Free event emphasises the importance of support for women in the UK’s food and farming sectors

The event, on November 21, has been organised by Women in Food and Farming (WIFF), the University and Harper Adams Students’ Union. 

It comprises a panel drawn from women at various stages of their careers in food and farming, including Harper Adams alumni, students, Governors and the current Students’ Union President, Daisy Douglas. 

She said: “We’re delighted to welcome Women in Food and Farming to Harper Adams for what promises to be a fantastic event. 

“My fellow panellists have a wealth of different experiences to share, and I’m looking forward to hearing their thoughts and views on how female voices strengthen our food and farming sectors.” 

The panel will be chaired by Harper alumna Emily Hartnell, who is Director of Rural & Projects at Savills (UK) Ltd. Emily plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction. 

She will be joined by a diverse panel of women from across the sector. 

First is Clare Otridge, Director of Grounded Research – which works with start-up innovation brands looking to launch, through to the biggest names in food supply, public sector, agriculture and retail. 

Harper Adams Governor Debbie Winstanley was a commercial farm agronomist in the NW of England for 20 years before working on potato agronomy at Cambridge University Farm, for Co-op Retail and Sainsbury’s in Technical Management for Fresh Produce and was the UK Agronomist for PepsiCo. 

Next on the panel is third year poultry nutrition PhD student Hannah Scott-Cook, who came to study at Harper Adams from inner-city Birmingham – and took to her studies so keenly she is now pursuing a PhD in slow growing broiler nutrition and environmental impact assessments.  

 Harper Adams University Students' Union President Daisy graduated with a BEng (Hons) in Automotive Engineering earlier this year and has now taken on the role of the Students’ Union President.  She is focusing on becoming a very present president and making herself someone students feel like they can go to about anything and support them in the changes they want to see. 

Rounding of the panel is Women in Food and Farming founder, Christine Tacon CBE. 

Christine is a Member Nominated Director of the Co-Op and Chair of MDS Ltd, a management training scheme for the food and fresh produce industry.  

She also chairs the BBC Rural Affairs Committee, is a Trustee of the Farmers Club Charitable Trust and was the first Groceries Code Adjudicator among many other achievements. 

The event runs at the Barn, the main Harper Adams Students’ Union Bar, from 5pm, and is followed by networking, wine, and light bites. 

To register, visit: harper.ac.uk/wiff2024