Ann (pictured) brought considerable experience in managing complex government consultations to the association and when will be greatly missed. She will remain a close contact with the Association as she has accepted a place on the board of RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture).

Ann's efforts have helped ensure slatted-floored pig units weren't brought to a halt by Europe's new pig welfare measures, and she was instrumental in preventing an all-out ban on animal carcase incineration.

Back room work like this, which involves much reading of turgid documents in search of bear-traps for the pig industry, brings a number of small wins which, that when aggregated over the years, has saved UK producers £millions.

Among her other successes is the handling of a Veterinary Medicines Directorate consultation which threatened to ban all pharmaceutical advertising. Had the ban gone ahead, it would have seriously hampered NPA's ability to communicate with its members through industry media and its own website.

Her departure from NPA marks the passing of an era, says NPA.