Conference Speakers (2025)

We will be regularly updating information about our Speakers for the 2025 AHDA Conference as they are confirmed.

Watch this space!

AHDA members can view the Powerpoint presentations from the 2024 conference via the AHDA members online portal.

To register for a login, click here.

Speaker Dave Bartley, Principal Scientist – Moredun Research Institute
Presentation LIVESTOCK DISEASE CONTROL 
Description Opportunities now and for the future
Bio Veterinary parasitologist with 30 years’ experience in managing helminth infections in livestock.  Interests in changing parasite epidemiology, anthelmintic resistance and stakeholder engagement.
Speaker Professor Jude L. Capper – Harper Adams University
Presentation IS LIVESTOCK HEALTH THE MISSING PIECE OF THE SUSTAINABILITY JIGSAW?
Description Sustainability has become a high-priority issue for livestock production, but do we know enough about the impacts of animal health?
Bio Professor Jude L. Capper is the ABP Chair of Sustainable Beef and Sheep Production at Harper Adams University and an independent Livestock Sustainability Consultant. Jude’s research focuses on the sustainability of livestock production systems, specifically dairy, beef and sheep. She is passionate about the role of ruminants in sustainable systems.
Speaker Hillary Cowley BVSc MRCVS Deputy CEO – AMTRA
Presentation PROFICIENT PRESCRIBING
Description Embracing testing and the vet lead team to inform prescribing. Launch of AMTRA survey exploring evolution of sound prescribing practice and to gather wider insights about the role of the RAMA.
Bio Qualified from the University of Zimbabwe in 2002 and sat the RCVS Statutory Membership Exam in 2003 to then be accepted and entered onto the RCVS register. She spent some months in mixed practice in sub-Saharan Africa before committing to Companion Animal practice in the UK working in both general practice and emergency out of hours settings. She subsequently spent nearly a decade working in pharmacovigilance and latterly regulatory affairs in the pharmaceutical industry and is now Deputy CEO of AMTRA (Animal Medicines Regulatory Training Authority).
Speaker Tamzin Furtado, Lecturer in human behaviour change for animals – University of Liverpool
Presentation WE KNOW HOW TO MANAGE PARASITES, WHAT ABOUT MANAGING CLIENTS?
Description An introduction to the science of human behaviour.

This talk will explore human behaviour, and the science of us. Why do we do what we do? And in particular: why is it so hard to persuade people to change their worming practices? Bringing together human psychology, sociology, and behavioural economics, this talk will explore parasite management from the perspective of human behavioural science, helping us all work out how best to help our clients.
Bio Tamzin is a social scientist with a background in global health, and has a specific interest in the interconnections between human and animal health and wellbeing. She completed a PhD at the University of Liverpool studying how we can improve the management of obesity in horses, particularly focusing on horse-human relationships and human behaviour change. She now works on projects covering a wide range of aspects of understanding human behaviour in order to improve companion animal welfare, and in using social sciences to find out more about how we can help people to change.
Speaker Lee Grist, Head of Inspections and Enforcement Division  – VMD
Presentation THE REVISED VMR – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Description The VMR revisions – what’s changed, how your inspection will take place and how you can improve compliance
Bio I have worked at the VMD for over 20 years gaining extensive knowledge of veterinary medicines regulations. I was an inspector for several years and currently head the Inspections and Enforcement Division, ensuring stakeholders comply with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (as amended).
Speaker Sebastian Graff-Baker, Partner – Andersons Midlands
Presentation PROSPECTS FOR BEEF AND SHEEP PRODUCERS
Description Setting the scene of the current economic prospects for beef and sheep sectors looking at projections as to where the industry might be heading.
Bio
Speaker Hannah Lawrence-Still, Cert CFVHNut, Scientific Communications Manager – Royal Canin
Presentation THE REAL NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF CATS AND DOGS
Description Unravelling the Mystery of Pet Food – What do cats and dogs really need?
Bio Hannah Lawrence-Still Cert CFVHNut is a Scientific Communications Manager for Royal Canin who has spent the last 14 years working for the company; firstly, in a Retail Business Management role and within the multifaceted Corporate Affairs department working on various pieces for the National press, trade publications, trade shows, consumers and customers to increase knowledge and education around pet nutrition.

Hannah has spent over a decade working in the pet trade. She brings a breadth of experience and understanding of the unique trade and a genuine passion for animals which has spanned her lifetime.
Speaker Cat McLaughlin, Chairman – RUMA
Presentation RESPONSIBLE USE OF MEDICINES IN AGRICULTURE
Description RUMA – Update on our activities and future focus
Bio Cat McLaughlin has been the Chairman of RUMA since 2019. She’s led the organisation since 2020 but was active on its Alliance and Board of Directors, as the NFU representative, since 2006.

Cat is also the NFU’s Chief Adviser for Animal Health and Welfare, Chairman of EPRUMA and a Director of AMTRA.
Speaker Professor Jacqui Matthews – Austin Davis Biologics
Presentation THREE STEPS TO SUSTAINABLE TAPEWORM CONTROL IN HORSES
Description The presentation will provide an update on how to apply a risk assessment as a first step to providing advice on tapeworm control. The management measures that can be taken to effectively reduce transmission of these worms from the environment will also be discussed along with a summary how to use diagnostic testing to support evidence-based decisions on anthelmintic use.
Bio Jacqui Matthews has researched parasitic worms for > 30 years. Her group conducted numerous studies on veterinary helminth epidemiology, diagnostics and vaccine development. She has published >150 peer-reviewed papers, taught at three of the UK’s vet schools and, for many years, has been involved in veterinary and SQP CPD initiatives.
Speaker Phillipa Page BVSc BSc MRCVS – Flock Health Ltd – Veterinary Surgeon
Presentation ENGAGING WITH FARMERS TO ENHANCE RESPONSIBLE PRESCRIBING
Description Tips on how to have discussions with farmers to boost engagement and ensure correct prescribing for animal health and welfare.
Bio Phillipa qualified from Liverpool Vet School in 2006 and started her first job in Neath, South Wales in a mixed practice. Following a short time as a locum dairy vet in Devon she then joined Wood Vet group in 2009 as a large animal vet.
In 2016 she specialised in sheep veterinary work with Flock Health Ltd. This involves a mixture of consultancy flock health work, farmer and vet CPD training and collaboration with retailers, processors and pharmaceutical companies and industry levy bodies. Phillipa was part of the co design groups for the DEFRA Animal Health and Welfare Pathway and Endemics disease program.
Phillipa also works with NADIS (National Animal Disease Information Service) as the sheep lead on the Blowfly, parasite control, online health planning and disease alerts information.
She has been a board member on the British Cattle Veterinary Association and the Sheep Veterinary Society and is the current conference organiser for the Sheep Veterinary Society and the current Junior Vice President.
Phillipa co authored and published a book ‘Sheep Keeping’ as part of the professional small holders series by 5M Publishing and the chapter ‘Lameness’ in Differential Diagnosis in Sheep 2022 Herriot Publications. She is involved with research and works on regular contributions to publications and is currently working towards a Diploma of the European College of Small Ruminant Health and Production.
Outside of work she is a tenant farmer of 100 acres. Together with her husband and two boys she farms a flock of 300 commercial ewes and has a farm shop.
Speaker Arthur Redpath – Stonehaven Consulting – Head of Data and Insights
Presentation THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE GLOBAL ANIMAL HEALTH INDUSTRY
Description The animal health industry continues to see dynamic change as it responds to economic, technological, and financial drivers. As we enter 2025 the presentation will highlight current trends and drivers that have shaped the worldwide animal health industry and what we can expect this year and beyond.
Bio Arthur Redpath graduated from the Edinburgh University Veterinary College in 1987. Dr Redpath held a number of senior commercial and veterinary technical leadership positions in the animal health pharmaceutical industry in Novartis and Elanco Animal Health. He joined Stonehaven in 2019 to lead insight development within Stonehaven Analytics.
Speaker Neil Shand – Chief Executive Officer, National Beef Association
Presentation BEEF BOOM!
Description Progression of the beef trade since Covid and horizon scan
Bio Neil Shand is CEO of the National Beef Association, a member-based organisation representing beef farmers in the UK, and promoting the highest possible levels of best practice throughout the production chain.
A farmer’s son originally from the east coast of Scotland, Neil had a twenty-year career in the forestry/paper industry, followed by ten years as CEO of the British Simmental Cattle Society. He is a pedigree cattle breeder with a passion for perfection, and a positive outlook, which is often required being a supporter of Aberdeen FC!
Neil is an advocate for high health and welfare standards of beef production, and for transparency at all stages of the supply chain, driving for an improvement in efficiency which benefits both producer and consumer.
Speaker Phil Stocker – Chief Executive, National Sheep Association
Presentation INSIGHT INTO THE SHEEP INDUSTRY AND ITS FUTURE
Description The challenges and opportunities facing sheep farming and the role of sheep farming in the sustainability agenda.
Bio Phil leads NSA in its role of providing a voice for the UK sheep sector. He is passionate that sheep be recognised for the positive and holistic role they play in sustainability in its widest form. Prior to joining the organisation in 2011, he spent over 20 years in practical farming, followed by 15 years leading the Soil Association’s support for its farmer and growers.
Speaker Claire Williams – British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA)
Presentation THE BRITISH EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY – NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
Description The equestrian trade landscape – the current state and challenges and opportunities in the future.
Bio Claire Williams is the Executive Director of the British Equestrian Trade Association, the leading representative body working on behalf of equestrian related businesses. In post since 2000 her primary areas of work focus on equine feed and health, equine and rider safety and insight. She is a director of AMTRA, the British Horse Council, Equine Fitters Council and the British Grooms and Equestrian Employers Assn.