Our People
Operational Team
Laura Ryan
Laura is an expert in building global networks and driving transformational change across the agri-food sector and up until 2019 was Sector Strategy Director for Beef & Lamb Board at Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). In 2023, Laura was named in the Grocer's Power List.
She has subsequently grown a global portfolio of work across the meat sector through the launch of Lavenpark, her own consultancy business which works with levy boards, government and commercial companies to achieve greater success through improved industry insight, connectivity, business development, marketing, and communications.
She is co-founder of the trailblazing Global Meat Alliance initiative and is also the founder and Global Chair of Meat Business Women which has been recognised by the United Nations as one of the solutions to the global Sustainable Development Goals.- Email:
- [email protected]
Harriet Wilson
Harriet joined Meat Business Women as Partnerships Director in August 2023. Here, she is focused on adding value to partners and increasing engagement across our wider community, to truly make meaningful change to the meat sector by attracting and retaining female talent. She won the first Meat Business Women ‘One to Watch Award’ in 2018 and was part of the UK&I Committee for three years.
Her career so far has involved Head of Agriculture & senior CSR roles for quick service restaurant chain McDonald’s and retailers ALDI and Co-op Food, with industry placements at Sainsbury’s and McDonald’s whilst at university. She graduated from Harper Adams University in 2014 and during her studies was a columnist for the Farmers Weekly.
With her background and passion for Agriculture, Harriet is a previous member of the NFU’s Next Generation Policy Forum, advisor to the Prince’s Countryside Fund Farming Group and sat on the Red Tractor Board for Beef and Lamb standards.
Harriet is based on her partners’ arable farm in Shropshire and also helps on her family’s beef & sheep farm in Staffordshire. Previously an active Young Farmers’ member, she enjoys coaching younger members in public speaking and stock judging, as well as organising various charity events.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 7969 659 032
Expert Advisory Panel
We have an advisory advisory panel of highly experienced and influential global industry professionals who are active advocates for the industry and support the development of our global strategy in line with our vision and mission.
Jackie Carter
Jackie obtained a B.Sc in Agricultural Animal Science from Leeds University and then went on to receive an M.Sc in Meat Science from the Meat Research Institute, now part of Bristol University. She joined Cranswick’s sole manufacturing site in 1992 as a quality assurance operative. Her career progressed within the technical team as the company grew, becoming Group Technical Director in 2018, and she is now responsible for the safety, legality, quality and authenticity of all the various delicious food products supplied from their 22 manufacturing sites across the UK.
Over her 30+ year career in the meat industry Jackie has seen the positive influence that women can bring to the workplace and is passionate about ensuring that this great industry continues to be one in which females can develop and thrive.
“There is nothing better than seeing a young lady that you have encouraged or mentored go on to achieve great things within their own career”.
Jackie is married with four children and in her spare time enjoys travelling, reading, gardening and walking the dog.
Penny Tomlinson
Penny Tomlinson was appointed Managing Director of Fairfax Meadow Europe in 2012, having been its sales director since 2002. Penny has over 30 years’ experience in the foodservice sector and was the first winner of the Foodservice Meat Business Woman of the Year in 2018, and then went on to win the coveted Excellence Award at the 2019 Meat Management Awards – being the first female winner. As an active committee member of the Meat Business Women organisation, she promotes and encourages women into the meat industry and regularly mentors female talent.
Penny is adept at navigating change. Over recent years, this has included the unprecedented impact of covid on Fairfax Meadow as a foodservice sector supplier. In 2021 Fairfax Meadow was acquired by Hilton Foods, providing exciting opportunities for the future development of the business.
In 2024, Fairfax Meadow will have been putting great meat on menus for fifty years, a proud accomplishment for everyone involved.
Our Territory Committees
Based in Meat Business Women's global territories, our committees deliver a programme of events, networking and mentoring opportunities at national level, to ensure that women across the global meat supply chain are supported at every stage of their career.
Harriet Wilson
Harriet joined Meat Business Women as Partnerships Director in August 2023. Here, she is focused on adding value to partners and increasing engagement across our wider community, to truly make meaningful change to the meat sector by attracting and retaining female talent. She won the first Meat Business Women ‘One to Watch Award’ in 2018 and was part of the UK&I Committee for three years.
Her career so far has involved Head of Agriculture & senior CSR roles for quick service restaurant chain McDonald’s and retailers ALDI and Co-op Food, with industry placements at Sainsbury’s and McDonald’s whilst at university. She graduated from Harper Adams University in 2014 and during her studies was a columnist for the Farmers Weekly.
With her background and passion for Agriculture, Harriet is a previous member of the NFU’s Next Generation Policy Forum, advisor to the Prince’s Countryside Fund Farming Group and sat on the Red Tractor Board for Beef and Lamb standards.
Harriet is based on her partners’ arable farm in Shropshire and also helps on her family’s beef & sheep farm in Staffordshire. Previously an active Young Farmers’ member, she enjoys coaching younger members in public speaking and stock judging, as well as organising various charity events.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 7969 659 032
Jodie Bolland
Jodie has 10 years experience working across meat manufacturing, retail and commercial roles. Jodie started her career at Woodhead bros abattoir working across the lairage and abattoir, whilst studying her degree. Jodie has a passion for the meat industry and thrives on seeing how she can make a difference in her team and the industry.
Jodie has recently completed an MBA whilst working full time and in her personal time loves to run and spend time in the outdoors.
Rebecca Gilligan
Rebecca is Head of Project Management for ABP Ireland and Poland where she started in this role in October 2021 and a short year later received the Meat Business Women ‘One to Watch’ Award in October 2022.
Growing up on a farm, Rebecca has a passion for all things animal related and graduated as a veterinary nurse in 2018. As a veterinary nurse one might say the meat industry wasn’t a typical career path, however, as a graduate Rebecca entered into the meat industry with Meat technology Ireland (Teagasc) supporting a diverse range of research and development projects while also supporting Lean Manufacturing.
Rebecca later moved into a Lean Management Executive Role with ABP Slaney where she embarked on and graduated with a Masters in Lean Six Sigma. It was during this time that Rebecca grew passionate about continuous improvement, establishing herself as a catalyst for positive change through engaging teams and helping them open their minds to all opportunities, ideas and fundamentally resulting in overall increased performance and efficiency.
As a Gen Z female in a management position Rebecca began to understand life for a woman in the meat industry. Through her lived experiences, combined with her passion for continuous improvement Rebecca is empowered to change the culture around women in the meat industry and to make the world a more inclusive place as whole.
With the support of ABP, Rebecca has led and executed the launch and establishment of ABP SHE for Ireland and Poland while also helping the ongoing growth of Meat Business Women’s profile across both ABPs sites and wider a field. On a more personal level, Rebecca volunteers with a Girls Rescue Centre in Africa, where she actively advocates for their needs.
Emma Hallam
Emma joined Moy Park in 2014, having held senior Sales & Marketing roles across the food industry for 18 years, moving in 2018 to a newly created role as Head of Sales – Strategic Affiliates, working closely with key customers and their manufacturing supply chain to develop and nurture these relationships.
A self-confessed ‘foodie’, Emma has a rich culinary family heritage with her parents’ restaurant ‘Harry’s Place’ holding a Michelin star for 17 years and her uncle being Managing Director of Dickinson & Morris, a position held since 1992.
Before following her family into the food industry, Emma was a graduate of The Royal Ballet School, she had the privilege of sharing a stage with Rudolf Nureyev at Covent Garden age 11 and subsequently enjoyed a successful professional ballet career.
Andrea Jex
Andrea joined Hilton Foods in 2016 and has held various positions within Procurement before being appointed Procurement Director in 2022. She heads up a global team that is responsible for the procurement of packaging, non-protein food and indirect services.
She has over 30 years’ experience in the food procurement sector having worked for a number of major food manufacturers.
Packaging innovation and sustainability are areas that Andrea is passionate about and she is a very active member of some of the bodies that promotes these areas globally and is determined to make a difference in this area.
Andrea has a First-Class Honours Degree in Food Manufacturing and reached the finals of the 2021 Women in Meat industry awards for the Meat Businesswomen Manufacturing and Processing award.
When Andrea is not at work she enjoys clay pigeon shooting and riding motorbikes but obviously not at the same time!
Sam Tinsley
Sam serves as VP of EMEA & APAC. In her role, Sam is responsible for customer engagement and rollouts for customers across Europe and Asia Pacific. She is also responsible for implementing processes and structures to enable the smooth rollout and support of our platform at customer sites.
Sam specializes in strategic business planning, sales, marketing strategy planning and execution, business process re-engineering and continuous improvement. Prior to joining Lumachain, she served as Project Advisor at Malone Group, Managing Director at Cutting Edge Services Ltd.
Stacey McKenna
Abigail Delaney
Abigail’s background is in communications, engagement and marketing. Abigail joined the red meat sector in 2019 as the Communications Advisor for Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Ltd which is her current role.
Abigail leads B+LNZ’s internal communications, social media and is heavily involved in the planning and execution of B+LNZ’s communications and marketing campaigns.
She joined the sector with a background in vocational education and adult learning having worked for Open Polytechnic. She has a special interest in digital communication, marketing and building relationships through engagement.
Caroline Peach
Caroline has an extensive background in marketing, communications and account management. She joined Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc in 2021 as a Brand and Communications Specialist where she sits across marketing and communications on the consumer side.
For Caroline, being a part of the Meat Business Women committee is an honour and a great opportunity to be involved hands-on in growing and supporting the Meat Business Women New Zealand community.
Our Speakers
We aim to inspire women and to help them develop at every career stage to reach their goals. Our speakers are central to the delivery of our mission - sharing their authentic experiences, insights and advice from across the industry at our high impact events.
Temple Grandin
HRH The Princess Royal
Beth Hart
Adam Couch
Maeve McCleane
Minette Batters
Jamila Gordon
Margaret Boanas
Ursula Lavery
Chris Kirke
Christine Middlemiss
Tara McCarthy
Niall Browne
Emily Miles
Karen O'Connor
Jo Whitfield
