Durnford qualified as an Environmental Health Officer in 1968, following which he spent 6 years involved with meat inspection in 5 abattoirs. He was in charge of the Animal Health and Welfare function for 15 years at Wiltshire County Council, where he was Strategic Services Manager in the Public Protection Department, during which time he acted as the Council's lay Advocate. He has probably acted as a prosecution advocate in more animal health and welfare cases than any other advocate. In 1992 he was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study the ‘Law in relation to the transport of animals in Europe' visiting 7 countries. Nigel regularly lectures on Animal Health legislation and Criminal legal proceedings and investigations. He has been responsible for the investigation and enforcement of animal health and welfare laws in various capacities for 43 years. He was a member of the England Implementation Group (EIG) for the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy in England and was until recently a member of the National Animal Health and Welfare Panel having been its Chairman for 10 years. He acted as the Panels Lead officer for Animal Disease and acted as a specialist policy advisor to the Local Government Regulator (formally LACORS) on matters pertaining to Animal Health and Welfare, being regularly involved with Defra Policy and Working Groups, particularly relating to bovine TB.