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Wisdom, insights, and stories from women at all stages of their agricultural careers have been shared at a special event at ÎÞÂ붯»­. 

The evening was the latest in a series of events run by , a free networking community for women in the UK working across the food supply chain. 

It featured three members of the network’s steering group – Harper Adams Governor Debbie Winstanley, who has more than forty years’ experience as an agronomist and fresh produce expert; Clare Otridge, Director of Grounded Research – which works with the biggest names in food supply, public sector, agriculture and retail; and Women in Food and Farming founder, Christine Tacon CBE. 

Christine is a Member Nominated Director of the Co-Op and Chair of MDS Ltd, 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.

They were joined by Daisy Douglas, who graduated with a BEng (Hons) in Automotive Engineering earlier this year and has now taken on the role of the Students’ Union President, and by third year poultry nutrition PhD student Hannah Scott-Cook, who came to study at Harper Adams from inner-city Birmingham. 

The panel was chaired by Harper alumna Emily Hartnell, Director of Rural & Projects at Savills (UK) Ltd.  

With a diverse range of experiences, the panel nevertheless found common ground - not least in the importance of finding role models and community. 

Debbie, who graduated from university in 1980, noted: “I would always encourage you to support people – and engage with them. It is amazing how much support other women will give you. 

“I think probably about 20 years ago is when I started being a mentor, in the sense that a number of women would come to me and say ‘oh, can you help me do such and such?’ 

“I found that it was a mutually wonderful experience, because they would ask me, and I would ask them – and the whole thing began to grow and be supportive. I could help them and give hints and tips to avoid some of the problems and blocks which I had when I was younger.” 

Meanwhile Daisy – who graduated this September – talked about how, while she felt pressure to compete with men when she started her degree, she also drew inspiration from other women, both among her peers and her lecturers. 

She said: “Going to an all-girls’ school and coming to Harper and finding a small group of women who were doing that was amazing – you do have the support. 

“It was like: ‘I’ve done this, I know what you are going through.’ 

“They can see it from your perspective, and they know how you feel. It just reassures you, and it helped my confidence as well – making me feel like I could do what I wanted to do.” 

She added: “At Harper, we have had a lot of female lecturers which I think has really helped, because I can see where they have gone, and see what they have done in their career – and they have been very supportive.”  

Claire noted that, in her research career, she often found herself drawing on other women’s thoughts – and urged attendees to value their own opinions. 

She added: “When you are looking at things like diversity of thought, and how that can be used in whatever you decide to do in your careers, that is a massive advantage – to bring a new perspective into something.” 

Having turned to research after a career in banking and financial marketing, she told attendees: “I am so jealous of most of you in the room - because you are so lucky to be in an industry where you know exactly where you are in it. 

“I wish I had gone to Harper, and I wish I had seen this earlier – because if I had had ten years in agriculture, I would have enjoyed it a lot more than flogging bank accounts to people and corporate marketing.” 

For Hannah, the skills that women bring to the poultry sector meant she was ‘very pleased’ to see growing female representation. 

She added “There are a lot of skills which are really important. For my role specifically, it’s the range of topics, but also the technical skill you have to have, the business knowledge – I think women are great at that. 

“Also, having that element of people skills - and talking to people, which is hugely important.” 

Before opening up the floor for debate and discussion, Christine concluded: “I think things are way, way better than when Debbie and I were starting out. 

“Please do not think you are going into the same world as Debbie and me, where we probably had to put our armour on and fight our way through: we had to get through those ceilings. 

“You shouldn’t really be treated differently to the guy next to you. 
 
“I think those days have gone - so please feel really positive about it.”