The Oxford Farming Conference
Stuart Armitage
Farm Manager, The Warriner School Farm
Stuart Armitage has worked in the animal industry for over 15 years, now managing a school farm as an educational resource, as a business and running events that contribute to the Warriner School Farm Trust.
Adam Bedford
Collaborative Projects Director, Fera Science
Adam Bedford is Collaborative Projects Director at Fera Science, an agri-food applied science organisation based in York. In his spare time he interviews authors as part of Fieldwork Book Club, a group reading books on food, farming and the natural world.
Jack Bobo
Executive Director, UCLA Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies
Previous to his current role, Jack led the Food Systems Institute at the University of Nottingham. His extensive experience spans roles as the Director of Global Food and Water Policy at The Nature Conservancy, CEO of Futurity, a food foresight company, and as a senior advisor on global food policy at the U.S. Department of State. Jack is the author of Why Smart People Make Bad Food Choices, a book that unpacks how our food environment has fueled the global obesity crisis and highlights the role of behavioral science in tackling food policy challenges. Known for his expertise in global food systems, Jack has delivered over 500 keynote speeches across 50 countries, inspiring audiences on topics like food security and agricultural innovation. He holds a J.D., an M.S. in Environmental Science, a B.S. in Biology, and a B.A. in Psychology and Chemistry, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to reshaping food policy and sustainability.
Elliott Brady Grant
Visiting Fellow, Cambridge University, Institute for Manufacturing
Dr Elliott Grant expertise is at the intersection of technology and agriculture. As CEO of Alphabet’s “Other Bet” in agriculture, and CEO of HarvestMark and ShopWell he led innovations across the global food system, and has authored over 50 patents. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University.
George Collison
Consultant, Collison and Associates Limited
George Collison is an agri-rural consultant focussed on agritech, economic development, water management, sustainability, energy, and policy development across a range of projects. He studied at Maastricht in the Netherlands, and now lives part time in the UK and Germany.
David Crowfoot
Director/Lean Specialist, Footwork First Limited
David Crowfoot, director of Footwork First and cofounder of cowzen, applies Lean principles beyond manufacturing. Collaborating with dairy vets colleagues, we have adapted Lean for dairy farming, enabling farmers to boost their efficiency. The approach benefits farmers financially, enhances herd welfare, and delivers environmental gains across the supply chain.
Martin Hanson
Head of Agriculture, HSBC
Martin Hanson leads the HSBC Agricultural Business for the UK which consists of 100 specialists across all the home nations.
His agricultural experience began as a rural Manager in Yorkshire 30 years ago and he has now lead the HSBC UK business for over five years of significant change.
Rachel Harries
Farmer, R & KR Harries, Llwynmendy Uchaf
Rachel Harries is a wife to Rheinallt and mother to Noah, 11, Morgan, 9 and Faith who's 8 years old. Rachel farms alongside her husband Rheinallt at Llwynmendy Uchaf, Bethlehem, which is run as a Spring calving dairy farming system, milking 220 head of Crossbred cows. Rachel has years of experience in the role as she was born and bred on the farm that her and Rheinallt now farm after taking tenancy off Rachel's parents in Autumn 2016. Rachel was raised in the rural community and has developed a deep respect for the land and the values of hard work, resilience and stewardship.
Martha Headley
Commercial Manager, Withernay Ltd
Martha Headley is Commercial Manager at Withernay Ltd, her family business that specialise in re-purposing former foods to produce feed for young livestock. She is also studying Animal Science at Anglia Ruskin University and plays an active role in the AIC Future Forum, promoting careers for the next generation in the animal feed industry.
Dan Humphries
Director, Cowzen (Dairy Insight)
Dan is a dairy vet and consultant based in Shropshire but works with dairy customers and the agri-businesses across the UK and further afield. His work focusses on improving operational efficiency, profitability and dairy cow welfare.
Lucy Jenner
PhD researcher, University of Edinburgh
Lucy is an environmental scientist focused on land use. She works closely with farmers and other landowners to understand and support land use change, and outside of her PhD works as Head of Natural Capital Consultancy at Savills. Daughter of a soil scientist, Lucy grew up immersed in the farming world and is Lucy now based in Scotland.
Rizvan Khalid
Managing Director, Euro Quality Lambs
Rizvan is Managing Director of Euro Quality Lambs, an export-oriented lamb abattoir based in the Shropshire Hills. He is a director of AIMS, the meat trade association, and served on the AHDB Beef & Lamb board. He is a Chartered Accountant and has a Masters in Meat Science & Technology.
Simon King
Farm Manager, J Wharton (Agriculture) Ltd
Simon King is a Farm Manager for a mixed farming business in North Lincolnshire.
Douwe Korting
Developer, guide and communicator for sustainable food and farming systems
Douwe Korting from the Netherlands, has a background in international land & water management and constructive farming journalism. As a co-founder he was a board member from 2015 till 2023 of the first cooperative ‘Herenboeren Farm’ in the world. In the past ten years he was involved in e.g. the development of more such community driven food systems.
Laura Lukasik
Founder & President, Numen Bio
Laura Lukasik, President of Numen Bio and Co-Founder of the Rural Women’s Network, is globally recognized for founding Latin America’s first agtech start-up in agricultural risk management. A former corporate leader and farmer advocate, she now co-develops regenerative portfolios with farmers across Latin America and Africa, building ecosystems that restore natural balance, generate additional profit and lasting wealth for farmers, and unlock market value.
Louise Manning
Managing Director, LJM Associates Ltd
Louise Manning, PhD is Managing Director of LJM Associates Ltd. She is an academic, writer, communicator, and educator. She works with governments, public and private organisations and is passionate about food and farming and supporting communities all around the world and helping them to thrive. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers, written and edited multiple books, upported education programmes for the sector and is a frequent guest on webinars, podcasts and conference platforms.
Ben Martin
Business Owner, Thrive In Farming
Ben Martin is the founder of Thrive in Farming, a people-first recruitment business for agriculture. With experience as a farm manager and tenant farmer, he also leads a community for farm staff, championing wellbeing and development across the sector.
Richard Negus
Hedgelayer, Conservationist and Author
Richard Negus is a professional hedgelayer, award-winning conservationist, writer and author of the acclaimed 'WORDS FROM THE HEDGE'. He is recognised as one of the leaders in hedgerow management and rejuvenation, and his writing champions the people, work and wildlife of the British countryside.
Richard Palmer
Managing Director, Willisbrook Orchards
Richard Palmer is the Managing Director of Willisbrook Orchards, a fifth generation family business with 80 hectares of apples, kiwifruit and grapes in Nelson, New Zealand. Richard currently resides in Athens, where his wife is the Australian Ambassador to Greece.
Sue Pritchard
CEO, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission
Sue Pritchard is the Chief Executive at the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, leading the organisation to bring people together to act on climate, nature and health crises, through fairer, more sustainable food systems, and a just transition for rural communities and the countryside. Sue is also an organic farmer.
Dame Fiona Reynolds
Speaker
After a long career in conservation leading both CNP and CPRE before being Director-General of the National Trust from 2000-2012, Fiona Reynolds was Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 2012-2021.
She is now Chair of the National Audit Office, the Council of the Royal Agricultural University, the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, and the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission; and a trustee of the Grosvenor Estate.
Mike Rivington
Senior Scientist, James Hutton Institute
Mike studies climate change impacts on land use, Natural Capital and ecosystem services, using climate projections to visualise the future through spatially applied crop simulation models, agrometeorological indicators and Land Capability for Agriculture mapping. Mike is the Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme Theme Lead on ‘Human Impacts on the Environment’.
Emily Weaver Roads
Interim International Director, Scotch Whisky Association
Emily Weaver Roads joined the SWA in 2021, becoming Interim International Director in August 2025. She has built her career within agri-food and drink trade associations, including various roles at the NFU, focusing on international trade and policy advocacy to support sustainable and responsible growth.
Tracey Roan
Dairy Industry Consultant, Owen Farm Sevices
Tracey joined Owen Farm Services in 2025, bringing policy expertise from NFU Scotland and a lifetime in dairying. Alongside her family, she milks 240 pedigree Holsteins in South West Scotland, a hands-on, 365-day job! A champion of fair milk contracts and innovation, she also competes in Strong Woman events—proving milk really does build strength!
Kate Russell
Managing Director, Tellus Natural Capital
Kate Russell is an independent Natural Capital consultant, Agricultural Valuer, Chartered Surveyor and Chartered Environmentalist. She co-founded Tellus Natural Capital Ltd in 2021 to help farmers and landowners across the UK to prepare for and take advantage of emerging markets in ecosystem services.
Robert Shepherd
Farmer & Conservationist, Allenford Farms
Robert Shepherd is a mixed farmer from Hampshire. He is Chairman and co-founder of the Environmental Farmers Group. Robert set up the first Farmer Cluster Group in 2013. He was course director of the IAgrM Leadership Development Programme.
Fellow of The Royal Agricultural Society. 2024 winner of the Farmers Weekly ‘Gamechanger Award’.
Gail Soutar
Head of Trade & Business Strategy, National Farmers Union
Gail Soutar is Head of Trade and Business Strategy at the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), where she leads policy development across the business-critical areas shaping UK agriculture. From international trade and taxation to planning, infrastructure, skills, and innovation, Gail drives strategic efforts to help farmers become more competitive, profitable, and productive. With more than 23 years’ experience working on UK, EU, and international trade and agriculture policy Gail has a wealth of experience and contacts across government, regulators, and the supply chain to ensure NFU members’ interests are championed at every level. Born and brought up on the family croft on the North Coast of Scotland, Gail brings a passion for practical policy development and implementation. Outside of work, she’s a keen golfer, married to Alan, and proud mum to Cameron—balancing strategic thinking with family life and fairways.
Molly Vasanthakumar
Programs Manager, Stockfree Farming
Molly graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. Inspired by her fathers transition away from livestock farming and into stockfree horticulture, she completed a MSc in Sustainable Food and Natural Resources and now works for Stockfree Farming, providing support to farmers and crofters who wish to move away from livestock agriculture into alternative forms of land management.
Sivalingam Vasanthakumar (Kumar)
Farmer and Chef, Kumar's Dosa Bar and Farm
Kumar was bought up on a dairy farm in Sri Lanka and moved to the UK to study an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture at Wye College, University of London. After spending over three decades working on various agricultural projects, in 2014 he bought a flock of sheep and started Kumar’s Dosa Bar, cooking and selling south Indian street food.
After initially combining the enterprise with sheep farming, in 2019 he made the decision to transition to grow fresh produce on his farm to supply the Dosa Bar. Kumar now farms a holding in Somerset, growing all the fresh produce needed for the Dosa Bar.
Tom York
Farm Business Consultant and FCN Volunteer
Tom York entered agriculture from a non-farming background, graduating with First Class Honours and becoming a voice for resilience. A volunteer with FCN, collectively he has raised over £20,000, through various initiatives and endurance events. His leadership, advocacy, and passion for mental health in farming have earned him national recognition.