 The Awards Chair is Countryside Alliance Executive Chairman Sir Barney White Spunner. Barney is a writer and countryman with first-hand knowledge of farming and wide countryside interests. He lives in Dorset with his wife and three children, and is a long term supporter of all country sports. As well as being a regular contributor to The Field magazine he was a former editor of Baily’s Hunting Directory and President of the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles. He has had a distinguished military career and was knighted in 2011. He commanded British forces in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq and then took over as the Army Commander in 2009. He left the Army in December 2011 and is now leading the charge for rural life.
 Clarissa Dickson-Wright is a well known tv cook and countrywoman, whose show "Clarissa and the Countryman" with Sir Johnny Scott, brought a view of the countryside as it really is into the nation's sitting rooms for the first time. Clarissa has been a tireless campaigner for rural issues, not least for the Countryside Alliance on the issue of hunting. She is also a passionate campaigner for honest food labelling and a fair deal for our food producers and is a noted food historian.
Philip Johnston is The Daily Telegraph's Assistant Editor for Home News. Philip writes about the broad issues facing the UK, including crime and policing. His interest in rural life has seen him to tackle topical subjects such as food waste, road pricing and fly tipping. Philip represents the Daily Telegraph on the judging panel; the newspaper supports the Village Shop/ Post Office category which applauds the humble village shop - so often the heart of any community.
 Emma Penny is editor of Farmers Guardian, agriculture’s national newspaper, and comes from a strong farming background. Her parents farm north of Aberdeen on a mixed farm with pedigree Limousin cattle, suckler cows and arable crops, and Emma studied agriculture at Aberdeen University. She has been a journalist for more than 15 years, and has been involved in covering farming, road haulage and logistics and construction markets – but agriculture and farming are definitely her favourites! She also has a horse, and is a keen participant in affiliated eventing.
 Chris Dewbury is the Sales Director for Hunter Boot, supporters of the Rural Hero Awards. 2010 is the first year of Hunter's involvement in the Awards and we are sure Hunter and the Awards will be a good fit (pardon the pun). Chris is an active, passionate sportsman with upwards of 20 years experience within the sports and lifestyle industry. He is a keen shot and administers a small shoot in North Hampshire with his trusty black labs. When he’s not out with his gun he’s down on the Test casting a fly or tucking a surfboard under his arm and heading for the waves on the coast. Summer also sees him under canvas taking in the tunes at Glastonbury. In his spare time he retires to his shed and garden feasting on local produce washed down with a drop. However, he still has time to be a devoted farther to his two girls, and a major challenge to Sarah, his wife who finds it much easier to train polo ponies.
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