The Oxford Farming Conference

Abi Reader

President, NFU Cymru

Abi is a third-generation dairy farmer milking 200 cows on the outskirts of Cardiff, with arable crops, horticulture and an agroforestry trial. Co-founder of CowsOnTour, she champions farming in schools and communities. Abi is President of NFU Cymru and was awarded an MBE in 2019 for services to farming.

Amy Hughes

EmpowerAg Ltd

Amy Hughes grew up on a North Yorkshire beef and sheep farm where the hardest problems were never the stock or the weather – they were the people. Through EmpowerAg, the qualified mediator and podcast host now works with farming families on succession, conflict and the conversations nobody wants to start.

Andrew Muir

Minister of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs

Andrew Muir MLA was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland on 03 February 2024. Andrew grew up in Bangor, County Down and graduated from Ulster University with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies.

Andrew is currently an MLA for North Down, representing constituents at the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2019. He has previously served as a Councillor for nearly a decade, including a term as Mayor of North Down. Prior to being elected an MLA, Andrew worked for Northern Ireland’s Public Transport provider Translink as a Senior Project Manager. 

A keen runner, Andrew has completed eleven Marathons with a Personal Best of 3:07. He founded both Bangor and Crawfordsburn free weekly 5k Parkruns and is a member of North Down Athletic Club.

Cameron Wilson

The Sheep Game

Cammy is a first generation farmer from Ayrshire in Scotland. Along with his partner Lizzy and three young children he farms 1,300 ewes consisting of north country cheviots and mules and also a herd of pedigree beef shorthorn cattle....and one Jersey cow. He is also well-known for his endeavours as The Sheep Game on social media where he shares his journey with the viewers.

David Rose

Farmer & Founder, FarmEco and Vitagri

David Rose is a third-generation Nottinghamshire farmer and Nuffield Scholar. At Home Farm, he has spent more than 25 years challenging conventional thinking, developing FarmEco as a living example of how farming, agroforestry, food production, community and wellbeing can work together to create a resilient and sustainable farming business.

Lt Gen Richard Nugee

Ministry of Defence

General Richard Nugee served in the British Army for 35 years, specialising in operations and personnel roles for the Army and Defence. He wrote a Review of Defence's approach to Climate Change and Sustainability and has since earned international recognition for highlighting the security implications of climate andnature.

James Brown

Director, The Lapwing Estate

James Brown is a serial entrepreneur in AI, robotics and sustainability, and a recognised leader in sustainable food production and land use. After selling his family's agrochemical business, he refocused on growing more with less. He owns Pollybell Farms, one of the UK's leading organic vegetable growers. He is Co-Founder and Chairman of Earth Rover, whose AI-driven CLAWS robot weeds crops with pulses of light instead of chemicals. Through Reverse Coal and FLOW (Farmed Landscape Optimised Water), he is developing large-scale land-use projects in the Humber region that link peatland restoration, green steel, water security and year-round UK food production.

Jim Holland

Founder of Carma

Jim Holland is a Royal Navy veteran and founder of Carma, a B Corp social enterprise connecting businesses with nature restoration and veteran support. Working across the UK, Carma delivers tree planting and nature-based projects that create environmental impact while funding opportunities for veterans to reconnect with nature, purpose and employment.

Joe Towers

Beef & Sheep Farmer, Beef & Sheep Farmer

Joe Towers farms 290 acres at Cinder Hill Farm, Lancashire, on a 15-year Duchy of Lancaster tenancy. He runs sheep, cattle and an indoor calf-rearing enterprise with his partner Hannah, while transitioning the farm to silvopasture. He grew up on a Lancashire dairy farm and spent over a decade in milk marketing.

Jon Williams

Head of Public and Governmental Affairs, BASF

Jon Williams is Head of Public and Governmental Affairs at BASF. His agricultural career began in research and development, before taking on R&D responsibilities at home and then on into Europe, including responsibility for a data and digital hub. He brings that industry experience to public affairs.

Louise Manning

Director at LJM Associates Ltd

Dr Louise Manning brings a rich career background spanning consultancy, family farming, education and applied research. She undertakes strategic consultancy, advisory roles and research for governments, and business. Louise was the author of the 2026 Oxford Farming Conference Report speaking regularly in the media, focusing on agri-food chain transition and business robustness.

Natasha Edwards

The Garlic Farm, Isle of Wight

Natasha runs The Garlic Farm Isle of Wight with her family. This diversified business includes garlic growing, livestock, a range of garlic products, farm shop, restaurant & holiday properties. The farm is Soil Association organic, Pasture for Life and BCorp certified and the certification journey is what inspired Natasha's Nuffield Scholarship study on Farm Certifications, which she completed in 2026.

Martin Hanson

Head of Agriculture HSBC UK

Martin Hanson leads the HSBC Agricultural Business for the UK which consists of over one hundred agricultural banking specialists across the nation. Martin’s Leadership experience started over 30 years ago and since then he has been at the forefront of Commercial, Corporate and Agricultural banking teams. His agricultural experience stretches back even further having been a rural Relationship Manager in Yorkshire 25 years ago.

Phil Gorringe

A R Gorringe and Partners

Phil Gorringe farms at Lower Blakemere in Herefordshire, a Duchy of Cornwall Focus Farm. His regenerative approach combines direct drilling, cover crops and a Stabiliser suckler herd. From worm casts to fermented molasses, he’s willing to experiment—and share what works, what doesn’t and what it costs.

Dr Rosie Bryson

ADAS RSK Ltd

Dr Rosie Bryson is the Research Director for ADAS Sustainable Agricultural Systems based near Cambridge and the Chair of the Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange. She is passionate about the importance of translational research and cross-industry collaboration to ensure that innovations have measurable impacts for farmers and growers.

Ruari Martin

Farm and Estate Director, Castletown Estate

Ruari is Farm and Estate Director at Castletown Estate, Cumbria. The business has diversified activities including in hand and contract farming, environmental, property, amenity, energy and diversification across 6500a under management. The core aims of the business being to harmonise multiple enterprise streams as well as showcase how farming and the environment work hand in hand to maximise deliverables in both areas. Ruari studied BSc Agricultural Livestock Science at Myerscough College and MSc International Business, Leadership and Management at University of York. He has been a member of the NFU National Dairy Board, AHDB strategic Dairy Farmer, AHDB Beef and Lamb Agri Leader and AHDB Environment Baseline project member farm. He was a finalist for Beef Farmer of the year 2024.

Sarah Hearne

Chief Science and Innovation Officer, CIMMYT

Sarah Hearne is the Chief Science and Innovation Officer at CIMMYT. Passionate about farming systems research, she has over two decades of experience in agricultural R4D, working in public and private sectors across East, Southern and West Africa, Latin America and Europe.

Satish Kumar

Editor Emeritus of Resurgence & Ecologist, founder of Schumacher College, and author of 'Peace is Possible'

Satish Kumar is a world-renowned author and international speaker, best known for his 8000-mile nuclear-disarmament peace walk, spanning two and a half years, to the capitals of four nuclear-armed countries. Now in his 90s, he has devoted his life to campaigning for ecological regeneration, peace, social justice, and spiritual fulfilment.

Tim Field

Founder and Facilitator of the North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster and a Director of Evenlode Landscape Recovery Ltd

Tim Field is Founder and Facilitator of the North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster and a Director of Evenlode Landscape Recovery Ltd. He leads one of the UK's most ambitious farmer-led landscape recovery initiatives, bringing together landowners and partners to restore nature while supporting resilient farm businesses. Tim works closely with government, environmental organisations and private investors to develop practical solutions for biodiversity, water quality and natural flood management. He is a passionate advocate for collaborative, landscape-scale approaches that deliver lasting benefits for farming, nature and local communities.

Will Jolly

Director at Jolly Brightwell Ltd

Will Jolly manages an FBT as landlord in south-west Norfolk and a contract farming agreement as farmer in East Suffolk, both farms entirely irrigation-dependent for high-value crop production. He is a director of Felixstowe HydroCycle, an innovative, farmer-led East Suffolk water supply and management company.