Leading figures from the farming sector are set to come together for the National Farmers’ Union Annual Conference next month under the theme ‘Backing the Future of British Farming’.
The NFU 2016 conference is taking place at the ICC in Birmingham on February 23-24 and includes a key note speech from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Liz Truss MP, as well as speakers from the world of banking, farming and horticulture. The hugely important EU referendum will be debated on the second day of conference.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said he was delighted to introduce a lineup of world class speakers at the event. He said: “This year, the NFU will focus on providing sustainable solutions for improving the future for Britain’s farmers.
“The last 12 months have been difficult for farmers and growers and we are pleased to be able to focus on the areas of growth in the coming year and how we can help strengthen an already resilient industry.”
Members can submit their questions for the speakers ahead of the event next month.
Below is a list of speakers throughout the agricultural sector who will be providing speeches at the event:
Minette Batters: NFU Deputy President
Minette grew up living and working on-farm, with no succession tenancy available. It wasn’t until 1998 that she was able to secure a long-term Farm Business Tenancy. She built the business from nothing to over 300 head of stock, finishing Angus cattle on a premium scheme for a major retailer.
Minette has also diversified into horse livery, converted a 17th century tithe barn into a wedding and corporate events venue, and runs a catering business which specialises in using home grown produce. Minette now employs two full time and up to 20 part time staff. More recently Minette has worked with industry and retailers to develop ‘Ladies in Beef’ and the ‘Great British Beef Week’.
She has been an NFU member from grassroots through to County Chairman; she served as Wiltshire’s Council delegate and also as Regional Board Chairman for the South West. Minette has also been a member of NFU Governance Board and the agricultural representative on the SW Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Committee. She is also a focus writer and is regularly interviewed for local and national media.
Mark Berrisford-Smith: Head of Economics for HSBC’s commercial banking business in the UK
Having studied Economics at Sussex and London Universities, Mark is now Head of Economics for HSBC’s commercial banking business in the UK.
He is responsible for advising the Bank in the UK and its business customers on developments in the British and global economies. Within this remit he takes a particular interest in monitoring the performance of European countries, and also China, as well as the evolving devolution and decentralization agenda in the UK.
He speaks regularly at conferences and events organised or sponsored by HSBC (attending around 150 such events a year).
Guy Gagen: Chief Arable Adviser, NFU
As Chief Arable Adviser, Guy has been the National Farmers’ Union national policy lead for cereals, oilseeds and protein crops sector advice to members, staff, officeholders and directors since 2005. Within NFU he is responsible for management of combinable crops team and farmer representative combinable crops board.
Main activities include lobbying on legislative and commercial issues affecting farming businesses including grain contracts and how science and agriculture connect.
Before joining NFU Guy was Agricultural Economist at the British Potato Council and previously ADAS Arable and Business management Consultant in South East England. He graduated from the University of Reading in 1996 with a B.Sc. in Agriculture (Hons) and attended school in NSW Australia.
Mike Hambly: Chairman, NFU Combinable Crops Board
Mike farms 500 acres as a family partnership in Cornwall.
Enterprises include 225 beef cattle all finished to slaughter from bought in dairy calves and 1,000 tonnes of combinable crops annually including rapeseed, soft wheat, barley and milling oats for breakfast cereals.
On leaving college and before returning to the home farm, Mike spent 20 years in the agricultural supply trade. During that time, he performed roles as sales representative, agronomist, and ran the grain division for a local co-operative before heading up a national trading company’s seeds, fertilizers and forage additives sections. He also provided agricultural business management consultancy for both private clients and government organizations.
Mike studied Agricultural Technology at Harper Adams Agricultural University, graduating with a B.Sc. degree and completed the Worshipful Company of Farmers Advanced Farm Management and Challenge of Rural Leadership courses. He is currently the Chairman for NFU of England and Wales Combinable Crops Board and in Brussels Vice Chairman European Oilseed Alliance and Vice Chairman Copa-Cogeca Cereals Working Group.
Prof David Hughes: Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London, and Visiting Professor at the Royal Agricultural University
David is a much sought-after speaker at international conferences and seminars on global food industry issues, particularly consumer and retail trends.
He has lived and worked in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Africa and South East Asia and has extensive experience as an international advisory board member with food companies and financial service organisations on three continents. For 20 years, he was a Non-Executive Director of Berry Gardens Ltd – a U.K. farmer-owned berry fruit business (£230 million turnover in 2014). With his American business partner, David established, grew and sold a branded fresh produce business which served supermarkets in the USA. David’s views are frequently sought by TV, radio and the printed press.
Connor McVeigh: Supply Chain Director, McDonald’s UK
Connor joined McDonald’s UK in November 2013 as Supply Chain Director.
McDonald’s has 1250 restaurants in the UK, a great many of which are now open 24/7. Connor and his team work with over 17,500 British and Irish farmers and a range of suppliers to source ingredients, manage logistics and ensure quality standards to satisfy the three million customers who walk through the doors each day.
With over 20 years’ experience in the food retail sector, Connor previously held the role of Category Buying Director at Morrisons and spent 16 years in a number of senior Trading and Operational roles at Sainsbury’s.
Meurig Raymond: NFU President
Meurig farms 3,500 acres in Pembrokeshire in partnership with his twin brother, eldest son and nephew. The farm grows 2,200 acres of combinable crops and 335 acres of potatoes. There are 620 dairy cows, with 300 followers. The farm also has 600 head of beef cattle and around 2,500 store lambs, fattened during winter.
Meurig, born in 1952, was elected local branch Chairman of the NFU in 1979 and Pembrokeshire County Chairman in 1989. In 1992 he became the Welsh NFU Treasurer and served as the Pembrokeshire delegate on NFU Council between 1995 and 2004.
He served as Vice-Chairman of the NFU's Cereals Committee between 1999 and 2001 and served on the Agricultural Wages Board for six years from 1998. He was elected as Vice President of the NFU in 2004, became Deputy President in 2006 and President in 2014.
Meurig represented Wales on the Home Grown Cereals Authority between 1997 and 2004 and he served on the Council of Food from Britain between 1997 and 2003. He became a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society in 2000 and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in January 2005 for his services to agriculture. He was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from Harper Adams in 2014.
He is married to Hilary and they have three grown up children. His eldest son Paul is involved in the family farming business. Nicola is CEO of South Australia Lucerne Growers in Adelaide, and assistant to the Director Nuffield, Australia, and Jonathan is an investment manager with Quilter Cheviot in London.
Guy Smith: NFU Vice President
Guy farms a mixed and diversified family farm in north-east Essex.
He served for eight years on NFU Council as the Essex delegate. Other NFU positions include four years as a member of the Governance Board and six years as Chair of the NFU Communications Group.
Guy is also a Trustee of FACE (Farming and Countryside Education) and a past Chairman of the Landskills New Entrants Committee. He has also recently served on the Board of the HGCA (Home Grown Cereals Authority), retiring in March 2014.
Guy is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate for services to Agriculture from Essex University.
Elizabeth Truss: Secretary of State at Defra
Elizabeth was appointed Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in July 2014. In addition to implementing reform at Defra, she has championed British food and farming, rural productivity and enhancing environmental protection.
Before joining Defra Elizabeth was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Childcare at the Department for Education from September 2012 to July 2014. Her ministerial responsibilities included the school curriculum, qualifications and early years.
Elizabeth was elected as the Conservative MP for South West Norfolk in 2010. Prior to entering Parliament, Elizabeth was deputy director of the think-tank Reform and also worked in the energy and telecommunications industry for ten years. She is a qualified management accountant.
Brought up in Yorkshire, Elizabeth was educated at Roundhay School in Leeds before going on to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Merton College, Oxford University. Elizabeth is married with two daughters.
