Professor David Kenny is Head of the Teagasc Animal and Bioscience Research Department in Ireland and the current president of the British Society of Animal Science. He has over 25 years of research experience in the biological control of a range of economically important traits to ruminant livestock production systems, including growth and reproductive efficiency, ruminal methanogenesis and the development and functionality of the rumen microbiome. He has supervised the studies of 19 Ph.D. and nine M.Sc. students to completion, as principal supervisor and his research has resulted in the publication of in excess of 200 full length internationally peer reviewed scientific manuscripts and book chapters to-date. He is the president of the Physiology Study Commission of the European Association of Animal Production and is a member of the management board of the international scientific journal, Animal. He has led many large research consortia and is currently co-ordinator of the recently awarded €5m Horizon Europe project, ‘Towards sustainable livestock systems: European platform for evidence building and transitioning policy (STEP UP)’. He was awarded the prestigious Hammond award by BSAS in 2018 in recognition of outstanding contribution to an improved understanding of how nutrition affects the complex underlying biology regulating economically important traits in cattle, including feed efficiency, rumen methane emissions and male and female reproduction. 

He runs a beef and sheep farm in County Mayo, in the west of Ireland and is integrally involved, and is well known, within the beef cattle sector and wider agricultural industry in Ireland.

In 1999, Dr. Warren achieved her primary degree in Animal Science from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, followed by her PhD in fatty acids in beef from the Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Bristol. She spent five years lecturing degree students in animal and equine science before moving to industry. She is a Senior Visiting Fellow at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, a trustee of the British Society of Animal Science, a qualified lecturer, a Cow Signals Trainer and a registered Animal Scientist. She sits on the FSA’s UK Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, as well as Innovate UK’s Animal Sector Advisory Board. She currently works as a European Technical Manager for Ruminants and Horses for Alltech, involving initiating European research projects, as well as delivering nutritional education and technical sales support. Helen, with the help of committee colleagues, fellow trustees and, of course, BSAS members, aims to ensure that BSAS is a Society that is relevant and beneficial to all its members.

BSAS Vice-President Nicholas Jonsson is Professor of Animal Health and Production in the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, at the University of Glasgow. He graduated as a veterinary surgeon from the University of Sydney, Australia, in 1987 and worked as a mixed veterinary practitioner in rural New South Wales for 7 years, including a period as practice owner. In 1995 he commenced a PhD in bovine reproduction at the University of Queensland, and he was subsequently employed by the Queensland Government as a researcher in dairy science, before taking academic positions at the University of Glasgow and then again University of Queensland. He returned to Glasgow in 2009, where he assumed his current role as Professor of Animal Health and Production. Professor Jonsson is the Chair of the UK Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, and his teaching, consultancy and research interests are in animal management, with emphasis on systems for efficient cattle production. The main strands of his research are ruminant gut function and pathology, the use of sensor technologies to optimize ruminant health and production, the genetics of adaptation in cattle, and sustainable strategies for parasite management.

Prof Elizabeth Magowan is the Director of Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland. Elizabeth completed a PhD in dairy nutrition from Queen’s University Belfast (with DARD Science Service and ARINI) in 2004 and joined AFBI as a pig research scientist in 2003, where she was responsible for developing the AFBI pig research programme until April 2017. Elizabeth’s main focus of research was on optimising pig production performance through management and nutritional strategies, while reducing environmental impact. Elizabeth then took up the post of Director of Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division in May 2017. 

Elizabeth has worked extensively on industry/academic studies and presented her work across the UK and at international conferences, as well as publications in journals. In 2017, she was awarded BSAS’s Sir John Hammond Award, in recognition of her scientific work in collaboration with industry. In 2022 Queens University Belfast awarded Elizabeth an Honorary Professorship in recognition of her scientific work, especially aligned with developing the AFBI/QUB strategic alliance. Some achievements during Elizabeth’s career include being the scientific Co-Ordinator of a large EU FP7 project ECO-FCE, being elected to the presidential team of BSAS; being a Director of UK Centre of Excellence for Livestock (CIEL) in its formative months and leading consortia formed of academics across the UK on two influential publications, funded by CIEL, aligned with Livestock and it’s net zero position.

Kim is Head of Animal Breeding and Product Quality at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). He has been involved in meat quality research and knowledge exchange since 1992, when he joined the Meat and Livestock Commission having graduated in Agriculture with Animal Science from the University of Reading.

Kim has responsibility for management of the Board’s R&D programme on meat quality and breeding. He has overall responsibility for the delivery of Signet Breeding Services, delivering breed evaluations for sheep and beef cattle. Having been at AHDB for a number of years, and enjoyed a spell as AHDB Head of Research for Beef and Lamb, Kim has a broad understanding of the work across animal science, while his personal expertise is primarily in the area of carcase and meat quality.

While it is not the most exciting aspect of a trustee’s role, Kim has enjoyed working with Maggie, our CEO, to get our policies and procedures up-to-date and fit for purpose and hopes to leave them in a shape that is easy to maintain for the next generation of trustees. The last year has been thoroughly enjoyable, working with the organising committee for the 2024 conference.

David is the National Ruminant Technical Manager with the Massey Harpers Feeds Group.  His role involves providing training and technical support for the sales teams, feed formulation, forage analysis and coordinating trials.  He is involved with the AIC Forage Analysis Assurance Group, the Feed Advisor Register and part of the CIEL Ruminant open innovation group. David has extensive experience in the animal feed industry,  having worked for premix companies, feed additive manufacturers and the compound feed sector, working closely with farmers, nutritionists, consultants, academics and veterinarians.  He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Nottingham and Harper Adams University and has been a member of the Society for almost 30 years.

Sokratis’ professional expertise covers several teaching and research roles in animal science. He has been Professor of Animal Science at the University of Reading since 2023. Prior to this, he was Associate Professor (2019-2023) and Lecturer (2015-2019) in Animal Science at the University of Reading, Higher Scientific Officer/Ruminant Nutritionist (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, 2013-2015), and Research Associate (Newcastle University, 2010-2013). He has a BSc in Agriculture with Animal Production, MSc Animal Production (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 1999-2004 and 2004-2006, respectively) and PhD on the “Effect of dairy management on milk quality” (Newcastle University, 2006-2009). Sokratis has several years of underpinning and applied research experience of actively leading, coordinating or participating in multidisciplinary research consortia, funded by the European Commission (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, EIT Food, FP7, FP6), national governments (UK, Ireland, Greece) and industry partners. His research work covers a variety of aspects, including the improvement of the nutritional quality of animal products via husbandry, animal diet and crossbreeding practices; development of solutions for the reduction of livestock greenhouse gas emissions; prediction modelling for livestock greenhouse gas emissions and feed nutritive value; improvement of nutrient and energy use efficiency in ruminants; achievement of the net zero carbon targets; unravel the role of rumen microbiome in ruminant metabolism and product quality; applications of metabolomics on animal and food science; and assessment of the effect of animal products and plant-based alternatives’ consumption on human nutrition. In his role as Trustee, Sokratis supports the delivery of BSAS charitable aims and the strategic planning for the future direction of the society. He is particularly involved with raising awareness and status of membership, accreditation and mentoring mechanisms; and the development of academia-industry collaborations, knowledge exchange and putting science-into-practice, developing and promoting BSAS events and publications, and supporting member and stakeholder interests through all career stages and pathways.

Jordana Rivero is the head of Grazing Livestock Systems at Rothamsted Research and the inaugural Chair of the Global Farm Platform. Her research covers various aspects of the sustainability of grazing livestock systems, such as pasture and grazing management, animal performance and emissions, forage quality, and breeding objectives for multiple livestock species. Jordana began her career in Uruguay, where she developed breeding goals and breeding objectives for dairy cattle under pasture-based systems. In 2013, she earned a PhD in Agricultural Science from the Universidad Austral de Chile, gaining experience in grazing systems and NIRS applied to feeds and animal products. Jordana also collaborated on the characterisation of a creole sheep breed, studying grazing behaviour and meat quality. During her postdoctoral fellowship, she investigated the joint effect of agronomic management and cultivar of perennial ryegrass on the performance and nutrient use efficiency of grazing dairy cows. In her current role at Rothamsted Research, Jordana is leading various research projects related to nutrient flow efficiency through the soil-plant-animal continuum, animal behaviour and welfare, animal genetic selection, grazing systems, sward diversity, and key performance indicators. Jordana is also an active member of the NBRI North Wyke Farm Platform (Devon), where she works on grazing management of beef and sheep, pasture production/utilisation, animal behaviour and product quality.

Role: Chair

Organisation: Teagasc

Paul is a Beef Research officer, based in Teagasc Grange in Ireland. Paul’s work is primarily focused on developing strategies to reduce enteric methane emissions from cattle, as well as understanding the role of the rumen microbiome in sustainable livestock production. After completing a Walsh Scholar PhD in 2021, with Teagasc and University College Dublin (UCD), titled “Understanding the interactive role of the rumen microbiome with diet and enteric emissions in cattle”, Paul undertook a Post-Doctoral Research position with Teagasc (EU funded HoloRuminant project), before being appointed a permeant researcher. Prior to commencing his PhD, Paul completed his undergraduate studies, in Animal Science, at UCD and subsequently worked as an Agricultural Policy Officer for the Irish young farmer organisation, Macra na Feirme. Paul has been a BSAS member since 2018 and has acted as the Teagasc representative on the Early Career Council (ECC). Of recent, Paul has played a key role in the establishment of the ECC Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with farm organisations across the UK and Ireland.

Dr Steven Morrison, Head of Livestock Production Sciences Branch, AFBI. A suckler beef and sheep family farm background coupled with his father being a past farm manager of AFBI Hillsborough helped grow Steven's deep passion in animal and agricultural sciences. After graduating from Queen's University Belfast (QUB) with a B.Agr. degree in Agriculture and a Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition, Steven has held several scientific posts in AFBI as well as industry. These included Head of Sustainable Livestock Systems, Livestock Genetics improvement Manager (AgriSearch) and Youngstock Scientist.  Steven also holds an Honorary Senior Lecturer title in QUB, supervising several PhD students. Steven is a member of Royal Ulster Agricultural Society Works committee and an Associate of Royal Agricultural Societies.

Dr Morrison is responsible for the strategic direction, funding and operation of one of AFBI's largest research groups, which includes the instrumented research farms. Dr Morrison, through his own research and that of his team, directly advise government policy in the area of sustainable agricultural systems; exchange the latest scientific knowledge with industry advisors and work in partnership with all stakeholders to deliver true impact at farm level.

Collaboration and partnership are key themes Steven has helped further develop in the branch. Steven has published 30+ peer-reviewed papers and has delivered his research findings to well over 200 audiences. Steven is a regular invited reviewer for scientific journals. Steven has developed long standing relations with industry resulting in continual research programme and in-depth knowledge on the current challenges and opportunities. Dr Morrison's research focuses on fundamental and more so the applied sciences relating to sustainable livestock systems of agri-food production. Recent areas of focus have been a one-health viewpoint to livestock systems, working in partnership to develop benchmarking and decision support tools; development of digital sustainability platform to credit and drive positive behavioural change in primary production and; understanding and reducing the carbon footprint of ruminant livestock systems. Dairy youngstock research has been a key thread throughout his career to date from early work on enhanced feeding programmes, immuno competence development, grazing systems through to the rearing environment and interactions with calf nutrition and growth.

Publishing the outcomes of research is a key driver for Steven. Delivering high impact peer reviewed papers are critical to provide scientific rigour and challenge to enable policy to use the findings. However, Steven is proactive in ensuring the science is translated into farmer and public facing outputs be that press articles, farm walks, apps, radio/tv or webinars.

Dr Nick Wheelhouse is Associate Professor and Research Group Lead in Microbiology at Edinburgh Napier University. Nick graduated from his BSc in Agricultural Biochemistry and Nutrition from the University of Newcastle in 1995 before gaining his PhD in nutrient hormone interactions in sheep from the University of Aberdeen in 1999. After his PhD Nick spent 5 years working as a Postdoctoral research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh before moving to the Moredun Research Institute where he worked on ruminant reproductive disorders. During his time at the Moredun Research Institute Nick identified novel bacterial pathogens in UK cattle abortion and causes of vaccine breakdown in ovine enzootic abortion. In 2016 Nick started a lectureship in Microbiology at Edinburgh Napier University before being promoted to Associate Professor in 2020. During his time at Napier Nick has established a research portfolio on a range of animal health projects working in the UK and across sub-Saharan Africa, introduced sustainable food production into the Applied Microbiology course and continues to supervise a number of Veterinary Nurse students on a range of animal welfare related projects.

In addition to his role at Edinburgh Napier University Nick serves as an Associate Editor for two journals handling submissions on large animal reproduction and infectious disease. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Edinburgh and an affiliated researcher in the School of Biodiversity, One health and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow. He lectures on the University of Liverpool Vet School’s Diploma in Bovine Reproduction and is an external examiner at the Royal Veterinary College. Nick is one of the co-leads of the GRA Animal Health and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity Network and currently sits on the FSA’s Advisory Committee on Animal Feedstuffs.

Lisa Collins is Professor of Animal Science, Pro-Dean for Research & Innovation, Academic Director of the National Pig Centre and Director of Commercial Research for the Global Food and Environment Institute at the University of Leeds. Her research focuses on the development and application of smarter agricultural systems through multi-disciplinary approaches including technology development, systems modelling and data analytics. Amongst a broad portfolio of research projects, Lisa was PI on PIGSustain, a £2.06M Global Food Security programme grant. During her time at the University of Leeds, she has set up the highly successful, cross-institution Smart Agri-Systems research initiative.

She serves on key strategic national and international advisory and funding councils and strategy groups, including as a member of the Defra Science Advisory Council and as advisor on research strategy to the Scottish Government's Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture department. Further to this, she has continuously served as both a member and chair of multiple BBSRC committees, call panels, institute assessment panels and working groups over the last 10 years, including Committee A, Committee E, Transforming Food Production and the FTMA awards. She was a founder member of BBSRC's Animal Welfare Research Network. Lisa is a board member for the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and a member for the SAIC Scientific Panel. She is a member of the Farmer Science Network. Previously she has served as a member of the Dog Advisory Council, ASAB council, and European Food Safety Authority groups.

She is an experienced public communicator of science, and has presented invited public lectures at the Royal Institution and in national theatres. Her work regularly features in national and international news media in all formats. In 2014, she received the British Science Association Charles Darwin Award for excellence in science communication, and in 2010, the UFAW Young Animal Welfare Scientist of the Year award. In 2020, she was elected as a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. She was British Science Association Section President in Food and Agriculture for 2020-22.

I’m currently a Reader in Animal Behaviour and Welfare within the School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). I am also the academic network lead of the Animal Welfare Research Network (AWRN) which has provided skills and experience relevant to the Trustee position. The AWRN was established in 2016 and is currently funded with a grant from BBSRC and Defra, with the remit of enhancing the capacity, quality and impact of animal welfare research. I am also a member of the UK government Animal Welfare Committee.

At QUB, I am also the Director of Postgraduate Research for the School of Biological Sciences. In this role I have gained useful skills and experience in developing initiatives to support early career researchers. This has included developing a training programme and a range of student support activities. BSAS has a number of excellent initiatives supporting early career researchers and I think my experience in this area would be useful for supporting future developments. Furthermore, I am also aware of the importance BSAS places on animal welfare, particularly as it is a holistic concept that is integrated with many aspects of animal science research. As a behavioural biologist, my research spans a number of farm and companion animal welfare topics, and includes links to relevant underlying animal science and physiology. 

In line with BSAS goals, I am passionate about promoting the benefits of education and science. As evidenced by my role with the AWRN, I am experienced in supporting scientific research, while also engaging in effective knowledge transfer and wider public engagement, including with industry. Within the AWRN, I have also overseen the development of a number of open science activities and support schemes for early career researchers (e.g. mentoring programme) that should be useful for BSAS. In summary, I am passionate about the benefits of animal science research and think that BSAS has an important role to play in shaping the future of this area. I therefore see this as an exciting opportunity to join as a Trustee to help inform the future development and continued success of BSAS.

Diarmuid is a Qualified Chartered Accountant with 14 years’ experience in finance and accounting roles across a number of industries including professional services, manufacturing and agriculture. He currently works in Teagasc, the state agency providing research, advisory and education in agriculture, horticulture, food and rural development in Ireland. 

Diarmuid graduated from University College Cork (UCC) in 2006 with a 1st Class Honours degree in Finance and went on to complete a Masters in Corporate Finance & Accounting at UCC. He then undertook the Master of Accounting at the UCD Smurfit School of Business. This programme is designed for graduates who have majored in business, accounting and finance and who wish to pursue a career in accounting either within the profession or with local or multinational companies. The Master of Accounting is the leading, longest-established accounting-specialist Master’s degree in Ireland.

Then, in 2009 Diarmuid joined Deloitte, the leading global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services. Deloitte is the largest professional services firm globally with approximately 286,000 people in more than 150 countries, bringing world-class capabilities and high-quality services to their clients. It was while at Deloitte that Diarmuid gained his chartered accountancy training and qualification working in the audit department from 2009 to 2013. He worked and excelled on audit teams on a wide-ranging portfolio encompassing indigenous and multinational clients across a broad spectrum of industry sectors such as manufacturing, health, foods, broadcasting and logistics. Diarmuid also got the opportunity to work in the UK and Guernsey Deloitte offices broadening his experience and exposure to reporting under UK GAAP as well as IFRS and Irish GAAP.

Following his time in Deloitte, Diarmuid then gained valuable industry experience for the next three and a half years working first in Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Centre of Excellence as an Operations Analyst and then in One51 ES Plastics before moving to Teagasc in 2016.

Diarmuid is a hardworking and self-motivated individual with established communication and teamwork skills. His mission is to become part of an organisation in which he feels he can add value. One of his greatest achievements has been how he has built and maintained strong relationships with key stakeholders in his various roles and used these relationships to clearly and openly communicate business and budget priorities in order to positively influence spending behaviours and budget decision making, ensuring good corporate governance.

David has a life-long passion for agriculture, he grew up on a mixed farm in Northern Ireland rearing free range pigs, suckler cows and a range of poultry. He now manages the farm in collaboration with his brother and parents focusing on rearing free-range turkeys, geese, chickens and ducks for processing and distribution on farm. David completed a BSc Hons degree in Agriculture at Newcastle Upon Tyne University and has worked closely with Devenish, W&R Barnett and other animal feed companies on corporate communication. Starting his career in the agri-food sector, David moved to London to work for Dow Jones Newswires for eight years, progressing to news editor for energy market, contributing daily to the Wall Street Journal and appearing regularly on financial news channel CNBC. After moving back to Northern Ireland, David worked as Group Business Editor at The Belfast Telegraph and editor of Ulster Business magazine, while also presenting twice-daily business news slots for Downtown Radio and Cool FM and as a freelance contributor to publications ranging from BBC to The Wall Street Journal. David is Senior Client Director with Lanyon Group.