Professor Michael Winter

About me:

Michael is a rural policy specialist and social scientist with particular interests in applying inter-disciplinary approaches to policy-relevant research and in direct engagement in the policy process. His current research focuses on i. the historical and contemporary geography and sociology of west country agriculture, ii. the contribution social science can make to nature recovery.

He chairs the Devon Local Nature Partnership. 

Previous appointments include: Board member of Natural England (2016-2023); Member of Natural England's Science Advisory Committee and Chair of its Social Science Expert Panel (2016-25); member of the UK JNCC (2018-23); Board member of Rothamsted Research (2014-23); Chair of North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Partnership (2012-20); Visiting Programme Director in Food Security at Wilton Park (Foreign Office), member of Defra’s Panel of Agricultural & Environmental Economists, the National Ecosystem Assessment Expert Panel, & DEFRA’s Science Advisory Council, and a Commissioner for the Commission for Rural Communities from its inception in 2006 until its abolition in 2013. In 1999-2000, he was a member of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales chaired by Lord Burns. In 2008-09 he vice-chaired an inquiry into the future for the uplands reporting to the Prime Minister. In 2018 he was a member of the Defra Bovine TB Strategy Review Panel chaired by Professor Sir Charles Godfray and wqa smmbe nrofhe same group when it was reconvened in 2025.