Meet The Team

David joined both RASE and IfA as CEO in Autumn 2022. David has had a broad career across a variety of sectors.  For several years, he worked for large corporations, such as Bass, Coca-Cola, BBC, and Bupa covering strategy, marketing, brand and communications roles.  Following this, David spent a number of years in consultancy working with charities such as Sue Ryder, Nuffield Health and Self Management UK.
More recently, David was CEO at Housing Partners, an organisation which supports the social housing sector before moving on to work as a Partner in a fresh food wholesale business which operated across the UK providing dairy, meat & poultry, and fresh produce to care homes, schools and hospitality.

Name? Emily Stillwell

Role at Innovation for Agriculture? PA to Chief Executive Officer

Describe yourself in 5 words? Kind, Curious, Diplomatic, Loyal, Funny.

Specialist Interest? Culinary Arts

What got you involved in Agriculture?

Through my role at the Royal Agricultural Society of England I’ve been privileged to be part of IfA since it was a seedling.

Best piece of advice you were ever given?

One kind word can change someone’s entire day…

When you’re not working for IfA you can be found? 

In the kitchen or leafing through my lovely cookbooks.

Name? Evi Arachoviti

Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Head of Policy and Social

Describe yourself in 5 words?

Adaptable, enthusiastic, responsible, experienced, empathetic

Specialist Interest?

Exploring societal issues and their associated challenges surrounding rural development, in relation to policy making.

What got you involved in Agriculture?

My studies in Agricultural University of Athens

Best piece of advice you were ever given?

Appreciate beauty

When you’re not working for IfA you can be found….

Writing in my book who I meet and where I'm going!

Before joining IfA, Evi was Head of 'Quality of Life in Rural Areas and Diversification of Rural Economy', in the Managing Authority of the Greek Ministry of Rural Development & Food. She also draws experience and expertise from being a Researcher in the Standardisation, Inspection and Certification Authority of Greek Agriculture.

Name? Laura Palczynski
Role? Livestock Research Assistant
Describe yourself in 5 words? Sardonic, introverted, theatrical, pernickety, procrastinator (this was the most difficult part of today…)

Specialist Interest(s)? Dairy calves, laying hens, dog training…

What got you involved in Agriculture? A series of happy accidents! I’m not from a farming background but have always loved animals, leading me to study Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Bristol which sparked my interest in practical implementation of research findings. A couple of years later I found myself accepting a PhD studentship at Harper Adams to explore issues surrounding calf rearing in the UK dairy sector and a few years after that I met Andrew at an event where he invited me for an interview and now here I am, working at IfA!

Best piece of advice you were ever given? My memory’s terrible, so unfortunately I’ve probably forgotten it….

When not working for IfA I can be found? Walking the dog, and sometimes in the background of a local amateur musical theatre show!

Laura joined the IfA team with a keen interest in animal welfare following a PhD from Harper Adams University which explored peoples’ experiences relating to calf rearing in the dairy sector.

Name? Manpreet Kaur

Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Finance & EU Coordinator

Describe yourself in 5 words? Motivated, Conscientious, Efficient, Persistent, Positive 

Specialist Interest? Baking 

What got you involved in Agriculture? 

My role at IFA 

Best piece of advice you were ever given? 

If you are going to rise, you might as well shine 

When you’re not working for IfA you can be found…. 

In the park or garden 

Name? Martha Hayes

Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Head of Stakeholder Engagement

Specialist interest?

I have a herd of pedigree Lincoln Red cattle and I am hugely passionate about producing high welfare, locally produced, delicious food.

What got you involved in Agriculture?

My grandfather and my father. I’m the 4th generation to be involved in our arable farm in Lincolnshire.

Best piece of advice you were ever given?

Everything happens for a reason. Although I do admit that often in farming it can be hard to see why!

When you’re not working for IfA we can find you.....

At the farm or on a horse.

Prior to working at IfA Martha was a freelance journalist alongside her role on the family farm in Lincolnshire, which is a mixed arable and beef enterprise. Martha graduated in 2017 with a first-class hons in Agriculture from the Royal Agricultural University.

Name? Richard Lloyd

Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Precision Livestock Manager

Describe yourself in 5 words? Personable, enthusiastic, visionary, practical, bald

Specialist Interest?

Efficient, welfare friendly livestock farms

What got you involved in Agriculture?

Born on a dairy farm

Best piece of advice you were ever given?

Trust your instinct

When you’re not working for IfA you can be found….

Drinking wine, or watching Wales play rugby

Richard's work focuses on facilitating the correct uptake of SMART farming techniques on livestock farms. Having a lifetime’s background in UK dairy farming and genetics, he coordinated the successful Horizon 2020 thematic network 4D4f (Data Driven Dairy Decisions for Farmers).

Stephen is farmer and has provided farm business consultancy throughout the UK and internationally for over 20 years ; He is head of technical development at Innovation for Agriculture, Director of AbacusAgri & a Non Exec Director of the Agriculture Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). He has previously worked for DFID, FAO, the World Bank & multiple private Co’s in Africa, India & China.  

Stephen has an MSc in Soil Science with experience in soil and water management combining research, development, farmer engagement & training, consultancy, policy development work and practical farming.  

Stephen is a Nuffield Farming Scholar and was awarded the prestigious Bullock Award in 2020 as the Scholar who has most influenced the Agricultural industry in the 10 years since his scholarship.  At home, Stephen farms in Cambridgeshire & in Rutland growing crops and with the UK’s largest agroforestry system – 3D farming and a perfect example of ecological intensification. 

Name? Lisa Morgans

Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Head of Livestock, generally over-enthusiastic team member 

Specialist Interest? 

Transformation in agriculture: Farmer-led, participatory approaches to change; Animal health and welfare; Responsible medicine use; Precision farming techniques 

What got you involved in Agriculture? 

Being a livestock vet, enjoying working with farmers and farm animals, realising the potential of farming to be a force for good 

Best piece of advice you were ever given? 

If you want to see a transformation, be part of the transformation.  

If you’re upsetting the apple cart, you’re probably onto something. 

When you’re not working for IfA you can be found…. 

 On my bike or running after my dog 

Lisa is a Postgraduate Veterinary Surgeon from the University of Bristol and has previously focused her work on reducing antimicrobial use on UK dairy farms through farmer action groups. 

Role at Innovation for Agriculture? 

Natural Resources Advisor  

Specialist Interest? 

Soil, soil carbon and ecosystem services. 

What got you involved in Agriculture? 

My childhood, sneaking around the haybales and the solution to many of the world’s issues. 

Best piece of advice you were ever given? 

If you dig a hole, get on the ground and use your senses, you can find an entire part of the biosphere you may have never explored before.

When you’re not working for IfA you can be found…. 

Up a tree, on a cliff or in the water. If not, probably in a hole somewhere, exploring with my silly eared dog. 

Although academia took Arran halfway across the globe to focus on tropical soils, this experience ignited an ambition to focus on the biosphere beneath our feet at home in the UK. With an MSc in Environmental Soil Science Arran gained experience in crop research with ADAS, nutrient management and environmental policy at Veolia and now regenerative agriculture at IfA. Determined to support industry change towards sustainable agriculture, Arran hopes to help farmers with the engagement and knowledge exchange needed to break down the barriers between conventional farming and the farm of the future.  

Name?

Natasha Smith

Role at Innovation for Agriculture?

Communications

Specialist interest?

Regenerative agriculture

What got you involved in Agriculture?

Concern about the environment and climate change, which quickly became being fascinated by how farming holds so many of the solutions to global challenges

Best piece of advice you were ever given?

Dance like nobody’s watching

When you’re not working for IfA we can find you.....

Out walking, wild swimming or morris dancing

Tash is responsible for sharing updates on IfA projects and activities via our newsletter and social media. She has an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security and joins the team with four years’ experience working in agricultural communications and PR.

Name? Deborah Crossan

Role at Innovation for Agriculture? Soil and Water Manager 

Describe yourself in 5 words? Always planning; project or meal..!

Specialist Interest?

Sustainable Agriculture and Food

What got you involved in Agriculture?

YFC and loving sheep ...

Best piece of advice you were ever given?

Don’t want what everyone else wants ...it will always be too expensive !

When you’re not working for IfA you can be found….

Out walking with an embarrassing terrier.

Mainly focusing on the restoration of UK soils, Deborah's work includes running workshops, discussions and study tours of UK agricultural holdings and concentrates on Knowledge exchange and peer to peer learning. Deborah also coordinates the soil team’s portfolio of EU projects.