Roger leads the Rural Economies policy team, that works to help ensure that government’s economic policies and programmes are equitable for rural businesses, people and communities. Their work encompasses research and analysis of trends and challenges in rural economies; monitoring rural impact of economic and business policies and programmes; advocacy of rural needs and potential; and advice to those making policies and delivering support for employment, business, households and places.

This builds on similar work in the CRC’s predecessor organisation, the Countryside Agency, which also drew on 25 years experience in the practice and policy of rural economies and land use across the UK and internationally. This was gained in management of rural estates in private, charitable and public ownership; with the National Farmers Union from policy and practice of public works, land compensation, woodlands and access issues; at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on forestry policies and practice; and work for EU and UN organisations.