GETTING TO KNOW THE STAFF...
What is the most memorable part of your 23 years with HUK?
There have been lots of good times over the last 23 years, but last year being part of the team at UK Dairy Day was fantastic. I also went out on a classifi cation trip. It’s nice to occasionally go out of the offi ce to meet members and see some cows as it helps us to appreciate the work we do and why we do it.
What’s the most exciting part of your role? Every day is different and I enjoy the amount of variety in my role.
What’s the most challenging part of your role? Ensuring that staffi ng levels are right when we have peaks and troughs within the business. We have been doing a lot of work on productivity.
How well do you get on with your boss? I get on well with Charlotte, we work well together as our technical and commercial skills compliment the business.
What’s been your biggest achievement during your current role?
In a time of adversity, I am really proud that through various initiatives, 2014 was the best year for registrations in a decade.
How do you relax?
I enjoy Ballroom and Latin American dancing, this takes me to dance classes at different dance schools, social dances and competitions.
If you had to climb Everest or swim the channel which would you do? I would swim the channel.
Favourite meal? Macaroni cheese. Favourite song? Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi Who is your favourite celebrity?
My favourite celebrity would be Sir Alex Ferguson for the success he had at Manchester United as a manager.
What would you do with £1m? If I had £1m I would own and run my own dance school.
Five people from the industry you’d invite for dinner?
Michael Eaves, Glyn Lucas, Mary Mead, Queen Elizabeth II, Adam Henson.
and responding to any queries they may have. I attend shows and sales where possible, do herd walks to promote classifi cation and do grade ups for new members and lapsed registrations. I also help with The Journal by selling breeders adverts where possible.
What’s the most challenging part of your role? There is always lots to do, juggling and prioritising is probably the most challenging part of the role. The dairy industry is going through a diffi cult time at the minute, so that makes all we do challenging. I’m a great believer in the phrase ‘you need to collect it to correct it’ and that applies to classifi cations, registrations and milk recording. When you believe in what you do it helps you to promote it.
What’s the most exciting part of your role? I love attending shows and working on the stand, as it’s a chance to meet new people. I also enjoy arriving at a new farm and chatting to farmers about their requirements. There are no two farm businesses the same, so it’s really interesting hearing how they go about their business, what their breeding aims are and explaining what we can do to help them, whether it is a grade up or classifi cation or simply getting them on to paperless certifi cates.
What’s been your biggest achievement during your current role?
I’ve enjoyed having input into the new Fast Track Pedigree System and helping to make that work. It’s a great tool in the grade up process.
How well do you get on with your boss? I get on with Michael Parkinson very well. He is there to support when I need it, but at the same time he leaves me to get on with the job in hand and lets me make my own day to day decisions.
What is your biggest aspiration or if you could do anything different what would it be? My only aspiration is to do the best job I can and this means growing the membership, classifi cation and registration numbers. Dairying has to be more and more accountable these days, pedigree and milk recording go a long way towards achieving that by adding value to stock and helping improve profi t margins where possible.
How do you relax? My husband says I don’t! I do enjoy my family, they are very important to me. I enjoy cooking, a bit of gardening and a bit of retail therapy when possible. We also have a small Jersey herd under the Monument prefi x, we enjoy some local shows with them and have had an All Britain nomination this year so that’s fantastic.
Favourite meal? Our local pub makes the best fi sh and chips ever! Favourite song? Anything by the Proclaimers!
One interesting fact no one or not many people would know about you?
I have a National Diploma in hotel and catering. I have made many wedding and celebration cakes over the years, but somehow the cows took over and now it’s only the odd family cake. However, I’ll be making my son’s wedding cake this summer.
Five people from the industry you’d invite for dinner? There are lots of people in the industry I admire, but I don’t like to single any out. Dairy farmers all work hard and have long working hours, currently for not a lot of reward. They are to be admired as they just get on with it and make the best of the situation. I also have some lovely colleagues to work with and I’ve had great support from them, particularly when I changed jobs last year. I think it would have to be one big party rather than fi ve for dinner.
THE JOURNAL APRIL 2015 11
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