Digital Dairy Chain
Talent Forum Board
Come and say hello, and meet the Digital Dairy Chain Talent Forum Board
We have officially launched the Talent Forum, a strategic, executive-level group formed to lead the national conversation on the future of workforce skills in the UK dairy industry.
Bringing together senior leaders from across the dairy supply chain, government, and supporting technology sectors, the Talent Forum will play a critical role in addressing the industry’s most urgent workforce challenges. This includes identifying digital skills gaps, tackling succession planning, and forecasting future skills needs – from farm to processing, and throughout the wider supply chain.
The Talent Forum will guide the development of a Future Skills Needs Assessment, drawing on data, insight, and engagement with stakeholders across the sector. This assessment will help shape future investment in vocational education, apprenticeships, and continuous professional development, ensuring the dairy sector is equipped with the skills it needs to thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven landscape.
By aligning expertise and fostering collaboration, the Talent Forum will strengthen the sector’s competitiveness, support long-term sustainability, and build a resilient talent pipeline – helping to attract and retain the skilled workforce needed for the dairy industry of tomorrow.
Liz Barron-Majerik – Chair
Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for the Land-Based sector, and as Scotland Director, I lead on the many skills related projects that we deliver with, and on behalf of, our key stakeholders.
Sam Rhynas – Vice Chair
With expertise in data, AI and digital education, as well as a background in practical and strategic application of data and AI in industry, my role as Vice Chair is to support the development of a strategic approach to enable digital, data and AI skills within a traditional environment, working in synergy with existing approaches.
Mazdak Salavati
I am a livestock informatician and currently working at SRUC's Dairy Research Innovation Centre as a Reader in Data Science. I also lead one of work packages of the Digital Dairy Chain project which is focused on research and development activities towards digitisation of the dairy sector.
Marian Pusey
Marian Pusey, a food scientist, has extensive experience in product development and commercial roles within the dairy processing industry. She later transitioned to academia, lecturing on dairy and food technology courses at higher education institutions. As Executive Director of the Society of Dairy Technology (SDT), Marian organises events and facilitates dairy technology learning opportunities to equip Society members, and the broader dairy industry, with essential knowledge, developments and networking opportunities to carry out their job roles effectively.
John Whitelaw
In 2017 I completed a course to carry out audits on milk transport depots for the Dairy Transport Assurance Scheme.In 2019 I joined the DTAS committee, and I am now the Vice Chair. Sitting on the committee I am also part of the annual HACCP Review and Annual Standards Review setting out the standard for the next year.
Robert Craig
Principally a very active dairy farmer running a multi-site dairy farming business in Cumbria and Northumberland. Dairy industry involvement includes a full term as a director of First Milk and Dairy UK, currently Chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers - RABDF.
John Powell
John Powell is Head of Agriculture Sectors Team in Defra a post he has held since March 2020. He joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in 1983 and until 1999 worked in various advisory and policy leadership roles.
Helen Brookes
Helen is TDC Board member and Engagement Director for the UK Agri-Tech Centre where she manages a diverse team who work across the agricultural supply chain, wider industry and with farmers/growers to support the development of innovative innovations and long-term adoption.
Peter Dawson
Peter Dawson is the Policy & Sustainability Director of Dairy UK. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and has spent his working career in the trade association sector representing dairy and has been with Dairy UK since its inception in September 2004
Paul Flanagan
Paul has been Strategy Director for Dairy since 2018. Prior to joining AHDB he was with Dairy company First Milk where he led teams on Communications, Milk Supply and Environmental Sustainability.
Stephen Jacobs
My role is CEO of The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH), I come with a background in developing capacity and capability within the workforce, and championing professionalism for farmers.
Colin Ferguson
Colin Ferguson is a dairy farmer from Wigtown, he along with his brother and parents produce 2.5 million litres of milk.
Derek Wilson
Career civil servant with over 25 years policy experience with the Scottish Government
