Considered to be one of the most capable and influential people in Agriculture House, Ann Derwin is heading for Foreign Affairs. Derwin was promoted to assistant secretary in March 2015, taking the role vacated following Philip Carroll’s retirement.

She had been the chief economist in the Department and was seen by many as a potential successor to current secretary general Aidan O’Driscoll.

Derwin was one of the main architects of Food Wise 2025, the follow-on from Food Harvest 2020.