Our governance
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-28)

The main decision-making and management committees at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

APHA Steering Board

The Steering Board meets 6 times a year. It’s responsible for:
- setting the strategic direction of the agency
- making sure the agency meets its targets
- managing risk
- managing how we work and communicate with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Welsh Government and Scottish Government
The Steering Board is chaired by Elizabeth Buchanan, APHA Lead Non-Executive Director. Members and attendees are:
- Richard Lewis, APHA Chief Executive
- Lizzie Peers, Non-Executive Director
- Laura Green, Non-Executive Director
- Mike Venables, Non-Executive Director
- Kevin Ingram, Defra Finance Director for APHA
- Jenny Stewart, Director of Science
- Dan Horton, APHA Director of Science Capability (interim)
- Nicola Hirst, APHA Service Delivery Director
- Richard Knight, Transformation Director
- Richard McCart, APHA Strategy, Planning and Innovation Director (interim)
- Irene Cristofaro, APHA Veterinary Director (interim)
- Christine Middlemiss, UK Chief Veterinary Officer
- Nicola Spence, Defra Chief Plant Health Officer
- Anna Jenkins, Defra HR Director for APHA
- Pamela Thompson, Defra Director of Animal and Plant Health and Welfare (interim)
APHA Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

The committee meets 4 times a year with more meetings if required. It’s responsible for:
- supporting the executive board in managing risk
- assessing the agency’s performance
- reviewing the agency’s financial management
- reporting the results of the internal and external audits to the Steering Board
It’s chaired by Lizzie Peers, Non-Executive Director. Other members are:
- Mike Venables, Non-Executive Director
- David Horne, Independent Member
Regular attendees at the meeting are:
- Richard Lewis, APHA Chief Executive
- Kevin Ingram, Defra Finance Director for APHA
- Russ Baldwin, APHA Head of Finance and Business Partnering
- Natalie Towers, Defra group Chief Internal Auditor, Government Internal Audit Agency
- Rebecca Andrew, APHA Risk and Assurance Manager
- National Audit Office
APHA Executive Board

The Executive Board meets monthly and is responsible for:
- the day-to-day running of APHA
- implementing improvements
- monitoring delivery against targets
- authorising and managing the agency’s change programme
It is chaired by Richard Lewis, APHA Chief Executive. The other members are:
- Kevin Ingram, Defra Finance Director for APHA
- Jenny Stewart, Director of Science
- Dan Horton, APHA Director of Science Capability (interim)
- Nicola Hirst, APHA Service Delivery Director
- Richard McCart, APHA Strategy, Planning and Innovation Director (interim)
- Richard Knight, Transformation Director
- Irene Cristofaro, APHA Veterinary Director (interim)
- Anna Jenkins, Defra HR Director for APHA
There are 4 APHA sub-committees, which support the Executive Board.

APHA sub-committees

The APHA sub-committees mirror the 5 pillars of the APHA organisational strategy: Innovate, Protect, Promote, People and Place.

The sub-committees meet monthly ahead of the Executive Board. This allows for urgent matters to be escalated to the Executive Board if necessary. The sub-committees have delegated authority to make decisions relevant to the strategy pillars and day-to-day operational matters.

The remit and membership of the sub-committees are being reviewed.

APHA Science Advisory Board

The board meets 4 times a year. It supports the APHA Executive Board and Accounting Officer in their responsibilities for the oversight and assurance of APHA scientific work.

It’s chaired by Laura Green, Non-Executive Director. Other members are from a range of external scientists and experts working on veterinary and government science and research.

Joint Health and Safety Governance Board

The Board meets monthly and it’s responsible for ensuring APHA continually seeks to raise health and safety standards. It oversees the:

implementation of the joint APHA and Defra health and safety strategies

delivery of APHA health, safety and wellbeing plans

maintenance and management of the Weybridge site infrastructure

It is co-chaired by Jenny Stewart, Director of Science and the Director of Defra group Property.

Members include senior managers representing different areas of APHA and Defra group Property.

APHA board and committee meetings

See information on APHA executive and non-executive board and committee members, meetings and attendance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/688a0648e1a850d72c409203/APHA_governance_structure_and_meetings_2024_to_2025.pdf) (PDF, 185 KB, 12 pages)