The 10th anniversary Women in Dairy Conference was celebrated in Stoneleigh Abbey on September 19, with a host of speeches from leading figures in the industry.
Former Dairy Industry Woman of the Year winner and RABDF trustee, Karen Halton, chaired the event, while conference sponsor, HSBC, opened the day with a discussion session alongside Rachel Knowles from Trink Dairy, one of the brains behind the award winning farm in St.Ives.
Halton, remarking on the calibre of speakers on the day, said: “The speaker line up to celebrate 10 years of Women in Dairy was spot on and the day was full of energy and positivity.”
An interactive panel discussion featuring lead veterinary science expert at AHDB, Sarah Tomlinson, incoming RABDF CEO, Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, herd manager, Charlotte West and dairy farmer, Karen Halton was also held on the day.
The panellists discussed their inspirations, using their minority status as a strength and shared their stories on how they broke through barriers to get to where they are today.
“Realigning ourselves so we are not a position of threat, but rather a contact for advice, is a good way to mould your way in the sector,” advised Campbell-Gibbons.
Dairy Industry Woman of the Year
In addition, the conference saw the announcement of the Dairy Industry Woman of the Year Award, which was presented to Anna Bowen, a new entrant and Nuffield Scholar, who farms in a contract farming agreement (CFA) with her husband.
Bowen, having grown up on a dairy farm managed by her father and brother, only started working in farming after she met her husband, whereby in time, she saved up enough to invest in a third of his enterprise.
As well as farming, Bowen works as a consultant at The Andersons Centre, specialising in dairy and nutrient management planning while using her social media platform to share insights into her work on and off the farm.
“I feel very lucky to have won the award which has previously been presented to women within the industry I hold a huge deal of respect for. It’s a privilege to work in the dairy industry and I am grateful to have built a rewarding career as both a farmer and consultant.
“I feel I owe a large amount to progressive people who have offered me opportunities and shared their time and experience with me. Winning the award provides an opportunity to pay that forwards by showing what dairy can offer to women who want to pursue a career in the sector.
“It’s also a chance to say thanks to everyone who has supported me so far, I am hugely grateful to my clients, colleagues, and friends in the industry who have inspired me and set great examples,” Bowen said.
The Nuffield scholar is also part of NFU Farmer for Schools and Farmertime, providing virtual farming related lessons for over 20,000 primary schoolchildren.
Bowen aims to help other women carve their way into the industry by being visible in situations where women typically are not, despite the obstacles facing them.
Keynote speaker, senior executive and positive pyschology leadership coach, Carol Glover, was also in attendance, citing research which corroborates that women are more capable leaders than men:
“According to a Havard Business Review report analysing 60,000 360-degree reviews, women outscored men on 17 of the 19 capabilities that differentiate excellent leaders from average or poor ones in the 2020s.
“Further research also looked at the reasons motivating women for taking jobs – the top reason women would take a job is for a greater work-life balance and personal wellbeing benefits, compared to men, whose top motivator was an improved income and benefits package.”
“With only you being able to create the best version of yourself, it is paramount to remember that mindset fuels everything you do. We must also remember character is our foundation and curiosity moves us forward.
“To be able to move ourselves forward we must adopt a growth mindset which sees us persevere in the face of failures, accept criticism and be willing to learn. If we are unable to do this we automatically limit ourselves to a fixed mindset,” she added.
The day saw an interactive session hosted by coach, Anne-Marie Welby, who specialises in helping leaders and teams achieve their goals by adopting success orientated mindsets, emotional intelligence and resilience strategies, without compromising their mental health.
“Change is constant and we must remember the change we want doesn’t happen by chance. Everything that happens in the universe starts with an intention with everything being created twice – once in the mind and once in reality,” said Welby.
