EFFP - Key Persons
Food and farming have always been my passion ever since I was a child. After graduating with a Degree in Agriculture at Seale Hayne, I have spent all my working life career in the agri food industry which I love.
Initially, I worked for BOCM Pauls advising dairy farmers in Oxfordshire and then Somerset. Later in my career at BOCM Pauls I became Marketing Manager working from Head Office in Ipswich. In 2000, I moved to leading dairy nutrition business, Volac, working in several commercial and marketing roles. My final role at Volac was as Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability and I left the business in 2023.
I really enjoy forging collaboration between industry in Government which is why I currently really enjoy Chairing the Food & Drink Board in Wales for the Welsh Government. I also sit on UK Government "Strategic Trade Advisory Group", "Food & Drink Sector Council" and "Food & Drink Export Council". I'm also proud to be a Trehane Trust Trustee.
I joined EFFP as Partner in 2023 and look forward to working with my fellow Partners to make an impact for the benefit of our clients and industry in general.
I'm a farmer at heart. I started farming when I was 11 years old, milking cows and driving tractors on a mixed farm in the Derbyshire village I was bought up in. After graduating from Seale Hayne College with a degree in agriculture, I worked for a variety of dairy and arable businesses before becoming CEO of a regional milk cooperative. I joined EFFP at its inception in 2004 and in 2010 was involved in the management buyout of the business.
Over the past 19 years, I've worked with a wide range of agri-food businesses to create, deliver and implement inventive new supply chains and business strategies. I'm known for my ability to see the wood for the trees, restless creative energy and drive to get things done.
I started my career working across North America and Europe advising Fortune 500 companies in Strategy & Change Management. Following that, I went on to facilitate and mediate multi-stakeholder processes in energy and environmental policy. After working as part of the buying team at Tesco, I became fascinated with the business of food. While looking after various food categories, I especially enjoyed building relationships with suppliers to create more sustainable and profitable supply chains. With a keen desire to leave the world a better place, I joined and founded a series of start-ups helping food companies, farmers, and citizens become more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.