JUDGES

Aimee Mahony joined the NFU as Poultry Adviser in 2016 following four years in the egg sector, gaining practical poultry experience in her role as Regional Manager in East Anglia for Noble Foods. In 2019 Aimee was named the EPIC Young Poultry Person of the Year and eight months later was appointed NFU Chief Poultry Adviser. Aimee completed her MSc in Intensive Livestock Health and Production in 2020, focusing her final research on UK poultry keepers’ perceptions of avian influenza biosecurity and risk. As Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee leads on a number of policy issues covering both the poultry meat and egg sectors and manages the national poultry board. She has also been instrumental in the success of the Poultry Industry Programme which is an opportunity for young people to learn more about the poultry sector and encourages them to become future ambassadors for the industry.

Charles Bourns is a first-generation broiler farmer from Gloucestershire growing 480,000 chickens per year for Hook 2 Sisters. He has been involved with the NFU for 36 years and was chairman of its National Poultry Board for 12 years. In addition, he is on the NFU’s South West Regional Poultry Board representing poultry farmers and he represents the NFU at meetings of Red Tractor. Charles is also Chairman of the National Fallen Stock Company. Charles has been involved in consultation work on all aspects of environmental, zoonotic and other aspects of poultry production both in the UK and in Europe and is passionate about the industry and its future.

Chloe Ryan has been a journalist specialising in food and farming her whole career, covering the meat industry in depth for more than a decade. Chloe was the launch editor of Poultry Business at the start of 2017 and continues in role as editor to this day. She is the head judge of the National Egg & Poultry Awards panel.

Claire studied veterinary medicine at Edinburgh University, graduating in 1980 and starting work in a mixed practice in Essex. In 1984, she moved to Norfolk, working mainly with small animals and exotic pets, as well as poultry and gamebirds. In 1995 Claire and her colleague Stephen Lister founded Crowshall Veterinary Services, a practice dedicated to providing evidence-based, practical and compassionate veterinary care, and diagnostic services to the commercial poultry and gamebird sectors. One of Claire’s particular interests was the egg industry – from grandparent stock down to commercial layers. Claire is a former President and an honorary member of the British Veterinary Poultry Association, and a committee member of the East Anglian Poultry Group. Claire retired in 2022, taking great pride in the growth and development of “Crowshall Vets” over the years and in the achievements of her younger colleagues. Since retirement, Claire has enjoyed spending more time with her family and getting involved with her local community. Among her many hobbies are walking, gardening, Pilates, flower arranging, reading and going to the theatre.

Professor Ganapathy graduated with DVM from the University of Agriculture Malaysia in 1991 and completed his PhD (respiratory mixed infection in poultry) in the University of Liverpool in 1997. In 2004, he became a MRCVS after passing the statutory examination, and became a RCVS and European specialist in 2007 and 2011 respectively. Dr.Ganapathy is engaged with research, teaching, consultations and CPDs, mostly on molecular immunopathogenesis, diagnosis, control and prevention of respiratory poultry diseases. His research focuses on avian respiratory pathogens and vaccines, especially on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV). He has studied the interactions between live viral vaccines of IBV, aMPV and Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and the influence of live infectious bursa disease virus vaccines on the bursa of Fabricius and its impact on live IBV vaccine-take. He also has years of experience in research, diagnosis, control and prevention of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Mg) and Mycoplasma synoviae (Ms). Dr Ganapathy has been consulted on various issues related to diagnosis, control and prevention of infectious diseases in broiler, layer and breeder farms in Asia, Middle East and Europe. Often, he has been asked to conduct auditing on vaccine and vaccination protocols, on farm biosecurity measures, and overall health and production improvement plans.

Gary Ford is the Policy Advisor of the BFREPA. Gary joined the BEIC in August 2023 prior to that he spent the majority of his working life at the NFU where he held various positions including East Anglia Regional Director, Group Secretary at various locations in the Midlands and seven years as the NFU’s Chief Poultry Adviser. Prior to working for the NFU, Gary was in the broiler sector for ten years as an agricultural manager. Gary is from a family farming background in Worcestershire.

James is a broiler producer from Shropshire and produces his own feed rations through on farm home mixing, feeding his birds a mash-based diet. He is the current chair of the NFU Poultry Industry Programme and was previously co-opted to the board as a PIP representative which ensures the voice of younger members is well represented.

Mark Williams is a poultry farmer’s son. After studying at Harper Adams Agricultural College in Shropshire, he managed a large pullet rearing / egg production unit. Following gaining valuable experience, he returned home to expand the business. In 1991, he joined the National Farmers’ Union as a Regional Poultry Adviser in the north of England. In 1995, he was appointed National Egg Specialist. He joined the British Egg Industry Council in 1999 and was Chief Executive from 2000 until retiring in December 2023. He is currently Chairman of the BEIC. He was also Secretary-General of EUWEP (the EU trade association for egg packers, egg traders and egg processors) from 1999-2018. He was President of the EU Civil Dialogue Group on Poultry and Eggs on two occasions (2010-12 and 2016-18). He was a Board member of CELCAA (the EU liaison committee for the food trade) from 1999-2018. He is also a Nuffield Scholar, and was Chairman of the Nuffield Poultry Study Group from May 2012 – May 2015. He was Chairman of the UK Poultry Health and Welfare Group in 2015 & 2016 and in 2021 & 2022. He was Statistical Adviser to the International Egg Commission from 1996 – 2006.

Paul Kelly is a second generation turkey farmer from Essex and his business, Kelly Turkeys is responsible for resurrecting the traditional Bronze turkey breed. His business also encompasses Farm Gate Hatcheries, which supplies turkey poults to hundreds of farmers around the country. Paul is a great advocate for the turkey sector, and dry-plucked premium birds in particular.

Richard is Chief Executive at the British Poultry Council and has been in the poultry meat sector for fifteen years. Prior to that his background was in quarrying and underground mining. Responsible for the building the reputation of the poultry industry, Richard has been extensively involved in food security issues and in dealing with the effects of Brexit on food supply and production. His focus for the coming years will be on helping the poultry meat sector to be a vital and leading part of a sustainable food strategy for the UK.