Meet two new members of the Ulster Farmers’ Union team:
Emily Duncan: I am from Aghalee, Co. Armagh, and from a young age I had a keen interest in Agriculture through working alongside family members, particularly in the beef and dairy sectors. In 2019, my father and I started a herd of pedigree Beef Shorthorns, which we have continued to grow successfully. We regularly participate in both local and national agricultural shows, providing valuable opportunities to promote the breed and engage with the wider farming community.
Following the completion of school, I completed a BSc in Sustainable Agriculture with Land Management Pathways at CAFRE, Greenmount through Ulster University. Throughout my studies I enjoyed keeping busy by undertaking various relief milking jobs and worked weekends in Banbridge RFC.
During the third year of my studies, I completed a placement year in Lakeview Farm Meats where I continued to work part-time during my final year. I gained a wide range of experience in the red meat production and agriculture industries. My responsibilities ranged from the office right through each production stage to delivering to the butcher shops. This enabled me to develop a large variety of knowledge and skills, while building strong relationships with farmers and businesses within the agri-food industry.
In the summer of 2025, I travelled to New Zealand, where I worked on a dairy farm for a calving season from June to September. This gave me valuable insight into alternative farming systems and operational practice, which also enhanced my practical skills and understanding of global agriculture.
Following the completion of my degree, I was looking for a job in the industry where I could contribute to making meaningful changes and support farmers. Therefore, when the graduate position as Policy, Technical and Communications assistant came up I saw it as a perfect opportunity and a move in the right direction. So far, I am thoroughly enjoying the job, the supportive atmosphere within the organisation and the opportunity to contribute to the agricultural sector. I am looking forward to continuing to develop my skills and see what the future holds.
Ellen Rankin: Growing up on a beef farm near Bushmills in Co. Antrim, I have always been passionate about agriculture and rural life. Tending to a herd of suckler cows (and a little pony) at home, I have seen first-hand how challenging, yet rewarding, farming can be.
Since 2018, I have been an active member of Moycraig Young Farmers’ Club, serving as a current Committee member, Club Public Relations Officer (2020-2022) and competing in various competitions over the years, from floral art to stock judging and the Dunbia Live to Dead competition.
My academic background is in linguistics. In 2024, I graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with First-Class Honours in a BA Joint Hons. French and Spanish degree. Prior to graduating, I completed a placement year teaching in France and in 2024-2025, I then worked as a social media Subject Matter Expert in English and Spanish for a Virtual Reality company.
These professional experiences then led me to the Directorate-General for Translation at the European Commission in Brussels from 2025-2026. There, I worked with policy on agriculture and environmental health on a daily basis, translating documents from French and Spanish into English. These included legislation on Common Agricultural Policy, Member States’ working group correspondence on Integrated Pest Management as well as PGI/PDO quality labels for agri-food and drink products. As a result, I gained working knowledge of how government policy is developed and crucially, how it impacts the everyday running and finances of a farm.
In Brussels, I soon became enthusiastic about agricultural politics, attending events on issues such as animal welfare at the Northern Ireland Executive Office and the Irish Embassy, alongside MEPs and representatives from the Irish Farmers’ Association and DAERA. I enjoyed asking challenging questions around topics like the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, red tape and the EU’s Generational Renewal Strategy.
Additionally, I was a member of the Agri Ladies network in Brussels. I participated in monthly events, connecting with women in the agri-food sector, from policymakers to lobbyists, to discuss the challenges our industry is facing and to address the gender disparity in agriculture.
After gaining an invaluable insight into European policymaking, I ultimately felt drawn back home to advocate for farmers on home soil and contribute to the future of farming within my own community. I felt that the role of Policy, Technical and Communications Assistant at the Ulster Farmers’ Union was the ideal opportunity to do just that. I look forward to taking on an enriching and varied role, where I can meet with members across the province to ensure that their voices are heard and that farming is sustainable for generations to come.
