HCC Board

Catherine has been a member of the board at Hybu Cig Cymru since 2017 and took over as Chair in 2021.

She is also a food business consultant who has over 20 years of experience working within the red meat sector. She graduated from university in 2000 with a first-class honours degree in Food and Consumer Management and since that time has worked throughout the red meat supply chain including procurement, processing and manufacturing. Catherine also has substantial account management experience across both retail and foodservice.

Through her business consultancy she provides strategic leadership, staff development, project management, technical and operational guidance for manufacturers & processors.

Catherine is also a farmer’s daughter and wife, who lives with her husband and three children on a mixed farm in Monmouthshire.

Darren Williams is a mixed livestock tenant farmer based in Brecon, Powys. He is focused on developing a more sustainable farming system and represents south Wales producers on the Tesco Sustainable Lamb Group committee. He has also held several industry and governance roles within Welsh agriculture, including serving as a board member of the Farmers’ Union of Wales. Darren contributed to the Sustainable Farming Scheme Roundtable as an independent farmer, participated on the carbon sequestration panel and has been Cattle Foreman for the Royal Welsh Show for over 20 years.

Dewi comes from a farming family on Anglesey and has spent his working career in the Welsh agricultural sector including employment with MLC and HCC. He is currently Head of Animal Health Services at Mentera, where he leads numerous animal health projects, notably delivering veterinary services across north Wales.

Dewi has also been instrumental in co-developing and managing the Arwain DGC Programme, a pioneering industry-led initiative promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials in Wales, significantly reducing the need for antibiotics.

Emlyn is a 4th generation farmer at Esgaigawr, near Dolgellau. Esgairgawr is a traditional upland farm incorporating Aran Fawddwy and reaching 3000ft above sea level. The farm runs a closed flock of Welsh mountain sheep as well as a smaller flock of Welsh Torddu. Emlyn also rears store cattle which are sold through a local market.

The farm has been part of agri-environmental schemes since 1994 and Emlyn has a keen interest in measuring and improving environmental credentials on farm as well as overall productivity and efficiency.

Emlyn is a member of NFU Cymru Less Favourable Area committee and is a former Chair of the Meirionnydd branch. He is the director of the sheep section at Meirionydd Show and the Meirionnydd representative for the British Wool Board. Emlyn has taken part in the Agri Academy Business and Innovation Programme and is a member of the Prince’s Trust Farm Resilience Programme.

Hugh farms in partnership with his wife at Bryndy, Llanelidan. The farming enterprise consists of a flock of cross bred breeding ewes and a herd of suckler cows and store cattle. Hugh has been a Denbighshire County Councillor since 2004 and was Leader of the Council from 2007 to 2022. He has held many roles in public service, including with the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, the Board of S4C, and the Welsh Local Government Association, and was awarded an OBE for services to Local Government.

Jack was born on the family sheep farm near Aberystwyth and since 1990 has been a partner in the business. Having completed his education with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University, Jack worked in the agricultural supply industry for eight years. On his return to the farm in the early nineties, the farm introduced a forage-based system and were early adopters of a May lambing flock.

Jack has also completed a Masters degree at Aberystwyth University in Business Administration culminating in a report on models of coproduction. He has served on several Boards developing and delivering services for rural populations. Jack was the Chair of Rural Health and Care Wales whose purpose is to ensure rural populations receive excellent models of care.

Jack stresses that the rural communities of Wales have a huge contribution to make to the wellbeing of our nation, environmentally, culturally, and economically; and that HCC has a key role in supporting those communities.

Jon Tanner has worked in the farming sector, particularly with livestock, for 40 years. He has acted as Chair, Director and CEO of industry bodies and his experience spans farming in Wales, livestock research around the world to leadership of levy-based, farming and forestry bodies in New Zealand. With a background in agricultural science, he has directed research on how livestock help farmers adapt to climate change and brings experience of overcoming international trade barriers, free trade agreements and building commercial relations.

Paul is an experienced leader in food manufacturing with a strong background in governance, strategic leadership, and stakeholder engagement across the food, agriculture, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors. He has held senior roles at Arla Foods, including within commercial operations and as Agricultural Director, where he developed deep expertise in supply chain management, sustainability, and commercial strategy.

Paul currently serves as Chairman of South Caernarfon Creameries, working closely with farmer owners and navigating the challenges of agriculture in Wales. His career has also included leading large-scale industry collaborations, working within complex regulatory environments, and engaging with government bodies to influence policy development.

Sophie Nixon is a Category Manager with a career rooted in the UK agri-food sector. She began her journey in the fresh produce industry and since 2017 has worked in marketing and category roles across both the poultry and red meat supply chains, developing strong insight into consumer behaviour, market dynamics and the complexities of food production. Sophie also has experience in both domestic and international markets, including work in market research and insight that broadened her perspective on global trade and the evolving opportunities and challenges facing Welsh agriculture. She is a former NFU Ambassador and Agri Academy member.

A farmer’s daughter, Vicki started her career in PR and marketing in London, launching some of the UK’s best known TV shows and digital channels. A role at Comic Relief set Vicki up for a life of purpose driven communication. She moved back to Wales, setting up the multi-disciplinary agency Cowshed Communication. Vicki lives in Monmouthshire with her husband, her dog and her mum. She sits on the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s sponsorship committee and is a member of the Marie Curie Advisory Board.

Wyn Owen is a managing partner of his family farm in mid Wales and freelance consultant. He has contributed over two decades to the delivery of many Farming Connect projects, most notably Agrisgôp, and is an associate lecturer at Aberystwyth and Wrexham Universities.  Wyn also has extensive experience as Chair of various societies and governing bodies, and as Board member of Nuffield International Scholarships and Governors Wales. He is currently a Trustee of the Farming Community Network.