Conference Speakers (2026)

AHDA members can view the Presentations from the 2026 Conference via the AHDA members online portal.

To register for a login, click here.

Speaker Anthony King, Managing Partner – Cloudpush & Kognise
Presentation One in Three SME’s Hit Every Year – 60% Won’t Survive
Description Once a cyber incident stops operations, the real damage isn’t the breach itself — it’s the downtime. Orders don’t ship, customers don’t wait, and market share moves to competitors instantly. That’s why one in three businesses will suffer a disruption this year, and why 60% of SMEs that are hit don’t recover within 6–9 months. Continuity, not technology, is the real risk.
Bio Anthony King is a cyber security and growth specialist, member of the UK Cyber Security Council and NCSC Security Council. He leads Cloudpush in building secure, resilient IT environments and, through Kognise, supports SMEs with strategy, governance and investment readiness.
Speaker Arthur Redpath, Head of Data and Insights – Stonehaven Cozmix Group
Presentation Where is the Animal Health Industry Heading? – a 2030 Perspective
Description This session spotlights 2025–2030: breakthrough diagnostics and digital tools, next gen therapies, smarter supply chains—and what changes after the CMA’s 2025 review. We’ll cut through what’s coming, where the growth is, and how to stay compliant and competitive. Crucially, we’ll unpack what this means for Animal Health Distributors and the Association: shifting roles in the supply chain, new partnership models, and a sharper focus on transparency, data, and value.
Bio Arthur Redpath graduated from the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 1987. He went on to hold senior commercial and veterinary technical leadership roles at Novartis Animal Health and Elanco, shaping strategy across pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and customer engagement. Since joining Stonehaven in 2019, Arthur has led insight development at Stonehaven Analytics, partnering with industry leaders to turn complex market data into actionable strategy for the global animal health sector.
Speaker Gwen Rees, Junior Vice President  – British Veterinary Association BVA
Presentation Responsible Parasiticide Use in the Vet Profession
Description An overview of the British Veterinary Association’s updated policy position on responsible use of parasiticides for cats and dogs, and the newly launched position on responsible use in grazing animals, summarizing the need for a risk-based, holistic approach to parasite control in order to reduce the risk of resistance, protect animal welfare and support environmental stewardship.
Bio Dr Rees is Junior Vice President of the BVA, Lecturer in Veterinary Science at Aberystwyth University, and Head of the Veterinary Prescribing Champions Network for Arwain DGC. Gwen spent several years as a farm and mixed-practice vet in Wales and New Zealand, has a PhD looking at veterinary medicine use on farms, and has since spent her career working with vets to support responsible medicine use.
Speaker Gustavo Sabatini, Senior Global technical Manager – Ruminant Parasiticides – Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
Presentation From Lab to Livestock: Navigating the Journey of Product Launch
Description This talk explores how innovative animal health products move from R&D to market, highlighting strategic drivers, development phases, and how agritrade managers can forecast launches, engage early, and shape success through partnerships and market intelligence.
Bio Gustavo Sabatini is the Global Technical Manager for Ruminant Antiparasitics at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. During his veterinary course, Gustavo quickly fell in love with the complexities of parasitology. After a MSc and PhD in ruminant ectoparasite control and resistance, he joined the industry, where he took on several positions in R&D and Marketing and completed an additional post-graduation, this time an MBA.
Speaker Jonathan Statham, Chair – Animal Health and Welfare Board England (AHWBE)
Presentation The Importance of Veterinary Medicines in Animal Health & Welfare…and Beyond…
Bio Jonathan chairs the Animal Health & Welfare Board for England at DEFRA and has held a range of representative or policy linked roles. He is Chief Executive at RAFT Solutions and partner and chair of Bishopton Veterinary Group. He is a practicing independent farm veterinary surgeon and has published widely in the field of sustainable food, herd health, precision livestock farming and breeding technologies.
Speaker Sebastian Graff-Baker – Andersons Consulting
Presentation Prospects for UK Farm Livestock Enterprises
Bio Having graduated from Seale-Hayne Agricultural College, Sebastian joined Andersons in 1993 at the Melton Mowbray office, following three years as a farm manager on a 900 acre dairy and arable farm in the south of England. He is one of the founding partners of the Andersons Midlands business, established in Spring 2001. Sebastian is now based at Andersons Midlands Leicester office and works throughout central England, providing business advice to a wide range of farmers and growers with crop, livestock and non-farming enterprises. His particular areas of expertise include the development of costings and benchmarking systems, strategic business planning and helping businesses with the issues of succession. He also has considerable experience of farm diversification projects, as well as joint ventures and cooperation between farm businesses. Sebastian also works with a number of organisations in the allied industries, helping them to understand individual farm economics and the implications for their own businesses.
Speaker Sir Mark Spencer
Presentation Evening Dinner Speaker
Bio Sir Mark farms with his family at Spring Lane, Lambley,
He attended Lambley Primary School and the Colonel Frank Seely School in Calverton, Nottinghamshire. He then qualified at Shuttleworth Agricultural College in Bedfordshire, before joining the family farm business.
A former dairy farm, the business diversified into growing potatoes and vegetables and producing free-range eggs, beef and lamb, and employing around 30 local people.
The expansion of the Farm retail business means the Farm now works primarily to supply the shop.The next Generation is his daughter Jessica and son Charlie, which means new enthusiasm within the business, and they are currently adding a coffee shop/restaurant
Mark was chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs from 1999 to 2000 and was a trustee of The Royal Agricultural Society of England and for three years, the Honorary Show Director of the Royal Show. Additionally, he is a fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society.
Having served as both a District and County Councillor he was elected to Parliament in 2010, gaining the Sherwood seat with a majority of 214.
In Parliament, Mark has served on the Environmental Audit Committee, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, and was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Mark served in Cabinet when was made Chief Whip in July 2019 under Prime Minister Boris Johnson and was appointed to the Privy Council and later was Leader of the House of Commons before serving as The Farming Minister under both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak
Mark was appointed Knight Bachelor in March 2024 for parliamentary and public service.
He’s an enthusiastic and passionate advocate for UK agriculture and has long campaigned on matters of food security and food production