Gemma Payne

Gemma Payne is a Policy Advisor at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since April 2017, specializing in strategic stakeholder engagement. Previously, Gemma undertook a two-week Erasmus Traineeship for EU Officials with the European Commission in June 2018, focusing on the history and structure of EU institutions. Prior roles include Marketing Coordinator at the University of Southampton, where Gemma delivered market intelligence and created reports to inform senior decision-making, and Admissions and Enrolment Administrator at Southampton Solent University. Gemma also served as Programme Validation Coordinator at the University of Southampton and as Sixth Form Coordinator and Higher Education Advisor at Haggerston School, where recruitment significantly increased under Gemma's initiatives. Gemma began a career in customer service as a Revenue Protection Assistant at South West Trains Limited. Educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in French Studies from the University of Portsmouth and a PGCE in Education (Modern Foreign Languages) from the University of Southampton.