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.
Alistair Carmichael
Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee
Alistair Carmichael is the Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland. He has been the Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee since September 2024.
During the Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition government, Alistair was Deputy Chief Whip and Comptroller of HM Household before serving as the Secretary of State for Scotland from October 2013 to May 2015.
Alistair was born and raised on Islay. He first worked in the hotel industry before attending University of Aberdeen where he graduated with a degree in Law in 1992. After graduating, Alistair worked as a Procurator Fiscal Depute then moved into private practice as a solicitor, before being elected to Parliament in 2001.
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.
Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP
Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dame Angela Eagle DBE was appointed Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 September 2025. She was previously Minister of State (Minister for Border Security and Asylum) at the Home Office from 8 July 2024 to 6 September 2025. She was elected as the MP for Wallasey in the general election of July 2024. Angela was first elected to Parliament in 1992, when she became the first ever Labour Member of Parliament for Wallasey.
In her time as MP for Wallasey, Angela has served as a minister in several departments. Under Tony Blair, these included Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions; for Social Security and for Home Affairs. She also served as Opposition Whip under Tony Blair.
In Gordon Brown’s government she served as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Minister of State for Pensions and Ageing Society. In Ed Miliband’s shadow cabinet, she served as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. In 2011, she became Shadow Leader of the House. In 2015, she was appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, a position she held until June 2016.
During her time as a backbencher, Angela has sat on the Treasury Select Committee and the Intelligence and Security Committee and held a number of positions within the Labour Party including membership of the National Executive Committee and Chair of the Equalities Committee.
Jim Fairlie MSP
Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Scottish Government
Jim Fairlie began his career as a shepherd before becoming a hill farmer. He built a successful food and events-based catering business and has extensive experience in urban and rural affairs. He was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2021.
He was appointed Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity in February 2024.
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.
Huw Irranca-Davies MS
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government
Huw Irranca-Davies worked for many years in public and private sector leisure management and as a Senior Lecturer in Higher Education before entering politics. In February 2002 he was elected as the Labour MP for Ogmore in a parliamentary by-election, a seat which he held until 2016 when he chose to stand as the Assembly Member for Ogmore at the National Assembly for Wales. He was duly elected to the Assembly (now Senedd Cymru) in 2016.
In Westminster Huw served in several roles including as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ministers in DWP, Northern Ireland and DCMS; as a Government Whip; as the Under-Secretary of State for Wales; and as Environment Minister in Defra. From 2010 he served as Shadow Energy Minister, and then as Shadow Minister for Food, Farming and Rural Affairs. In May 2015, he was elected as the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, a position held until May 2016 when he was elected to the National Assembly of Wales – now Senedd Cymru. Up to his appointment as Cabinet Secretary, Huw was Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and a member of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee. Huw was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on 21 March 2024.
He was appointed Deputy First Minister on 11 September 2024, in addition to retaining responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs matters.
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.
Andrew Muir
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland
Andrew Muir MLA is Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and Alliance Party MLA for North Down.
He previously served as Alliance Party Chief Whip, Finance and Infrastructure Spokesperson and leading party efforts for Restoration and Reform of Assembly and Executive.
Aged 47, prior to joining the Northern Ireland Assembly in late 2019 Andrew served for nearly a decade as Councillor including a term as Mayor of North Down 2013/14.
Before becoming a MLA Andrew worked for Northern Ireland’s Public Transport provider Translink as a Senior Project Manager overseeing roll out of multi-million pound Future Ticketing System Project.
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.
Emma Reynolds MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Emma Reynolds MP was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 5 September 2025.
She previously held the position of Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 14 January 2025 to 5 September 2025. Prior to that, she was Parliamentary Secretary at HM Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions from 9 July 2024 to 14 January 2025.
She was elected as the MP for Wycombe in July 2024.
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.