BIODYNAMIC LAND TRUST - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Communications & Development Officer
Amber Lawes-Johnson started her career co-running a 6-acre market garden farm with a therapeutic outreach service. Alongside her farming she completed two degrees a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Food and Development. Alongside her education Amber has undertaken various research-based consultancy work acquiring expertise across food supply chain issues. Her skills focus is in interdisciplinary research, policy evaluation, data synthesis, and knowledge exchange. Amber is undertaking a PhD focusing on a public money for public goods framework for the UK livestock sector.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Chris Stockdale is a biodynamic farmer in Herefordshire, where, with his wife, family and neighbourly support, he keeps cattle, sheep and plants trees.. He is former Chair of the Biodynamic Association Council and also Vice Chair of the European Livestock Alliance. Chris brings his long experience of farming, working as a trustee, and in other types of caring organisations. He was formerly the Custodian Trustee representative on the Board for the Biodynamic Association.
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Manager
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Society Secretary
Gabriel Kaye has been an administrator/manager to associations, schools and similar organisations for many years. She has built a wealth of expertise in these areas. Gabriel has also been a trainer and consultant in organisational structures, charity requirements, administration and management for Steiner Schools. She was born on a biodynamic farm and is a keen biodynamic gardener. Gabriel has worked for the Biodynamic Association in Certification and is now its Executive Director. A co-founder of the Biodynamic Land Trust, she has also held a number of executive roles for the organisation. Gabriel stepped down from the Board in November 2020 after serving three terms of three years as a director.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Guest Director & Land Agent in Organic / Biodynamic Farming
- Land Agent
Harry Epsom is a Land Agent specialising in strategic estate management which incorporates regenerative agriculture. He founded and runs Epsom Rural, a consultancy practice, and advises clients across England on a range of rural business matters. Harry provides his advice through holistic thinking to help build resilience on his clients' farms. Born in Kenya, Harry grew up on a 36,000 acre ranch before studying in South Africa and then at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester. Harry has studied making farms work through regenerative agriculture as well as permaculture and holistic farm management, all of which he incorporates into his practice. We welcome Harry as guest director to support us with land-based matters.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
Ian Nicholson is an experienced IT professional having spent over 30 years in the UK financial sector and government departments. He brings in-depth experience working in highly competitive, cost-focused, political and rapidly-changing environments. Ian has also developed and implemented corporate service strategies and delivered effective solutions through process, people and systems innovation. These were to meet both customer and business needs.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board of Directors
Jon Nicholls started his career in agriculture but as someone who doesn't come from a farming background, found it difficult to earn a living from the land and changed his career to one in Finance. He has held several senior finance positions within Local Authority and in industry and brings to the Trust a range of skills which include: Marketing, HR, Strategy, logistics etc. He currently runs his own consultancy practice where he advises businesses on growth strategies and financial issues. Jon is also a volunteer mentor for several Universities and holds other Non-Executive positions with innovative business organisations and humanitarian groups.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Director of Stroud Common Wealth
Lucas Schoemaker has been a director of Stroud Common Wealth for over 18 years. This has generated new forms of social, community stewardship of housing, land, finance and resources. He is an experienced organisational developer, building value-driven funding cases and public presence of projects. Lucas achieves this through networking, news items and publicity material. He uses interpersonal, communication and financial skills to ensure financial viability and developmental needs are met. Lucas is also a Town Councillor for Stroud.
Job Titles:
- Land Project and Development Officer
Mari-Liis Nukis started farming Biodynamically after completing the BDAC apprenticeship in 2019. She has a keen interest in sustainable mixed farming with high animal welfare and is passionate about empowering young farmers and growers. Mari-Liis is currently working on a partnership project between a biodynamic CSA in Stroud and a refugee charity in Bristol, bridging the gap between inner city and rural communities through sustainable food.
Martin Neicho's early career was based in the charity sector, where he managed numerous small enterprises offering opportunities to disadvantaged groups of people. Following this, Martin branched into the Farming sector in the late 90s and obtained a BSc in horticulture in 1999 and became a legal advisor to businesses in the agricultural/horticultural field. His breadth of experience in this sector has led to him co-authoring consultant manuals used by ADAS consultants along with producing reports on the storage of organic crops for the Ministry of Fisheries and Food (MAFF - now DEFRA).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
For over 25 years Minni Jain has been working with communities to regenerate their landscapes and lives. As Operations Director of the Flow Partnership (www.theflowpartnership.org), she works on community-led management of floods and droughts using simple, low-cost traditional methods. She coordinates Waterways World- a practical water school of landscape regeneration skills and methods to achieve replenishment of the world's water bank and has helped set up the One Pond Fund to enable communities worldwide to resource their water projects. Her skills are in partnership building at all levels and together, achieving shared community objectives.