Fwi user Kerry has written in to pay tribute to Chrissie Lawrence, the deputy livestock editor within the Farmers Weekly Group, who is leaving us in a couple of weeks. Kerry, your comments about Chrissie being an "inspiration and breath of fresh air" are spot on and she will be greatly missed.
Chrissie has helped lead significant change in our livestock coverage in the magazine and online. She has pioneered the Taking Stock blog, led a fresh approach in stock and sales coverage, brought new business to the group and has made a signficiant contribution to the development of the Farmers Weekly Awards. In fact, as I write Chrissie is busy sorting out the table plan for the big event of the year, which is no mean feat as we have 1200 guests ready to join us in the Great Room, Grosvenor House on Monday, 27th October. And let's face it, who you are sitting next to on the night can make or break your evening!
I'm hopeful that Chrissie will still be part of the FW team in a freelance capacity. She has a super new job as the brand manager for the AA - no not what you were thinking......... for the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society based in Perth. This is a part time role but pretty exciting as the job is about expanding the identity of the Aberdeen Angus brand globally. Chrissie is perfect for this project because she's been such a fantastic champion for the Farmers Weekly brand in so many ways in recent years and has a good understanding and overview of the beef market. .
We know we will miss her expertise and enthusiasm but are expecting to lure Chrissie back on occasions to take on certain assignments for us in the future. In the meantime, we all wish her the very best in her career. A new deputy livestock editor will be appointed shortly.
Kerry's tribute to Chrissie has got me thinking about other inspiring women in agriculture. I can think of quite a few like the peer Baroness Hazel Byford, the chairman of Oxford Farming Conference Teresa Wickham and Kent farmer Caroline Alexander. Which females stand out from the crowd for you and why?