TwoCan mentors give their time voluntarily. In return, they tell us they get more than they expected.
Being a mentor sharpens how you think. Explaining your decisions to someone outside your sector forces you to examine them. Asking better questions makes you a better communicator.
Seeing someone else navigate challenges you’ve already faced gives you perspective on your own journey.
And it matters.
The people you’ll work with are capable, committed professionals who just need a trusted outside perspective. You may be exactly that for them.
TwoCan mentors come from every part of our sectors — senior leaders, business owners, practitioners and specialists. What they share is experience worth sharing, and the willingness to show up.
What you can expect as a TwoCan mentor:
Click below to meet some of our mentors and see why they chose to be part of Twocan Mentor.
These profiles are from our food, farming and horticulture cohorts.
Mentors are now being recruited across veterinary, dental, optometry, pharmacy and SME sectors ahead of our October 2026 cohorts.
If you have experience to share, we’d love to hear from you.
Non-Executive Director
Streetwise Consultants Ltd
Chair, Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust
Farmer, Consultant & Founder of Roots In
Operations Manager Field Mouse Research
Social Impact
Animal Health and Welfare Scientist
AHDB
Technical Finance & Programme Executive
AHDB
Technical Finance & Programme Executive
AHDB
Head of Sustainable Farming Allerton Project
Founder of EmpowerAg.
Founder and Director
Traction Consulting
Head of Data & Optimisation Warrendale Wagyu Ltd
Founder of Fodder Lass Consulting
Chief Environment Adviser National Farmers’ Union
Head Of Farming
Strutt & Parker
Farmer and Business Developer G&B Dobson Ltd
FiPL Programme Manager, Agriculture (Yorkshire) at Environment Agency
Recently Retired Farmer
Director, Staycation York Limited
Regenerative Farm Manager/ Consultant
Director of Shimpling Park Farms Limited
Independent Agricultural Consultant
People Development Consultant, AB People Development
Senior Retail Development Manager, AHDB
Partner - PS Kirkwood Farms
NFU York East Council Delegate
Senior CRM User Support Manager, AHDB
Business Development Manager, Harper Adams University
Director CLA Midlands
BA(Hons) ACIB PFIAgrM FRSA ARAgS
Saviour Associates
Carrs Billington Agriculture and AquaPulse
Senior research and knowledge exchange manager, AHDB
Andy Guy Consulting
Knowledge Exchange Manger - AHDB AgriLeader
CEO Downland
Chairman of LEAF plus a number of large scale food and farming businesses
Partner at Ceres Rural
Agronomist
Nuffield Scholar
Chief Executive of Woldmarsh
Down to Earth Agronomy Agronomist
Sustainability Manager for Leprino Foods
CEO of Naylor Group, Nuffield Scholar, Farmers Weekly Columnist and a fellow of RASE and Royal Society of Arts
Operations Director and Lincolnshire Farmer
McDowell Partnerships
Business Manager at Rockscape Energy Ltd
Farmer and Business Owner
Co-founder and Managing Director of FieldMouse Research
CEO of Organic Research Centre
Manager at Louth Park Farms
Freelance Consultant, Chilli Farmer and Non Exec Director
Regional Arable Sales Manager - Timac Agro UK
Managing Director, Smart (Green Ore) Limited Property Services
Retired Headteacher and Livestock Farmer
Partner at Brown&Co
Director at Savills and Lincolnshire Farmer
CEO Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society
Becoming part of Twocan Mentor means joining a vibrant community of passionate individuals who are committed to growth and collaboration within the food, farming, and horticultural world. Whether as a mentee or mentor, you’ll gain valuable connections, insights, and the support you need to thrive.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Twocan community soon!
Non‑Executive Director, Board Advisor, Fractional Sales Leader
Streetwise Consultants Ltd
I’m a Non‑Executive Director working with businesses across York and Yorkshire, helping them strengthen their governance, think clearly about their direction, and grow with confidence. For most of my career I worked outside the county with international companies, and that experience shaped how I approach leadership, communication, and decision‑making. Now, I’m focused on bringing that experience back home — supporting local organisations and contributing to the wider Yorkshire business community. I enjoy working closely with people, listening properly, and helping them find clarity and momentum in whatever they’re trying to achieve.
I joined the programme because I want to use what I’ve learned over the years to support people here in York and across Yorkshire. My NED work has shown me how valuable steady guidance and thoughtful conversation can be, especially when someone is navigating change or trying to build confidence. TwoCan’s emphasis on genuine connection and practical support really resonates with me. It felt like a natural way to give something back to the region and help strengthen the local business community one conversation at a time.
I hope to gain the satisfaction of helping someone feel more confident, more grounded, and more able to move forward with purpose. Mentoring is always a two‑way exchange, and I’m looking forward to learning from the conversations — hearing new perspectives, understanding the challenges people face in Yorkshire today, and staying connected to the realities of local business and community life. It’s a chance to contribute, to stay engaged, and to be part of something that genuinely supports people.
I’m Chair of the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust, which supports people and their potential to help shape the future of food and farming. Through this role, I have developed a much greater understanding of agriculture and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. I’m not a farmer myself, but I’m passionate about the people who will shape its future and the contribution they can make.
I have experience of starting and running my own business and, more recently, have been involved in bringing a heritage motorsport brand back to life. I’m now semi-retired, which gives me more time to support and encourage others. I have also been a Business Start-up Mentor with The King’s Trust.
Throughout my career, I’ve gained experience across many aspects of business, but what I particularly enjoy is working with people – building teams, recognising and unlocking potential, and helping people find the confidence to do things they may not have thought possible. I believe strongly in motivated people working together and in the value of good mentoring to help people discover more about themselves and what they are capable of.
Early in my career, I was fortunate to have an exceptional mentor who helped me believe in myself and encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone. That experience has stayed with me, and I’d like to help others benefit from a similar experience.
I want to continue developing my own mentoring skills while helping others develop theirs. I enjoy supporting people at different stages of their careers and helping them think through opportunities and challenges, while also encouraging them to learn more about themselves and who they are.
Through my involvement with the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust, I have a strong desire to positively impact the future of food and farming. Twocan feels like a perfect opportunity to combine that interest with my experience and passion for mentoring.
I hope to learn as much as I contribute. Every mentoring relationship is different, and I’m looking forward to hearing different perspectives, experiences and ideas.
Most of all, I hope to build relationships where I can offer useful experience, encouragement and a different perspective, while helping people grow in confidence, understand themselves better and achieve what they are capable of.
Dan Smith is a farmer, consultant and founder of Roots In, a values‑led farm dedicated to bringing people together to learn, experiment and grow. His work is rooted in practical problem‑solving, curiosity, and a belief that farming can deliver both environmental and social good.
Dan’s career has taken him through many different roles and experiences, each shaped by personal growth and reflection. This journey led him to complete a Nuffield Scholarship (Generation Regeneration) and to serve as a Director of the Oxford Farming Conference.
Dan joined Twocan Mentors because he has seen first‑hand how powerful it is when farmers, communities and individuals support one another. He values the programme’s structured approach to sharing experience, challenging thinking, and helping people feel more confident in the decisions they make. A growth mindset sits at the heart of Dan’s values, and he is committed to supporting others wherever possible.
Through the programme, Dan hopes to gain new perspectives, build meaningful relationships, and deepen his understanding of the realities facing the industry across different systems. He believes every mentoring relationship teaches you something, and he is excited for that exchange.
I am the Operations Manager at FieldMouse Research. I joined the team in 2023 and now oversee a range of operational functions, including supporting our fieldwork team and managing our nationwide network of Field Agents. Originally from Cheshire, I now live in North Wales with my family.
My professional background spans both the charitable and commercial sectors, with previous roles including support worker, employability co-ordinator and volunteering manager. I hold a BA in Philosophy and have always been passionate about helping people develop and achieve their potential. Outside of work, I am a mum of two and spend much of my time looking after what is probably an excessive number of animals on our smallholding. I enjoy exploring the countryside with my energetic spaniel and someday hope to try Pickleball.
Throughout my career, I have naturally gravitated towards roles that involve mentoring, coaching and supporting others. I find it incredibly rewarding to help people build confidence, recognise their strengths and achieve goals they may not have thought possible.
Joining this programme felt like a natural extension of that passion. It offered an opportunity to give something back to the community while supporting someone on their own personal or professional journey. I was also excited by the prospect of connecting with people from different backgrounds and experiences, and learning from those interactions along the way.
I hope to support someone through a meaningful journey of discovery, helping them develop confidence, identify opportunities and realise their potential. There is something incredibly rewarding about being part of someone’s growth and seeing them take positive steps towards their goals.
At the same time, I recognise that mentoring is a two-way relationship. I hope the experience will allow me to develop my own skills, gain new perspectives and learn more about myself. I believe there is always something to learn from others, and I am looking forward to the insights and experiences that will come from building that relationship.
Social Impact
I grew up in rural Northern Ireland and have always had an appreciation for nature and a love for the land. My career path has been quite the adventure! I originally studied Mathematics and dipped my toes into accountancy before moving to London, and then Buckinghamshire, where I worked in marketing and business. I then ran my own retail businesses before transitioning into social impact strategy. It’s a field I love because it beautifully connects so much of my previous experience. I am a big believer that it is never too late to try something new, so after 20 years, I have returned to study for a Master’s in Psychology, where I am enjoying exploring academic research.
I discovered TwoCan through my social impact work with a charitable trust in the food and agriculture sector. I spoke to so many people who said that having a mentor made a truly transformative difference to their lives and work. On a personal level, I spent years trying to figure everything out on my own, never really reaching out to people for help. But in more recent years, I’ve been incredibly lucky to have people who have had a profoundly positive impact on me, especially in helping me navigate my own career change. I’ve found that sharing perspectives completely opens your mind to possibility, and I want to pass that support forward.
Mentoring is very much a two-way street, so I am hoping to learn just as much from others’ experiences as I hope to offer in return! For many years, I was the “shy person”, but I have since discovered that I absolutely love meeting new people and continually learning. I aim to listen with an open mind, help people reflect, and figure out next steps together. I want to be a safe, friendly sounding board and am excited to see where conversations go.
After stopping practising as a vet during the COVID lockdowns in 2020, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I want my life to look like holistically, what role I want my work to play within that, and what my values are. At work now, I manage research projects around livestock health and welfare, as well as working with farmers and broader industry stakeholders to prevent and prepare for major disease outbreaks.
I live in rural Leicestershire with my husband and away from work you can usually find me with my nose in a book – or in the village pub.
I was approached to take part in the TwoCan podcast, after which it was suggested to me I might make a good mentor for the right person. When I was practising, I wish I had known someone who had made the decision to stop, or known what else was out there and how to make a major career change. Now I have done it, I would love to be able to be that person for someone else.
I hope to share the wisdom I have gained and help someone else think of new ways to view work as part of their life. I also hope to form meaningful relationships with other mentors and mentees and learn from others about their skills, careers and lives.
I’m a proud Northumbrian who, after 20 years setting up and running military charities has returned home to develop a portfolio career and promote Horticultural Therapy in a more global context. I bring governance, leadership, risk (lots of it..!) and plenty of entrepreneurship to this community and really looking forward to getting stuck in.
One can never have too many contacts and it’s good to share!
Keep myself current and help others avoid some of the banana skins I slipped on.
I am a Technical Finance & Programme Executive with a passion for helping others develop their confidence, achieve their goals and recognise their potential. Throughout my career I have worked across finance, programme management and business transformation, building strong relationships and supporting people through change and development. I enjoy mentoring because it provides an opportunity to share experiences, learn from others and make a positive difference in someone’s personal and professional journey.
I joined the programme because I wanted to give back by supporting someone who could benefit from encouragement, guidance and a listening ear. I know how valuable it can be to have someone in your corner, and I wanted to help create that experience for someone else while also developing my own mentoring skills.
I hoped to develop my coaching and mentoring skills, broaden my perspective through learning from someone with different experiences, and make a positive impact on another person’s development. The programme has certainly delivered on all of those goals and has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
I grew up and worked on my family farm until my mid-30s (dairy, beef and arable), then in 2021 became Head of Sustainable Farming at the Allerton Project, a research and demonstration farm in Leicestershire. Since 1992 our aim has been to demonstrate how you can have modern, productive farming alongside a thriving natural environment, and my primarily role is to host our ~2000 visitors per year from across the food, farming and environmental sectors.
Between 2017-2026 I held a series of roles with the National Farmers Union, am a previous Trustee of the Henry Plumb Foundation, and write extensively in the farming and national press. In 2021 I published my first book, Farm to Fork: The Challenge of Sustainable Farming in 21st Century Britain.
I spent many years doubting my own abilities and questioning whether I had anything to contribute to my business or the industry other than long hours on a tractor. I hope I might be able to offer someone the sort of encouragement that I wish someone had taken the time to show to me when I was younger to enable them to fulfil their potential.
To learn something new about myself and to be inspired by other people’s achievements.
I’m Amy Hughes, founder of EmpowerAg. I help farmers and farming families with the human side of running a business: communication, conflict, decision-making, and managing change under pressure. I run workshops for farmers and agri-advisors, am a facilitator, and do some podcasting and writing too. I grew up on a beef and sheep farm in North Yorkshire.
I joined because it opened up a network of people I wouldn’t normally cross paths with, different thoughts, different opinions, different ways of seeing a problem. I wanted to be useful to people outside my usual world if I could. I’m more used to coaching and facilitating than formal mentoring, so this was also a chance to practise a different skill and stretch how I work with people one to one.
I hoped to practise my mentoring skills and be of value to somebody. It was fully matched. My mentee was brilliant: proactive, engaged, a joy to work with, and I hope I made a difference to him and his business. I also learned about myself along the way, how I offer advice, and how I share my own story with people.
I grew up on a dairy, beef cattle, sheep and pig farm in East Devon and have spent my career working across agriculture, food retail, processing and sustainability. From Tesco and Sainsbury’s to Müller and now Traction, I’ve worked at every stage of the supply chain, helping connect strategy with practical action.
I’m passionate about leadership, developing people and creating positive change. A Nuffield Farming Scholar, former National Chairman of Young Farmers and lifelong advocate for the agricultural industry, I enjoy bringing people together, building relationships and helping others realise their potential.
I joined the programme as a mentee and found the experience incredibly valuable. It challenged my thinking, helped me develop as a leader and gave me the confidence to take the next steps in my career.
Having benefited so much myself, I now want to give something back. Mentoring is an opportunity to support others, share experiences and help people navigate their own personal and professional development journeys.
I’m looking forward to building new relationships with talented people from different backgrounds and industries. Great mentoring is a two-way process, and I learn as much from others as they do from me.
I hope to broaden my perspective, continue developing my leadership skills and contribute to a community that helps people grow with confidence, purpose and ambition. Through sharing experiences and making new connections, we can all continue to learn and develop together.
I have 26 years of experience in all things relating to Information, Data and Digital technology across different industries (Telecoms, TV, Data Networks, Energy). I also took a career break to study and transition into a new industry (Agriculture) where I now work but still very much on the digital and data side of things.
I have benefited from some wonderful mentors through my career and as a result I have also offered to be a mentor. Since taking my career/study I’ve not been involved with mentoring and am hence my interest in this programme.
I find that whether I’m a mentor or a mentee I always learn so much from the interactions within a mentoring relationship.
I am the founder of Fodder Lass Consulting, specialising in agri-food, rural tourism, and diversification. My career has spanned a broad range of rural business development, including running an award-winning adventure business, but my focus is always on creative problem-solving. I help farmers turn “back-of-the-envelope” ideas—from agritourism to farm gate retail—into commercially viable realities by challenging the obvious and identifying untapped potential.
Mentoring is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. I know the value of having an outside perspective to ask “awkward” questions and provide honest feedback. I joined TwoCan because I prefer practical action over long-winded strategies; I want to help others find the clarity and confidence needed to take that first step.
Mentoring is a two-way process, and I am just as eager to learn from the stories and experiences of other businesses. I hope to bring fresh energy and practical support to mentees, and I’ll consider it a success if we both leave our sessions challenged and energised with new ideas.
As the Chief Environment Adviser at the National Farmers’ Union, I have an overview across the Environment & Climate team, which covers a range of policy matters including Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMs), nature, the circular economy, and water. Alongside my responsibilities at the NFU, I was the Vice-Chair of the Environment Working Group at COPA-COGECA, which is the trade body for farmers and agri-cooperatives at an EU level, for six years until 2020. Before the NFU, I worked at Cambridge University Farm as a research assistant and also have a PhD and BSc in Soil Science from the University of Aberdeen. I am originally from Aberdeenshire, where my family still farms.
I was mentored for 12 months, which I found extremely valuable, and it helped give me a different perspective. I’d like to reinvest the support I received to help others.
Primarily, I would like to help others achieve their goals, but I am also hoping to learn and to be challenged in my own thinking.
Natalie started her career as a police officer in Slough where she spent 12 years as a PC and sergeant, whilst also riding and training as an equestrian eventing coach. She left to run her family’s farm in Berkshire, having been involved in the development of the farm towards equestrian diversification. Whilst running the business she qualified with an MSc in Rural Land and Business Management at Reading University (part-time), and was then approached about a role at Promar International Consultancy, overseeing the bookkeeping department and the Farm Business Survey project. This was a large role with 80 people in her management line, and so her prior experience as a police officer and Federation rep was extremely useful from an operational perspective. She finished her time at Promar with a stint as Interim Managing Director, before moving to Strutt & Parker in January 2026 as Head of Farming.
Natalie is passionate about the professionalisation of farming, and sees as key to this the ability of the industry to accept new entrants with diverse backgrounds. As a mentor with Twocan, she hopes to encourage more people towards a career in agriculture.
Amy Jobe is a qualified Agronomist and FACTS advisor, has her WAMITAB qualification and Agronomy Diploma and is based at G & B Dobson Ltd, a her long-established family farming business in the Lincolnshire Wolds. The farm spans around 850ha of arable land alongside grassland, woodland and a 260-cow suckler herd, with a strong focus on sustainable farming and environmental stewardship.
Over the past 25 years, Amy has transitioned from agronomy into full-time farming and business development, establishing the Lincoln Red herd and growing the Lincoln Russet beef brand to supply leading London butchers and Michelin-starred restaurants. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she successfully diversified into direct-to-consumer beef boxes. Amy also brings broad rural business experience, looking after a broad property portfolio, green waste recycling, caravan storage and running a village shop.
Amy has also attended the Worshipful Company of Farmers Business Couse, is Chair of Lincolnshire CLA Brach, Chair of Grimsby Blood Cancer Branch and sits on the FiPL Panel for Lincolnshire.
I have joined this programme because I strongly believe in the value of support, encouragement and learning from others. Throughout my career, I have benefited from people who believed in me, gave me opportunities and helped build my confidence, and I would not be where I am today without that support.
Being part of this programme is an opportunity not only to continue developing myself, but also to contribute my own experiences and support others in the industry. I believe it is important to put yourself forward, keep learning and help create opportunities for the next generation, just as others have done for me.
I hope to gain new perspectives and practical insights that will help me continue refining and strengthening the long-term sustainability of our farm business. As agriculture faces increasing challenges and changing pressures, I am keen to learn new approaches to risk management, leadership and business resilience, while continuing to improve both the strategic direction and day-to-day operation of the business.
FiPL Programme Manager
Company – Agriculture (Yorkshire) at Environment Agency
Driven by growth, resilience, and community, Iain has had a career cultivating both agricultural excellence and human potential. With extensive hands-on experience in the food and farming sectors. Iain joins the Twocan Mentoring program to help guide the next generation of industry pioneers, blending technical sector knowledge together with the leadership experience of being a football coach.
Iain’s career is defined by a solid understanding of modern agribusiness. Over the years, Iain has navigated complex operational environments while developing expertise in farm business management, the water environment and sustainable practices. Iain focuses on efficiency, implementing sustainable land-management practices, and navigating market and climate change. For Iain, agriculture is a passion and sees the industry as a dynamic ecosystem requiring continuous adaptation which is a valuable perspective to bring to aspiring professionals.
Beyond the farm, Iain is an active football coach. In sports, as in agriculture, success requires patience, preparation, and strategy. Raising sustainable crops and livestock relies on the same principles as developing a winning team: nurturing talent, building resilience against adversity, and fostering clear communication. Iain provides constructive feedback, both on and off the field to help people develop and ultimately succeed in their endeavours.
As a Twocan Mentor, Iain can offer a unique, helicopter mentoring style. Mentees will gain a mentor who serves as both a technical sounding board and a tactician, fully committed to helping them score long-term success in whichever part of the agricultural sector.
I decided to join and help others through the Twocan program because I didn’t plan my career and just took the opportunities that presented themselves. If I can help even one person coming through now to have the confidence that “things happen for a reason” and to grab those opportunities with both hands then I feel I have passed on the patience and trust shown to me over the last 3 decades (that’s scary to say!)
I do believe this is a two way street and a learning process esp about self reflection for me. So I hope to help others to gain whatever they need from the process which will give me the satisfaction that I have helped others to progress quicker and therefore help drive the industry forward to make the changes it needs to in order to face the large challenges coming down the line.
Recently Retired Farmer
40 years of working on a progressive mixed intensive and arable farm. Having started farming in the late ’80’s a lot has changed and I have enjoyed the journey. To begin with most solutions on the arable side could be solved using pesticide products, now we have to box clever. Being BASIS qualified and a bit of a technical nerd and most importantly curious has allowed the farm to move towards regenerative farming. With the pig unit producing large quantities of slurry and manure the soil has responded well and combining direct drilling techniques and low disturbance cultivations this has helped further. With weather patterns changing the soil needs to be resilient. I also managed other farms on farm owners behalves, this was useful as it meant you had to look after these farms according to the owner and not yourself, which could be challenging.
Having served on 2 co-operative boards, AF buying group and Fengrain has also widened my horizons on UK agriculture and been a fascinating experience.
As a farmer life can be a lonely world, but I have been fortunate to meet people on the way who have helped me look in different directions and think differently. The mentoring I have done has been very rewarding, I hope I can help shed light where needed and ask relevant questions and help mentees fulfil their potential.
To meet really interesting next generation farmers and members of the wider agricultural industry.
After graduating in English, I started my career in retail with WHSmith and gained some excellent training. I then took up a career in Retail Banking, moving through various parts of the bank, particularly enjoying both Corporate and Commercial banking. Once again, the training and development from these organisations gave me great people development skills, business organisation, and financial acumen. From here, I started my own childcare business entirely from scratch, finding and buying premises, alongside working in schools, and set up my own Day Nursery and Before and After School Club. With my own children being my first customers, the business grew and between 2020 and 2024 I sold the various parts of the business and property and gradually stepped back from childcare. I started building my Holiday Let business in 2021 and now have a small portfolio of apartments in the heart of York, keeping both myself and my husband busy at a slightly quieter pace whilst we also care for our disabled son.
I’ve never been afraid of reinventing myself, and adapting to circumstance and life events, but in a way that always builds on past experience and uses my skills. I’ve long been involved with networking and promoting my businesses and do feel I’ve a lot to share with others. I’ve benefitted from the experience and support of others along the way, and seen things go wrong as well as right. Having worked for some large organisations and then moving to running my own business It’s sometimes felt lonely with no senior manager to ask. The buck literally stops with you, so if I can support another small business on their journey as a mentor, now that I have a bit more time to do so, I really do feel it is something that I can do that is valuable.
No two days are ever the same when you’re working in a dynamic, ever changing small business, and that really excites me. As well as using my skills and experience, I hope to feel the excitement of others on their journey and give a positive influence that gets results. I’m keen to see people do things their way and perhaps feel like they have a safety net to be assured of their decisions and direction.
Regenerative Farm Manager/ Consultant
I am a Regenerative farm manager/ Consultant. I have been farming regeneratively for 17 years using nutrition and biology. Getting soils working for themselves to provide the plant with the right nutrition, is paramount to the way I farm stepping away from synthetic inputs and producing nutrient right food, for the consumer to maximize their own health.
I was very excited to be asked to join the programme and be able to mentor someone on their journey to success, whatever that success looks like for the mentee.
I always have a saying that the more you put into life the more you get back and being a mentor will be a prime example of the whole process.
I am a fourth generation mixed farmer and a Director of Shimpling Park Farms Limited, farming 700 hectares in Suffolk with my wife Alice and son Rufus. I farm an additional 980 hectares for neighbouring farmers under various agreements. All farms are managed organically with the first farm being converted to organic production in 1999. Since then I have improved the farm’s soils and increased biodiversity alongside profitable food production. Crops grown include an array of legumes and cereals as well as some speciality organic crops, some within an agroforestry system. Diversifications on the farm include environmental schemes, commercial and domestic rentals, farm events and renewable energy projects. I am a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society and I write for various publications including the Farmers Weekly.
Because I wanted to find out more about what being a mentor entailed and to see if I could offer any encouragement to those coming into the business of agriculture either as a farmer or someone connected to the wider industry. Being in charge of a small business for over 40 years, I have to fulfil every role from the shop floor to the highest level of management. I have had successes and failures and still enjoy every challenge.
I see mentoring very much as a two way street. From my experience I have gained as much from my mentees as they have hopefully gained from me.
Independent Agricultural Consultant
I’m an independent agricultural consultant based in East Anglia, specialising in regenerative farming, soil health, and natural capital markets. Prior to this, I co-founded and led Oakbank for over 20 years, building it into a well-regarded business supporting farmers with practical environmental and sustainable farming solutions. Throughout my career, I’ve concentrated on helping farmers improve profitability while transitioning to more resilient systems, focussing on doing things properly if you are going to do them at all! My work now spans farm business strategy, soil carbon programmes, and natural capital opportunities, supporting both growers and organisations navigating the shift toward net-zero commitments.
I decided to become a mentor with TwoCan after someone, that has been a big help to me, suggested I might be good at it. Alongside my technical work, I’ve always had a strong interest in marketing, storytelling, and how ideas are communicated, particularly within agriculture. I also care deeply about developing people within the sector, helping them build confidence, think clearly about their direction, and navigate an industry that’s changing quickly. Mentoring feels like a natural way to bring those interests together while also learning from the perspectives and experiences of others.
These experiences are rarely a one-way street and I am sure I will continue to learn a lot from being part of the TwoCan programme, something I would recommend to anyone!
I’m an independent consultant specialising in people development including leadership, performance management and team dynamics. I grew up on a mixed family farm in Yorkshire and began my career at the ADAS pig research unit before moving into the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. For over 15 years I have supported organisations of all sizes, public, private and family-owned, to reach their goals.
I now work with service and rural-based organisations and have a particular interest in supporting family businesses, having acquired real, lived experience in navigating the unique complexities that often arise!
I have been lucky enough to have people throughout my career who have acted as mentors (probably without even realising it!). They’ve provided inspiration, guidance, a listening ear or a kick up the bum when needed! My tractor driving days are 20 years out of date so if I can support someone within the industry utilising the skills I have acquired, I would be really proud. Everyone needs a cheerleader at the end of the day!
Working independently, I really value opportunities to be part of a wider community. I’m looking forward to meeting different people, learning from their perspectives and continuing to develop my own coaching and leadership skills.
Originally from Devon, brought up in a small village in a farming community, I am married to a Yorkshireman, now living in Shropshire in a tiny village surrounded by farmers (arable next door, suckler herd across the road and dairy in the next hamlet).
I have been working in the food supply chain for over 20 years including roles in Unilever, Dalgety, Greencore and Uniq as well as independent family-owned businesses.
Prior to joining AHDB I had some time in retail, working for Co-op as Range Strategy manager on chilled. My roles have been varied, always for UK Supermarket suppliers , always retailer facing, and include NPD, Procurement, Product Management, Category Management and now at AHDB, Retail Development Management. At AHDB I am responsible for Asda, Morrisons, Co-op and Aldi accounts, and I help deliver the organisations objectives across marketing development, environment and human nutrition.
What I love most about my role is the depth and breadth of the projects I head up or are a part of, and relationship building is absolutely key, to collaborate with many external organisations and build intelligent partnerships.
I find mentoring so rewarding and am enthusiastic to volunteer my time and support helping a mentee reflect and explore their own goals and help them uncover the answers for themselves as they develop the skills they need on their journey.
I won’t always tell a mentee what they want to hear, but I will be using my expertise and experiences on my own journey to cut through complexity to help them see their own challenges through a different lens.
And I will do my very best to support in a non-judgemental space. I am delighted to sign up as a mentor.
I can help by giving something back , sharing my experience and skills and hopefully making a difference, whilst widening my perspective and to further develop my coaching/mentoring skills and support the wider agricultural community.
Partner – PS Kirkwood Farms
NFU York East Council Delegate
Mixed pig and arable farmer, practical experience with day to day farming, environmental permitting, planning, farm assurance and fathoming how legislation impacts pig farming businesses. Knowledge in diversifications including farm infrastructure investments, direct retail and renewable energy. Nuffield Scholar, Worshipful company of farmers alumni and NFU Council Delegate.
To be part of a personal development programme that shares knowledge and supports each other. If I can help someone by sharing my experiences it is time well spent.
Create a working relationship with Twocan Mentoring with a view of becoming a mentee when I have a project/situation that requires the help of a mentor.
Senior CRM User Support Manager, AHDB
I have worked in marketing and data for more than 20 years, working in the charity, insurance, and FMCG sectors. I have spent the last five years working for a non-departmental government body that support and provides insight to the wider farming community. My role as a Senior CRM User Support Manager, is to promote adoption of our CRM Platform, Microsoft Dynamics, by providing training and working with key stakeholders within the business, ensuring the platform supports the organisation as a relationship management tool and showcasing all the insight that data can provide.
I’m passionate about supporting others in their personal and professional development. Over the years, I’ve benefited from having great mentors myself, and I know how valuable it is to have someone to talk things through with — whether it’s navigating challenges, building confidence, or just having a sounding board. With over 20 years’ experience across marketing, data and CRM in a range of sectors including charity, FMCG, insurance and government, I felt I had a lot to offer in terms of sharing practical insights and helping someone grow in their career.
I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to give back by helping someone else develop their skills, confidence and approach to stakeholder management, planning, and delivery. At the same time, I expect to learn a lot from the experience myself — mentoring is a two-way street, and I’m always interested in hearing different perspectives and understanding the challenges others are facing in the workplace today. I hope the experience helps me grow too, both as a mentor and as a professional.
Business Development Manager at the School of Sustainable Food & Farming, Harper Adams University
Alex Hardie is an experienced commercial and strategic marketing leader with a track record of driving growth, brand impact and team performance across both corporate and higher-education sectors. He is currently Business Development Manager at the School of Sustainable Food & Farming, Harper Adams University, where he leads initiatives that connect academic programmes with industry, community and future talent opportunities.
Previously, Alex served as Sales & Marketing Director at Virgin Balloon Flights, where he was responsible for commercial strategy, customer engagement and revenue growth in a high-visibility consumer brand environment.
In higher education, Alex has held senior leadership roles in brand and recruitment marketing at Bangor University and Keele University, shaping institutional positioning, audience development and cross-functional teams to support student recruitment and stakeholder engagement. His career also includes leading marketing and business development activity at Harper Adams University, driving initiatives that blend academic mission with sector relevance.
case.org
Alex is recognised for championing emotionally intelligent leadership, creativity in brand communication and evidence-based recruitment strategy. He is a frequent writer and speaker on leadership, marketing and organisational culture.
I am Director of the CLA Midlands region with overall responsibility for the management of the organisations’ regional team, business, policy work and membership.
My family background is in farming, horses and veterinary practice in Shropshire. I was very keen to have a career that allowed me to keep closely involved with my roots and rural communities and ended up doing so as a lawyer and through varied policy work through to becoming a Regional Director of the CLA in 2022.
My interests include country pursuits, eventing, skiing and singing. I am a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farmers and past attendee of the Challenge of Rural Leadership Course. I have also been on the General Committee of the Farmers Club since 2022 and am currently Chairing the House Committee.
I personally have benefited greatly from other people and businesses being generous with their time, experience and general advice, if I can afford others with similar, it would be a privilege. I am passionate about personal development within the rural sector and helping identify opportunities, both personal and professional for those of us in it. I am excited to pass on knowledge and expertise that I have learned through my time not only in the sector but whilst immersed in our wonderful communities. I believe there are many opportunities amongst the challenges we also face which should be explored.
We never stop learning and knowledge gained is never wasted as they say. I hope that by being a mentor, I can also learn and pick up new skills and ideas which will in turn help others in the future. It will I am sure be rewarding and a wonderful way to build new relationships.
BA(Hons) ACIB PFIAgrM FRSA ARAgS
Mark spent 35 years at Barclays Plc, where he was Managing Director and National Head of Agriculture, focusing on farming, landed estates, and sustainability. He now holds a portfolio of influential roles, including Chair of the Arthur Rank Centre, Chair of FixOurFood (University of York), and Non-Executive Director at the Environment Agency (DEFRA). Mark is also Trustee and Vice Chair of the Institute of Agricultural Management, Mentor for the Lord Henry Plumb Foundation, and Organiser at St George’s House, Windsor Castle. A recognised thought leader, he co-authored The Independent Review of UK Farm Assurance and the Green Finance Institute’s Financing the Farming Transition.
Keen to provide mentor support to the sector as we tackle the significant headwinds facing farming/food and countryside
To hear from others in the sector – to listen to different opinions – in essence reverse mentoring
Saviour Associates
I am an independent consultant who specialises in people, leadership, motivation and more recently family succession. I have little to no formal training, i left schools at 15 and entered straight into employment and have been lucky to meet and work with some incredible people and business and it is through these life experiences that help and work with companies and clients all over the UK and overseas.
Working on your own, you can become stale and live in a silo, so the opportunity for additional training to sharpen me up is fantastic and building relationships and meeting new people. I know from my personal experience how hard it can be to get going, the lack of confidence and self believe, the fear of failing, not being good enough, if I can help someone build up their confidence and self believe to achieve their dreams and goals, this will be fantastic
Jim McRobert is a Yorkshire-based agricultural specialist with over 40 years of experience in livestock nutrition, with a particular focus on dairy cows and grassland management. Formerly a sales manager, he now works part-time with Carrs Billington Agriculture and also holds a part-time role as Head of Ruminant at Aquapulse. Jim is also an active volunteer in rugby at club, district, and county levels.
I joined the program to continue challenging myself, connect with other forward-thinking individuals, and explore fresh ideas that can shape the future of agriculture and rural communities.
I hope to gain inspiration, new perspectives, and practical insights that can be shared across the networks I’m involved with—whether that’s in farming, sustainability, or community sport. I also look forward to contributing my experience and learning from others in return.
My passion for crops started with the informal mentorship from of my garden loving grandfather. After taking this forward with a biology degree, my PhD set me off on a rewarding career initially carrying out applied cropping research and latterly managing applied research and knowledge exchange activity for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. This has included working with industry interest groups of various types and levels of formality, developing the skills to get the best out of these collaborative opportunities. I have also worked with more formal groups and committees and have managed people and teams with a range of perspectives of experiences.
While my inclination to focus on the data and the detail comes naturally to me, in recent years I’ve really started to appreciate the value of applying a similar level of focus to personal interactions, taking the ego out of the equation, listening at least as much as speaking and achieving the benefits of working well with other people.
I’ve gained a lot of satisfaction through supporting the development of others as a line and team manager. The beauty of this scheme is that I get the chance to do this without the constraints that formal line management structures inevitably impose.
I will get to meet new and interesting people from different organisations and with different perspectives which will be a great way of challenging myself and my own perspective of the world.
As a new entrant into the farming industry in the 1990s, I believed that farming could be more sustainable and I approached my fledgling dairy business with the plan to prove my theory. My farming business flourished and was recognised with awards for business, productivity and sustainability, the pinnacle being the Farmers Weekly “Farmer of the Year” in 2005.
Looking for a new challenge, in 2010, I launched a new venture and established Andy Guy Consulting which provides sustainable farming advice to farmers across the United Kingdom and, occasionally, in Europe.
I have been fortunate to have been guided by some wonderful people, in the farming industry, “mentored” by them, although the title wasn’t recognised at the time.
After working for over four decades, in the most vibrant and rewarding industry I can imagine, I am keen to help a new generation of people build their careers and find success in Agriculture too, whether they want to farm or work in the wider sector.
I hope to gain satisfaction from being part of someone else’s growing career and from “putting a little back” into the industry which has given me a lifetime of rewards. I also hope to develop myself and learn from my mentees and the other people that I network with is the programme.
I am a Knowledge Exchange Manager within AHDB’s AgriLeader team, where I bring energy, creativity, and a genuine passion for UK agriculture and food production. With a strong focus on leadership, management development, and the livestock sector, I am committed to supporting farmers and industry professionals in building more sustainable and resilient businesses.
I have a proactive and personable approach, which means I thrive on collaboration and am skilled at leading high-performing teams. I have developed a deep understanding of the importance of effective management practices and their role in achieving business success. An experienced facilitator and communicator, adept at delivering technical content in an engaging and accessible way to a wide range of audiences.
Driven by continuous learning and personal growth, I embrace new challenges and am passionate about helping others unlock their potential. My role within AgriLeader allows me to inspire and support individuals across the industry, encouraging innovation and positive change at every level.
I graduated from Newcastle University in 1993 with a BSc (Hons) Agricultural & Environmental Science, and immediately entered the world of Animal Health.
After ten years with Pfizer Animal Health, I joined Downland a UK wide network of independent agricultural merchants, which gave me wider exposure across a broad portfolio of Agricultural inputs.
Having held a number of senior commercial roles across the industry I returned to Downland in 2022, taking over as Chief Executive in 2023.
I hold the National Certificate of Animal Health and am a Suitably Qualified Person for the prescription of POM-VPS Veterinary Medicines, and a Wholesale Qualified Person in supply chain management.
I am passionate about developing people, I was very lucky to spend my early career with Pfizer which was a fantastic training ground.
I am keen to share my Agri sector knowledge and experience, in the hope that I can help support a mentee in their career, passing on the benefits from the significant training that I been lucky to receive.
Every day is a school day, and I am sure that I will learn a lot from the experience, having two Gen-Z children I am aware that they live in a very different digital world now. I hope that by understanding that better, it will challenge my thinking and help me adapt in my future career.
Coming into agriculture in the early 1970’s from a non-farming background was considered unconventional, if not eccentric. But food and farming has provided me with a fascinating career, and I have been privileged to work alongside some of the industry’s best people.
My first 40 years were spent managing and developing farm businesses across the sectors but in the last decade my focus has shifted to strategic leadership, specialist consultancy and mentoring.
My commitment to a more integrated approach to the management of farms where commercial production sits comfortably alongside care for the environment and nature has been a constantly evolving journey.
Supporting the development of the next generation is incredibly rewarding. You can provide fresh perspectives, broader experience and unbiased feedback that helps them grow both personally and professionally.
Tim achieved a first-class degree in Agricultural Business Management at Wye College before starting his career as a farm consultant. He subsequently gained a Diploma in Rural Surveying and qualified as an Agricultural Valuer.
He went on to become the East Region Surveyor for the CLA, advising and representing members on all aspects of land and farm business management, before joining the AHDB as their Regional Manager. Tim pioneered the Monitor Farm programme in East Anglia and took on responsibility for managing the national arable team.
He was then appointed Director of Knowledge Exchange with responsibility for the network of Strategic Farms, Monitor Farms, discussion groups and technical events in all sectors across the UK and was awarded Fellowship of the Institute of Agricultural Management.
Tim has chaired a number of farming organisations and events, sits on various industry committees and was previously the President of Essex Agricultural Valuers’ Association. He leads on the free business advice Ceres Rural offers through the Future Farming Resilience Fund and specialises in strategic business reviews and sustainability, having completed the BASIS course in Principles of Sustainable Land Management.
He lives on a small farm with a large family and keeps fit by setting himself physical challenges and trying to keep up with his children’s various sporting activities.
I like to make a positive impact, helping others to grow and navigate challenges by offering guidance based on shared experience and knowledge. It’s also a great way to connect, learn from others and contribute to personal or professional development.
I’d hope to learn from the experience myself, as mentoring can sometimes offer new perspectives or insights, even if you’re the one guiding. It can challenge you to think more critically and be a better communicator. Plus, it’s always great to expand your network and build relationships with people from different walks of life.
Self Employed Agronomist
Debbie has a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from the University of Wales, is a Governor of Harper Adams and a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society. Debbie was a commercial farm agronomist in the NW of England for 20 years before working on potato agronomy at Cambridge University Farm. Debbie has worked for Co-op Retail and Sainsbury’s in Technical Management for Fresh Produce and was the UK Agronomist for PepsiCo. She sits on the steering group of the Allerton project, a charity which champions biodiversity and PRIF, the UK Government’s Expert Committee for Pesticide Residues in Food, is a lead for Women in Food and Farming and is a Director of CUPGRA and Chair of the CUPGRA R and D sub-committee
I have been very fortunate in my working, to have been supported by many great people and I want to give some of that back.
Would also like to develop my own mentoring and supporting skills.
As a Nufield Scholar I have always looked out for scholarships that can make real differences to our industry and yours is one that I’m sure will bring disruptive good. Hence I wanted to be a part of your initiative by volunteering as a mentor.
The agricultural sector has been notoriously bad at talking difficult issues through with proper conversations. Twocan Mentor is bringing best practice from other countries and industries to ours. It is enabling properly matched people and providing them with the skills to listen carefully, stay attuned and so help and encourage people find solutions that are right for them. In a small way I hope might be able to help with a service which would have benefited my career if it had been available.
Chief Executive of Woldmarsh
I have been the Chief Executive of Woldmarsh for nearly two and a half years, following eleven years as Chief Operating Officer. My career in the agricultural sector began in the early 1990s, with a particular focus on fertiliser, seed, and agrochemicals. My current role at Woldmarsh is diverse and dynamic, encompassing strategic leadership, staff mentoring, and hands-on operational involvement.
My professional qualifications include Chartered Membership of the Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS), membership of the Institute of Agricultural Management, and both FACTS and BASIS qualifications on the professional register. Additionally, I have been an active member of Vistage International for eleven years, further enhancing my leadership skills.
I joined this programme because knowledge transfer in the agricultural industry has always been of paramount importance to me. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of meeting exceptional individuals, and I now feel it’s my turn to give back. When Helen approached me about Twocan Mentor, even in its conceptual stage, I knew it was an initiative I wanted to support. Having witnessed talented professionals leave the industry due to insufficient support, I am passionate about addressing this issue.
From this experience, I hope to feel both challenged and rewarded. I anticipate being challenged in ways that promote self-reflection and continuous learning. The reward, I believe, will come from playing a part in making a difference—helping others approach situations from new perspectives and ultimately achieve their goals. To me, there could be no greater satisfaction than contributing to the success and growth of individuals within our industry.
Chris is an agronomist with a passion for sustainable agriculture and a specialism in regenerative farming. With 10 years’ experience as a BASIS and FACTS
qualified advisor, Chris undertook a Nuffield Farming Scholarship in 2022, focused on regenerative farming to bolster his experience. It was his Nuffield Farming Scholarship that instilled the confidence in Chris to start his own business in 2023, Down To Earth Agronomy. Prior to becoming an agronomist, Chris was in large scale farm management based between two 4,000-acre estates in the eastern counties. This gives Chris a unique perspective and deep understanding of how farm businesses operate and credibility when advising farmers and landowners on regenerative agriculture. Chris is a member of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC) and the BASIS register of environmental advisors, offering expertise around holistic landscape management.
I have been fortunate enough in my career to date to have received some fantastic mentoring and support, which has helped me grow into the person I am today. It’s enormously important to bring on the next generation and I wanted to give back in a way that reflects the support I had in my early career. TwoCan Mentoring is a fantastic organisation that matches mentors and mentees in a way that fosters an open and progressive working relationship from the first session.
I am the sustainability manager for Leprino Foods, it’s my job to make our mozzarella as sustainable as possible, from farm to fork. I’ve a long history in education (14yrs teaching secondary to degree level), agricultural production (from school farms to commercial units) across a range of sectors (pork, poultry and dairy are the main ones). Over my career I’ve picked up extra skillsets from butchery to behavioural insights and change management.
I heard from Helen, what the Twocan Mentor programme is looking to achieve and wanted to support. At a number of points in my career I have been lucky enough to find people who really helped me get a perspective of where I was going in an otherwise rudderless career path. The chance to join a network and be in some small way at least be useful, brings me joy.
I would like to learn the skills of being a mentor and being a mentee, I can see huge benefits to helping manage my own team and my personal networks. It is too good an opportunity for personal and professional growth not to be a part of the Twocan Mentor programme.
CEO of Naylor Group, Nuffield Scholar, Farmers Weekly Columnist and a fellow of RASE and Royal Society of Arts
Matt Naylor leads the Naylor Group of companies, which includes Naylor Flowers Ltd, which produces 300ha of cut flowers, and Socius Ltd, a recruitment business supplying seasonal labour to farming businesses and processors.
He is a Farmers Weekly columnist, a Nuffield Scholar and a fellow of the Royal Ag Societies and the Royal Society of Arts.
I felt drawn to this programme because I love seeing people fulfil their potential. I have been making my living from farming since 1989 and it is a form of therapy to share all the mistakes that I have made with younger people so that they might avoid them
Operations Director and Lincolnshire Farmer
Following my graduation from Newcastle University where I studied agriculture, I began my career as a Trainee Farm Manager and quickly progressed to becoming a Partner in a large-scale, 8,000-acre farming business in Carrington, West Lincolnshire.
Following the acquisition of Carrington Farms by Dyson Farming, I transitioned across to overseeing farming operations, playing a pivotal role in integrating cutting-edge on-farm technology with regenerative agricultural practices.
In my current role at Dyson Farming, I am also responsible for renewable energy initiatives and glasshouse operations, driving sustainability and innovation across the business.
I am passionate in promoting health and safety in agriculture which is reflected in my active membership on the HSE’s Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee (AIAC).
In addition to my responsibilities at Dyson Farming, I also farm 630acres independently, alongside operating my own bulk haulage transport business.
I have been fortunate to receive significant support and encouragement throughout my career, which has played a key role in my achievements.
Motivated by this, I am committed to giving back to the agriculture industry by supporting young people, particularly those who may not have had the same opportunities. I aim to be instrumental in fostering positive change and nurturing the next generation of agricultural talent.
Hi, I am Vicky McDowell and I’m at my best when I am joining the dots and creating growth for businesses who have purpose beyond commercial growth. I live in Stirlingshire with my Husband, 2 sons, a grumpy cat and an excitable dog (think Garfield and Odie). I have had a very varied 30-year career covering many sectors and business structures but at the core of every one of these has always been customer led decision making and the creation of collaborations and partnerships while creating impact and personal growth for the teams.
I thrive from working in areas where I am not the technical expert but where I can harness the knowledge that experts have and use my experience and tried and tested methodologies to find opportunities, solutions and creating growth for their business, their teams and the wider industry they serve. I love the energy the Twocan team bring to their projects and I want to be part of that.
I know I will learn from the mentors and mentees in the programme and I hope this helps my purpose and values evolve. I am also wanting to make lasting connections with people who also want to learn and also want to expand their influence.
I am the Business Manager for Rockscape Energy Ltd and am entering my 4th year within the AD industry. As a teacher in my previous career, I have been able to use my many transferable skills to successfully drive the business forward and manage areas such as: Day to Day Operations, Projects, Recruitment and HR. I believe strongly in leading by example and inspiring women within a male-dominated industry. I am focused on developing and sharing my skills as a woman in a leadership role and also within the AD world.
I hope to focus on helping others through mentoring, and sharing my personal thoughts and experiences, as well as learning more about myself and ultimately the industry of Anaerobic Digestion and Agriculture.
Farmer and Business Owner
I was born the third-generation tenant of a mixed farm in 1986, at age 21 chose to run the farm business which I did until 2012. The farm was called Lee Moor and had a well-developed website that I keep going www.leemoor.net The farm was a demonstration site for many innovations. I immediately started putting into place sustainable farming practices and as such was an early member of Linking the Environment and Farming (LEAF). I have a very wide range of farming and non-farming related business experiences and now have set up a sugar-based plastics business www.chestnut.bio
Impact and legacy – there is only so much in life you can do for yourself, and to be fair there is a great inner feeling one gets from helping people reach their ambitions. I have always been involved with the land-based industry and there is so much uncertainty and anxiety in the countryside at the current time I am determined to share my ‘know how’ and importantly ‘know who’ to make things better for decent hard-working individuals.
To be challenged to come up with a range of scenarios to add to that of the mentee and then to be supportive and to follow up and help pivot if that is required. Nobody has a monopoly on wisdom and the environment of threats and opportunities change regularly.
I co-founded FieldMouse Research in 2018 having moved from London to Mid Wales and realised that rural voices were being routinely excluded from market and social research, much of which is commissioned by Government departments and organisations with influence on public policy.
FieldMouse is a fieldwork agency in the operations sector of the market research industry, which simply means that we find people to take part in paid research – typically focus groups or in-depth interviews.
However, we are the only fieldwork agency with the social purpose of ensuring the fair representation of rural voices in all research. In 2023 FieldMouse won the inaugural Market Research Society (MRS) Operations Award for Recruitment Excellence in recognition of this.
FieldMouse also owns Opinion Harvester, an agri-research panel of c. 1,200 UK farmers which is used by our clients to conduct both quantitative and qualitative research – ensuring that farmers’ voices are heard in research which directly affects them.
I am a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) and a business member of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).
Before moving to Wales, I worked in business development for 20 years, mostly in the consumer trends forecasting world with a fairly long stint in media and conference sales. I am passionate about the benefits of good salespeople – they are often the secret weapon of any business, and I think sales training should start at school!
I have also written 2.5 novels in the rom-com genre (finishing the other 0.5 is a retirement plan) and I read as much fiction as a busy workload allows. I graduated from Warwick University in 1997 with a BA in English & American Literature. Although I lived and worked in London for 15 years, I grew up mostly in Northumberland and was born in Shetland – the affiliation with rural voices started young!
Sarah from Twocan Mentor approached me and I immediately recognised the benefits to both mentees and mentors of this fantastic programme. Having launched a business myself in rural Wales, I know that finding the right mentor who understands both the sector you are operating in and the challenges of managing a rural business is tricky – there is rarely a blueprint. But I also know that there is a vast amount of experience and expertise in the food, farming and wider rural business sector – they just tend to be spread further (excuse the pun) afield, not tidily clustered in one square mile of a city. So a mechanism by which mentees can be matched with suitable mentors who understand not just where they’ve been but where they’re heading, and the challenges they’ll meet along the way, is a truly brilliant idea and I’m so excited to be a part of this growing network.
Every good salesperson knows the phrase “two ears, one mouth” so first off, I hope to listen and learn a lot about the scheme and then I can’t wait to meet my first mentee, hear all about their hopes and challenges and help them plan their path forward. I’m also excited to meet the wider network. I find people fascinating and none more so than the rural community. There are so many amazing businesses being run from the fields, barns and rural offices around the UK producing a huge diversity of food, as well as other products and services. Twocan seems like a great way to learn more about them!
Lucy MacLennan is the Chief Executive of the Organic Research Centre, the UK’s leading independent research charity exploring organic and agroecological farming and food systems. She also leads the Advisory Group for Agricology – a collaborative, free, farming information hub for practical sustainable agriculture, regardless of labels.
In addition, Lucy is Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Fresh Produce Sector Board at Red Tractor Assured Food Standards and a Trustee of Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.
Mentoring has played a pivotal part in my career and having benefited from the guidance of some brilliant people, I am keen to pay it forward and to help others. There is so much to learn from a positive mentor-mentee relationship for both parties, that I am excited to join the programme and am sure the experience will be invaluable.
Ian was born in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, following local education he left school at 16 and attended Norcat in Kings Lynn on the YTS programme and then attended Easton College on a part time basis, where he gained an NCA whilst working for Booker Farming near Kings Lynn. His educational history makes Ian a firm believer in workplace education and home-grown talent.
Ian moved to Louth in 1994 to work on another Booker Farming, Louth Park Farms. Ian has held various roles at Louth Park and in 2008 he became overall manager of both the arable and pea operations. Since 2008 he has remained at Louth, but the business has seen various corporate owners, in 2018 the business transferred to private family ownership. The Louth business is complex in that it is made up of 6 Contract Farming Agreements, 3 FBT’s. The pea operation is a co-operative of some 28 growers. Total area managed for the Louth business is circa 2800 ha’s, this makes managing expectations, communication and logistics key parts of the daily management.
Ian is married to Kathryn who is Clinical Lead for a coastal Primary Care Network, they have 2 sons, Tom who is 24 and works for a local agricultural buying group and Ben who is 16 and a student at Bishop Burton College.
Outside of work Ian is Chair of Governors for a Primary Federation and is a Governor of Bishop Burton College. Ian is an Alumni of the 62nd WCF AMB in 2013.
I am a strong believer in using experience to help others, but I never loose sight of the fact that every day is a school day. Mentoring is a 2-way street.
I hope to be able to use my experience and life journey to guide others to accomplish their ambition.
Freelance Consultant, Chilli Farmer and Non Exec Director
Sheena has been involved in agriculture all her life and on returning home to Galloway,
diversified into growing chillies. It was through that business that she developed a growing network of food and drink businesses throughout Scotland. A firm believer in developing skills, collaboration and the circular economy led her to setting up Food from Farming, a second business enabling her to do this and advise others.
She believes strongly in the locality and seasonality of food and drink and a passion for sustainability and the benefits this brings to local and rural economies. These skills are currently being used in her role as a director of the Oxford Farming Conference, a trustee of The Crichton Trust and a regional food and drink coordinator.
I love helping others, passing on my knowledge but also learning form those that I help as this is always and should be a two way conversation where both benefit.
I hope my experience can help others to reach their potential while challenging myself. I have been lucky enough to be on some fantastic programmes and hope to use these experiences to help others.
Area Sales Manager in fertiliser and Soil/Crop Nutritionist Agronomist for past 20yrs+. MBPR who champions a systems approach to sustainable crop production and regenerative practices for improving soil health.
As a 4th generation farmers son, with a strong practical background, graduating from Harper Adams University in 1996 with BSc (Hons) in agriculture. I went onto farm management on a large diverse settled estate in the Scotish Borders and then onto family arable and contracting enterprise in Lincolnshire, where I gained my professional qualifications BASIS and FACTS.
In 2003 a career move lead me into recycled crop nutrition sales and agronomy. Which has since lead to a prolific career in business development management, technical sales and agronomy in crop nutrition and soil health. Driven by innovation, efficiently and sustainability in crop production.
For person development of interpersonal skills to be a better communicator and improve emotional intelligence. Gain newfound confidence and leadership skills, how to overcome adversity so that I can put into practice both personally and in business to help achieve my goals.
Through professional mentoring gain insight into my own character and mindset, and how to adapt and improve communicate styles. Learn what motivates and demotivates me and how to put what I learn into best practise when setting goals and boundaries.
Peer to peer learning and be guided by successful people in agriculture and beyond. Learn from their own person journey, develop a growth mindset and embrace adversity to find meaning and evolve.
Newfound connections with new and existing friends in the world of agribusiness of likeminded people who wish to guide and support others achieve their goals.
Managing Director, Smart (Green Ore) Limited Property Services
I have spent my career in and around the agricultural sector, firstly with John Deere starting as a graduate trainee, then after 16 years I moved to Kverneland UK as the Sales and Marketing Director. In 1998 I started my own John Deere dealership becoming one of the largest in Southern England, after 24 years I sold the business and have since been involved as a director of a new farmers cooperative the Environmental Farmers Group. I have also had several NED and mentoring roles. I feel my experience gained during my career can be beneficial to new leaders in the agricultural sector.
I decided to join the programme as I believe that leadership and clear vision is required in the Agricultural Industry more to today than ever before.
In terms of what I hope to gain from the experience, I hope that in a small way I can help the sector, and its leadership move forward.
Retired Headteacher and Livestock Farmer
Having a background perhaps a little different to most in the project I thought my contribution could be useful. Although always having a keen interest in agriculture I began my working life as an educator concluding with a twenty three year stint as a Headteacher.
Only then did I realise I’d missed my true vocation in life and switched to stock farming. I began with cattle and then introduced sheep and after a few years became exclusively sheep.
As land was a issue I specialised in pedigree animals of good quality rather than bulk and to that end remained a small farm with additional land loaned as an when required.
If my experience can guide others to a more successful and therefore enjoyable career then the satisfaction of that is it’s own reward.
Paul joined Brown&Co in 1989 and has been a Partner since 2002. He advises on a wide variety of farming enterprises to include arable, root, vegetable and livestock on financial, structural and strategy matters to include business reviews, business and enterprise planning, whole farm budgets and cashflows, contract farming, labour and machinery joint ventures on both farms and estates.
Paul’s expertise lies in advising businesses both large and small in positive situations or those with more challenging circumstances.
Paul is a member of BIAC and the IAgrM.
Paul has a family background in arable and root farming in Lincolnshire.
I do some mentoring as part of my daily role running a team in our Lincoln office and thought passing on some of this experience might be valuable to others.
I am a rural researcher at Savills, focusing on agricultural, environmental, rural property, and land use issues across the UK. I lead a team of research analysts and a specialist rural data team, analysing the impact of policy changes on rural businesses and the land market. Alongside this, I run our family arable farm in east Lincolnshire and am busy investigating ways that we can evolve our combinable cropping system to make the business more sustainable.
I joined the programme as I was keen to benefit from an outside perspective on my development while also offering my experience back as a mentor. I really like the matching process and that there is training to help make sure you get the most out of the programme.
CEO Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society
For the last 3 ½ years, I have worked with the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society. Initially, I joined as the Breed Development Manager before being promoted to CEO, a position I have held for 3 years. Prior to that, I have been in Industry roles mainly in the consultancy space, with the majority of time spent in the beef sector, including roles as a beef nutrition specialist and industry development specialist.
I am married to Rachel, and we have 14-year-old twins Finlay and Anna.
Following my promotion to CEO, I was in need of help to marshal my thoughts and signed on last year as a mentee. The benefits I gained from my engagement as a mentee were fantastic and I felt it important to pass that personal development baton on, hence my willingness to become a mentor.
To give back hopefully more than I received from the programme and help those within the industry to grow and reach their potential.
We will be in touch with more details soon
I am a passionate agriculturalist with a fierce thirst for learning. Farming is in my blood; I see agriculture as an industry that is often overlooked despite its global importance. As an Agri-Business Consultant I specialise in advising on business strategies, improving farm efficiency, and addressing the unique challenges of the agricultural sector, combining my deep-rooted understanding of practical farming with modern business practices.
Land management is vital for food production, environmental conservation, and energy generation. My aim is to help facilitate, empower UK farmers, showcasing them as world leaders in our industry.
I decided to join the cultivate success program in the hopes to engage and learn from experienced professionals who can offer different perspectives and further my own professional development.
I hope to gain invaluable personal insights, constructive criticisms, encouragement, and enhanced industry knowledge as well as new friends and connections.
Doctoral Researcher/PhD Candidate
Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich, London, UK
I am a dedicated food systems researcher and final-year PhD candidate focused on the cascading effects of disruptive shocks on agri-food value chains (AFVCs). My research has equipped me with a strong background in systems thinking, qualitative research, and stakeholder engagement. I am passionate about building resilient food systems, with a focus on sustainable and equitable solutions for global food security.
I decided to join this program to connect with like-minded professionals and mentors who can help guide my career in food system resilience. The opportunity to engage with a diverse network is invaluable to my personal and professional growth.
Through this experience, I hope to gain insights into practical applications of resilience-building strategies, expand my network within the agriculture industry, and strengthen my skills to better contribute to the global challenge of food security.
Environmental Assistant
I was recently made redundant from 7 years in breeding Barley in the research and development sector, upon this crossroads I joined the Twocan Mentor programme to hopefully gain direction and open up vision to other career options within agriculture that are not sitting on a tractor all day long.
My mentor is expertly matched and first session in going swimmingly well. So far this programme has given me purpose and a road in which I feel I can progress.
I look forward to what the next few months holds!
Studying for her PhD at Harper Adams University
Originally from inner-city Birmingham, I was attracted to the broad range of subjects that agriculture encompasses so completed a degree in Agriculture at Harper Adams University. During this time, I developed an interest in poultry nutrition and am now pursuing a PhD in slow growing broiler nutrition and environmental impact assessments. In my spare time I enjoy French classical dressage, cooking, knitting and exploring fashion.
I decided to join the Twocan Mentor program to develop a good foundation for a career in agriculture once I finish my PhD. I am passionate about networking and building communities and believe these factors are essential for personal and professional growth.
I hope to have great conversations with people from the sector that will lead to lasting networks and communities. I hope that through the mentorship I will develop clearer goals for my future and gain confidence about heading out to work in the industry.
MSc at Bangor University
I am a dedicated agriculturalist with my first degree in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management from Nigeria. I am also a recipient of the Commonwealth Scholarship and OFC Scholarship. I am currently pursuing my MSc in Agroforestry and Food Security at Bangor University, Wales. I am driven by the desire to use my knowledge to address global challenges related to food security and sustainability.
I joined Twocan Mentor to expand my knowledge and experience while advancing my career in the agri-food and forestry sectors. Through Twocan Mentor, I aim to gain valuable experience, develop my career, and pursue my passion for farming.
I look forward to leveraging my education, experiences, and opportunities offered by Twocan Mentor, to make a meaningful contribution to UK agriculture and beyond.
Knowledge Exchange at AHDB
I was brought up on a mixed livestock farm in East Yorkshire. After studying Agriculture at Newcastle University, I moved down to Warwickshire for my first ‘proper job’ at AHDB in the beef & sheep genetics sector. I did that for 3 years before taking a secondment into the Knowledge Exchange team at AHDB, being the point of contact for beef & sheep producers between Lincolnshire and Herefordshire. A year secondment, turned into 2 and then I got invited to stay! I’ve now been in the role 5 years and enjoy the variety my role brings – no two days are the same.
I love my job and my team, but I was looking for a new challenge when I came across Helen and Twocan Mentor at an industry networking event. Being mentored sounded like a great idea and opportunity to push myself. Having been in the same organisation since I graduated and the same role for a while, you can sometimes become a little sheltered from how other organisations and job roles work. This seemed the perfect opportunity to get an alternative opinion on my career and development from people that have a very different experience to me and don’t really know me, so have no bias.
I would love to have some goals and something to aim for, I don’t know where I see myself in 5/10/15 years, so I’m hoping this scheme will help me bring some clarity to that and work out what I do and don’t want from my career. I’d also like some different opinions on how to deal with work challenges – especially when people have different ways of working. I’m a planner who likes a reasonable amount of detail, a fair amount of control and time to think things through, so working with people who don’t work in that way is inevitable, but can be frustrating
