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.

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.

Gareth is CEO at Wynnstay Group Plc, manufacturers and suppliers of agricultural products to farming businesses and rural communities throughout Wales and the West of England. He continually works with colleagues and outside bodies (both local and national level) to enhance the business and the rural community.

He is a past Chair Celtic Pride Ltd, a red meat procurement and marketing initiative which is a joint venture between Wynnstay and Castell Howell Foods. Gareth is also a past Chair of the Federation of Welsh Grassland Societies.

Gareth is chairman of HCC’s Audit & Risk Committee.

John farms 350 acres in partnership with his son and wife in Eglwyswrw, North Pembrokeshire. The farming business includes a dairy and beef herd, spring cereals, and a renewable energy generation enterprise comprising of wind and solar power.

John was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society for a decade and has been awarded Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies of the UK for his continued services to agriculture.

From 2008-2012 he was the Leader of the Welsh Local Government Association. He remains a member of Pembrokeshire County Council and is also a member of the Mid and West Wales Fire Authority.

He spends much of his spare time as a Trustee of the High Sheriff of Dyfed Youth Trust Fund. John is a former High Sheriff of Dyfed and is also the former Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Energy Workforce Foundation. He is also a former Chairman and remains a trustee of the agricultural charity Tir Dewi. He is also a Trustee of the Sir Emrys Jones Memorial Trust at the Royal Agricultural University.

Caroline is a marketing professional with over 30 years’ experience. Her career includes roles with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Wales Millennium Centre, Chester Zoo and Alton Towers. She specialises in providing strategic marketing and communications advice to visitor attractions, arts organisations and charities, including a number of farm shops and farm parks across the UK. Originally from a farming family, Caroline lives in Flintshire with her husband and daughter.

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.

Now retired following 45 years of active research at IBERS, Aberystwyth University Mike continues to publish extensively in the field of grassland research. Although much of Mike’s research has been novel, his focus has always been on translating outcomes for ‘public-good’ and practical benefits. Hhe has explored opportunities within his novel grass varieties for additional provisions to protect the environment, improve soils, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance carbon sequestration.

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.

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.