Online CPD Session: Leading Change in a Changing Rural Sector
This event is eligible for 1 point(s).
The session focuses on early intervention and prevention, supporting healthy workplaces, managing people effectively and recognising the importance of wellbeing in rural businesses.
Guest Speakers:
is Professor of Agriculture at the Royal Agricultural University, where she is involved in teaching, research, and policy engagement in sustainable farming systems. She holds a BSc in Agriculture from the University of London, a PhD in Plant Sciences from the University of Reading, and a PGCAP in Higher Education from The Open University.
Her career spans research, consultancy and senior academic leadership. She has served as Interim Dean at Qingdao Agricultural University in China and Deputy Rector at the International Agriculture University in Uzbekistan. Earlier roles included Research Officer in precision farming at Cranfield University, farm adviser and company director with East Anglia Food Link, and Technical Expert for the United Kingdom Accreditation Service.
Professor Cannon’s research focuses on sustainable cropping systems, soil health, nutrient efficiency and regenerative agriculture. Recent projects include evaluating war damage to farmland in Ukraine, developing urine-based fertilizers, advancing UK-grown soya, and contributing to the Farm Soil Carbon Code.
A Practitioner of the Society of Agriculture, Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies and Nuffield Scholar, she is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and recipient of the Farmers Club Agricultural Educators Award. She has a wide range of external roles including the Expert Group for Organic Production (EGOP) for DEFRA, vice chair of Burford Farming Club and co-ordinator of Cotswold Arable Study Group. Previously she has co-ordinated and run HRH Prince of Wales Food and Farming Summer School and worked with celebrity chefs on a range of projects.
is a confident and articulate director/general manager with a proven track record of delivering results for top global companies in the fast moving high street retail operations. He has helped deliver profit growth, brand value and global presence for blue chip companies such as Boots the Chemist, Roche Pharmaceuticals and Tesco.
He has the proven ability to develop and deliver the vision, key strategies and operational plans to all levels throughout the business and operates at senior board level. His previous role was as Director of the Fresh Produce business in Tesco as well as leading a strategic plan for the board on improving quality throughout the whole business.
Peter has extensive international management experience including a period based in the Asia where he set up the Tesco operations on a green field business, and continues to travel widely on business to Europe, Africa and America.
Peter left Tesco to give himself an opportunity to focus on developing his career as well as pursuing a number of other business interests. Since leaving Peter set up his own fresh food business Fresh Approach Produce that focuses on providing flexible and innovative supply solutions to a number of major UK retailers.
Fresh Approach has become one of the fastest growing, profitable and leading players within the fresh produce supply sector and is rapidly becoming a market leading force within the UK industry.
Being chaired by Tanya Arnold, BBC Presenter
