The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) will be holding a sold out Women in Agriculture conference with the theme ‘Breaking Ground’ on Wednesday 26 October. A variety of top speakers will be addressing delegates.
They are as follows:
Gill Gallagher – Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association
Gill Gallagher is Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association (NIGTA), which represents the traders, manufacturers, processors, distributors, brokers and service providers who are involved in the Northern Ireland agricultural supply trade of animal feed and fertiliser.
Prior to this, Gill worked for Devenish Nutrition for over 6 years as Sustainable Agriculture Manager, with responsibility for measuring, and helping to develop solutions to reduce, the environmental footprint of agricultural production. During this time, Gill also worked closely with NIGTA, supporting the Association on environmental and sustainability matters, as well as devising and helping to deliver environmental training to feed advisers across Northern Ireland.
Gill is passionate about the local agri-food industry and has held a number of roles in the industry, including Policy Officer for the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) Beef and Lamb and Hill Farming Committees and as Marketing Executive for Mash Direct. She has also been Chair of the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) Sustainability Committee, attended the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) Sustainability Committee and participated in the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association’s (NIFDA) Environmental Forum as well as the Ulster Grassland Association’s (UGS) Executive Committee.
Aimee Budge – Farmer and previous star of This Farming Life
Aimee runs the family farm with her sister Kirsty following the sudden death of their father in a tragic farm accident.
Operating in the challenging conditions of the Shetland Islands, Aimee previously juggled the farm with her studies where she graduated with a merit in BSc in Agriculture four years ago.
The farm runs across 300 hectares and comprises 600 sheep, 80 suckler cows and are one of few units to grow 25 hectares of their own barley
Between college and travelling home, Aimee has also completed work experience at Tolquhon Farm to develop her practical skills and experience.
Sharing knowledge is a key area of focus and the farm was a QMS Monitor Farm from 2017 – 2020, with the sisters involved in organising and running the meetings, presenting and providing data and promoting women in agriculture.
They also launched their own group to work with the other four barley growers on the island to help everyone involved work more efficiently and improve productivity.
Susanna Hassard – Owner of One Small Seed
Susanna owns an artisan flower farm providing locally grown flowers for homes, events, weddings and memorials.
After 13 years in the local Retail sector buying food and horticulture, she realised the carbon footprint that comes with the floral industry is not sustainable and now is the time to buy local, seasonal and sustainable. Susanna conducted market research, focus groups and compiled competitor analysis, everything was positive and viable so One Small Seed was sown!
Susanna’s flowers are “grown here, not flown here’. Harvested from the field in Ballyeaston to you in less than 24hours, she specialises in “in season” flowers, from scented Narcissus in March to colourful Chrysanthemums in September, using regenerative farming methods and without single use plastics in our floristry. Grown as nature intended, full of scent, character and meaning, the flowers provide the ultimate WOW factor, without the carbon footprint or plastic waste; and helping support a nurturing habitat for essential pollinators.
Eileen Mullan – Founder Boardroom Apprentice
Eileen is a trusted expert in governance and has transformed organisations across the public, voluntary and private sectors. She is a highly-accomplished trainer, award winning Chair, trusted Board Advisor, facilitator and mediator. She holds Non-Executive roles as Chair of the Board of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and Senior Council Member with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Eileen is an eloquent public speaker and frequent contributor to conferences and events along with delivering a TEDx talk (“make time for what matters to you”). She has presented papers on governance issues and solutions within the public, third and private sectors across Ireland and the UK. Eileen is a contributor to The Northern Ireland Audit Office ‘Board Effectiveness: A Good Practice Guide’.
She holds an MSc in Management and Corporate Governance, an IOD Diploma in Company Direction and is a qualified Mediator with the Mediation Institute of Ireland.
She's a trusted advisor to leading boards and has worked with leaders across the public and third sectors. Founder of Boardroom Apprentice, enabling and empowering the next generation of decision makers. Eileen is a powerhouse in advocating for diversity and a champion for change.
Tori Cameron – Founder of SNAP Social Media Marketing
Tori is the founder of SNAP social media marketing. Her career in the media and digital sphere started 7 years ago and since working in various industries doing social media marketing it was time to bring her expertise to those who she felt needed it most – local and small business owners. Tori’s experience covers the agricultural industry both practically and theoretically having worked as an in-house social media manager for a large agricultural brand as well as providing training and support to small agricultural businesses. Tori’s passion lies in being able to provide actionable advice, tips and tricks to leverage social media for business owners whether it be on a large or small scale.
Prof Elizabeth Magowan – Director of Sustainable Agri-Food Science, AFBI
Professor Elizabeth Magowan completed a PhD in dairy nutrition from Queen’s University, Belfast (with DARD Science Service and ARINI) in 2004 and joined AFBI as a pig research scientist in 2003.
Elizabeth developed the AFBI pig research programme until April 2017 after which she took up the post as Director of Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division in AFBI.
Elizabeth’s initial research focused on optimizing pig production performance through management and nutritional strategies whilst reducing environmental impact. More recently she has lead consortia of UK academics on flagship reports with a focus on how livestock production can reduce its carbon footprint. Elizabeth has worked extensively on industry/academic collaborative studies and has presented her work across the UK and at international conferences as well as publications in journals.
Elizabeth was awarded the Sir John Hammond Award in 2017, from the British Society of Animal Science, in recognition of her scientific work in collaboration with industry. She was also award a Honorary Professorship from Queen’s University Belfast, in 2022, in recognition of her work on wider agricultural sustainability challenges and her work on fostering the strategic alliance between AFBI and QUB.
Elizabeth currently oversees an extensive range of science work which addresses challenges and designs solutions for plant health, the production of meat and milk, land management and the economic considerations of land use and farming practices.
Rural support will also be running a panel on the day to discuss succession planning.
Join the reserve list
If you would like to add your name to the reserve list in case a place becomes available please contact the office on 02890 370 222.
