Deborah Crossan
Soil & Water Manager
Name? Deborah Crossan
Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Soil and Water Manager
Describe yourself in 5 words? Always planning; project or meal..!
Specialist Interest?
Sustainable Agriculture and Food
What got you involved in Agriculture?
YFC and loving sheep ...
Best piece of advice you were ever given?
Don’t want what everyone else wants ...it will always be too expensive !
When you’re not working for IfA you can be found….
Out walking with an embarrassing terrier.
Mainly focusing on the restoration of UK soils, Deborah's work includes running workshops, discussions and study tours of UK agricultural holdings and concentrates on Knowledge exchange and peer to peer learning. Deborah also coordinates the soil team’s portfolio of EU projects.
Emily Stillwell
PA to CEO
Name? Emily Stillwell
Role at Innovation for Agriculture? PA to Chief Executive Officer
Describe yourself in 5 words? Kind, Curious, Diplomatic, Loyal, Funny.
Specialist Interest? Culinary Arts
What got you involved in Agriculture?
Through my role at the Royal Agricultural Society of England I’ve been privileged to be part of IfA since it was a seedling.
Best piece of advice you were ever given?
One kind word can change someone’s entire day…
When you’re not working for IfA you can be found?
In the kitchen or leafing through my lovely cookbooks.
Evi Arachoviti
Policy & Social
Name? Evi Arachoviti
Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Head of Policy and Social
Describe yourself in 5 words?
Adaptable, enthusiastic, responsible, experienced, empathetic
Specialist Interest?
Exploring societal issues and their associated challenges surrounding rural development, in relation to policy making.
What got you involved in Agriculture?
My studies in Agricultural University of Athens
Best piece of advice you were ever given?
Appreciate beauty
When you’re not working for IfA you can be found….
Writing in my book who I meet and where I'm going!
Before joining IfA, Evi was Head of 'Quality of Life in Rural Areas and Diversification of Rural Economy', in the Managing Authority of the Greek Ministry of Rural Development & Food. She also draws experience and expertise from being a Researcher in the Standardisation, Inspection and Certification Authority of Greek Agriculture.
Joe Collins
Soils & Water Researcher
Laura Palczynski
Livestock Researcher
Name? Laura Palczynski
Role? Livestock Research Assistant
Describe yourself in 5 words? Sardonic, introverted, theatrical, pernickety, procrastinator (this was the most difficult part of today…)
Specialist Interest(s)? Dairy calves, laying hens, dog training…
What got you involved in Agriculture? A series of happy accidents! I’m not from a farming background but have always loved animals, leading me to study Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Bristol which sparked my interest in practical implementation of research findings. A couple of years later I found myself accepting a PhD studentship at Harper Adams to explore issues surrounding calf rearing in the UK dairy sector and a few years after that I met Andrew at an event where he invited me for an interview and now here I am, working at IfA!
Best piece of advice you were ever given? My memory’s terrible, so unfortunately I’ve probably forgotten it….
When not working for IfA I can be found? Walking the dog, and sometimes in the background of a local amateur musical theatre show!
Laura has come to the organisation from Bristol University with a 2:1 BSc Hons in Animal behaviour and welfare. She is working for IfA whilst completing her PhD thesis exploring experiences relating to calf rearing in the dairy sector.
Manpreet Kaur
Finance & EU Coordinator
Name? Manpreet Kaur
Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Finance & EU Coordinator
Describe yourself in 5 words? Motivated, Conscientious, Efficient, Persistent, Positive
Specialist Interest? Baking
What got you involved in Agriculture?
My role at IFA
Best piece of advice you were ever given?
If you are going to rise, you might as well shine
When you’re not working for IfA you can be found….
In the park or garden
Martha Hayes
Media & Communications
Name? Martha Hayes
Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Manager of Media and Communications
Specialist interest?
I have a herd of pedigree Lincoln Red cattle and I am hugely passionate about producing high welfare, locally produced, delicious food.
What got you involved in Agriculture?
My grandfather and my father. I’m the 4th generation to be involved in our arable farm in Lincolnshire.
Best piece of advice you were ever given?
Everything happens for a reason. Although I do admit that often in farming it can be hard to see why!
When you’re not working for IfA we can find you.....
At the farm or on a horse.
Prior to working at IfA Martha was a freelance journalist which she did alongside working on the family farm, which is a mixed arable and beef enterprise. Martha graduated in 2017 with a first-class hons in Agriculture from the Royal Agricultural University.
Richard Lloyd
Livestock Manager
Name? Richard Lloyd
Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Precision Livestock Manager
Describe yourself in 5 words? Personable, enthusiastic, visionary, practical, bald
Specialist Interest?
Efficient, welfare friendly livestock farms
What got you involved in Agriculture?
Born on a dairy farm
Best piece of advice you were ever given?
Trust your instinct
When you’re not working for IfA you can be found….
Drinking wine, or watching Wales play rugby
Richard's work focuses on facilitating the correct uptake of SMART farming techniques on livestock farms. Having a lifetime’s background in UK dairy farming and genetics, he coordinated the successful Horizon 2020 thematic network 4D4f (Data Driven Dairy Decisions for Farmers).
Stephen Briggs
Head of Soil & Water
Tom Chapman
Head of Regenerative
Lisa Morgans
Head of Livestock
Name? Lisa Morgans
Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Head of Livestock, generally over-enthusiastic team member
Describe yourself in 5 words? Be the change!
Specialist Interest?
Transformation in agriculture: Farmer-led, participatory approaches to change; Animal health and welfare; Responsible medicine use; Precision farming techniques
What got you involved in Agriculture?
Being a livestock vet, enjoying working with farmers and farm animals, realising the potential of farming to be a force for good
Best piece of advice you were ever given?
If you want to see a transformation, be part of the transformation.
If you’re upsetting the apple cart, you’re probably onto something.
When you’re not working for IfA you can be found….
On my bike or running after my dog
Lisa is a Postgraduate Veterinary Surgeon from the University of Bristol and has previously focused her work on reducing antimicrobial use on UK dairy farms through farmer action groups.
Philippa Gray
Fundraising
Name? Philippa Gray
Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Fundraising
Describe yourself in 5 words? Optimistic, motivated, enthusiastic, approachable and friendly
Specialist Interest? Rare breed conservation
What got you involved in Agriculture? Starting my own flock of Ryeland sheep
Best piece of advice you were ever given? Always carry baler twine in your pocket
When you’re not working for IfA you can be found….
Working on the family farm
Alongside her work for IfA, Philippa is currently finishing her master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences and Production Systems at Harper Adams University. Phillipa grew up on a small farm in West Yorkshire where they run a commercial flock of Texel’s and Philippa breeds pedigree Ryeland and Greyfaced Dartmoor sheep. Throughout the summer Philippa can be found at county shows around the country both judging and showing in Ryeland classes.
