Johnnie Balfour is Chair of Pasture For Life and Managing Partner of
Balbirnie Home Farms in Fife. At Balbirnie, there is a commercial herd of
suckler beef cattle and they have recently purchased 3 traditional angus
bulls in order to decrease frame size and increase ruminant capacity of the
herd. Johnnie champions mob grazing and holistic management as tools for
farmers to reduce inputs and increase profitability.

Johnnie will be chairing the panel

“Why Biodiversity matters to the way we farm”

As Organics Development Manager at Scotland Food & Drink, Adam’s role has an initial focus on assessing the opportunities and challenges facing the Scottish organic sector and putting forward plans to develop it. Prior to this he managed a small organic community farm and market garden near Edinburgh, with a veg bag scheme, layer enterprise and rural skills programme for young people. Adam has worked in commercial roles in food and drink across independent retailers, food service and multiples. Having studied Environmental Resource Management at SRUC, he has a keen interest in the interplay between our relationship with food and our environment.

Adam will be chairing the panel session on the “Livestock Food Chain”

Ceri is Head of Food and Enterprise at SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), and undertakes project work for a variety of clients across Scotland. With 37 years’ management and marketing experience in the UK food & drink supply chain Ceri has recently focussed on local food & drink, food tourism, rural enterprise and entrepreneurship.

With an understanding of what drives consumer behaviour and key industry challenges such as climate change and sustainability, Ceri provides strategic advice to a range of businesses and organisations. As an established and well-respected project manager Ceri also project manages the Scottish Government’s Veterinary Services Programme and managed Connect Local, the Scottish Government’s Local Food & Drink Marketing Advisory Service (2016 to 2020).

Prior to joining SAC Consulting Ceri worked in the UK grocery multiple sector as a Category Manager (and prior to that a Senior Buyer, Buyer and Product Manager) for the Cooperative Wholesale Society. These roles provide considerable insight and background knowledge that Ceri brings to her current role.

Ceri will be chairing the panel “Why Farmers need to be Marketers”

Professor Tim Morris has extensive experience across veterinary medicine, commerce, professional and voluntary activities, coupled with a longstanding interest and involvement with native breeds of livestock, Tim also keeps Southdown sheep.

Tim is a non-executive member on Defra’s Animal Health and Welfare Board for England and has been a Trustee and Chair of several charities over the years, as well as a Director of several companies.

Tim is a Trustee of RBST, and will be chairing the panel on “The Farm of 2040”

David is Head of Policy for Scotland at the Soil Association, leading on the research, development and advocacy of the charity’s policy positions on food, farming and land use north of the border. He also sits on the secretariat of the Scottish Organic Stakeholders Group and the Scottish Environment LINK Food and Farming group. David is in the final year of an MSc in Organic Farming at SRUC and is an organically certified vegetable grower based in north-east Scotland.

David will be chairing the panel on “Soil – The Basis of Everything”

Claire Saunders, a native from Northumberland, has had a diverse career within the agricultural industry.
Claire worked in London at Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising at the start of her career and then as Head of Marketing at J Barbour & Sons for seven years.

Following stints heading up the brand at Hunter Boot and Le Chameau she joined The Prince’s Countryside Fund in February 2015 as its Executive Director where she launched The Farm Resilience Programme and The Village Survival Guide.. Stepping down from her post at The Prince’s Countryside Fund in 2020, she became an Assistant Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales which concluded in January this year following the King’s Accession to the throne.

Claire has settled in Bushmills in Northern Ireland and is grazing Belted Galloway cattle and Poll Dorsets on the North Coast. She is a Trustee of Rural Support Northern Ireland as well as The Rare Breeds Survival Trust, where she chairs the conservation and research committee.