Ffion Thomas

Ffion graduated in 2019 as one of the first students on our MSc in Sustainable Food and Natural Resources. Before studying at CAT Ffion had previously worked in German banks and then as Head of Risk Management and Compliance at Mitsubishi UFJ Trust. Looking for a change in her career and life Ffion was able to transfer the research, practical and analytical skills she’d gained through her career, to her studies at CAT. During her studies, Ffion was part of the team looking at the changes to pesticide regulations in the lead up to Brexit. The important work Ffion and the team were doing reached the national press and Ffion was quoted in the Guardian. Her analysis highlighted that the changes could weaken the rigour of the process by which pesticides are approved and monitored in the UK.

Following on from this and the work Ffion undertook in her dissertation, she is now working towards her PhD focusing on agroecological approaches to managing ash dieback at the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University.

“Studying at CAT was life-changing, and has enabled me to take on a new career in an area I love, but which I never thought would be feasible, given I didn’t have a scientific background.”