Rachel Oliver is the Director of Communications at the National Farmers’ Union, the UK’s leading and largest farming and food trade association with 55,000 members, 70,000 associate members: employing over 700 staff in an international, national and regional network with an annual income of £22 million. As Director of Communications specific duties include presenting UK farming as a modern British industry; promoting awareness of and confidence in UK food and farming on the world stage.

She studied Law at SOAS and English Literature at King’s College in London. She has worked as Head of Public Affairs for Everychild (formerly The European Children’s Trust), Head of Campaigns for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and Press and Parliamentary Liaison Officer for The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. She was also caseworker and policy advisor to Nick Harvey MP and public relations office for Taunton Deane Borough Council.

In 1997, Rachel stood for Parliament in Nottingham North, and in 2001 in Totnes for the Liberal Democrat Party. Rachel has been a Devon Country Council School Governor and Mid Devon District Councillor. She lives with her children, Henry, Tom, Sophia and Charles, and is married to Patrick Gilmour, a solicitor who specialises in commercial law.