INCLUDING ALL SPEAKERS AND FULL PROGRAMME

OF EVENTS

THE SEMEX INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGENTS OF IS AT GLASGOW’S CHANGE 5-STAR

RADISSON BLU HOTEL

13-15 JANUARY 2019

#SemexConf19 Kick start 2019 with

The Semex International Dairy Conference 2019 promises a top line up of speakers. Some of the Industry’s most forward thinking and prominent figures will share their experiences and insights whilst challenging and entertaining the audience.

This must-see industry event is loaded with practical and progressive dairy solutions all delivered by those who have influenced and The one certainty that lies continue to effect change ahead is in politics, policy, trade, change veterinary techniques and innovation.

Always well attended the conference offers the ideal opportunity to meet with like-minded professionals, network and share ideas and opinions.

Chairing the Conference will be Colin Price – a popular figure in UK dairy whose way with words can lighten (and enlighten on) any topic. Colin is a sixth generation farmer and runs a small specialised organic The family dairy farm with his father in North Craven, Yorkshire. Alongside the dairy enterprise he has a hill flock Chair of 300 and Swaledale and also runs a successful contracting business. Somehow he has found the time to be Chairman of his local parish council for the past decade and serves on the governing committee of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Colin epitomises the small family dairy farm which is the backbone of rural Britain, and helps shape the rural community. the leading agents of change

Sue McCloskey In 1999, Sue and husband Mike Minette Batters created Select Milk Producers, Minette runs a tenanted family USA’s sixth-largest dairy farm in Wiltshire and is the first co-operative, and considered Ash Amirahmadi woman to be elected President how to make milk more relevant Ash was appointed Managing of the NFU. Her mixed farming to consumers. Their solution Director of Arla Foods UK in business now has 300 head of was to build one of the largest July 2018. He joined Arla’s UK stock with a herd of pedigree dairy farms in the country and business in 2004 and worked Hereford alongside simultaneously open Fair Oaks in commercial roles before 100 Simmental cross suckler Farms, the country’s largest joining the Leadership Team in cows as well as a small flock and most well-recognised 2010 assuming responsibility of pedigree sheep and arable. agritourism attraction. Sue has for Arla’s farmer relationships Minette co-founded the campaign been Creative Director for Fair and building Arla’s corporate initiatives Great British Oaks Farms and spokesperson reputation. After a brief period Week and Ladies in Beef and is for Fairlife, Select’s dairy-based as Marketing Director, Ash moved a huge supporter of Love British health and wellness company. to the position of Sales Director Food and its activities. in 2016 taking responsibility for growing Arla’s business with UK customers. The leading agents of change

Jukka Likitalo Jukka is a Brussels-based Finn who George Eustice MP has been at the head of Eucolait George is Minister of State at the - an organisation representing Department for Environment, Food the interests of some 500 dairy and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), with trading businesses across the responsibility for agriculture, EU - since 2014. His job includes fisheries and food. George has staying on top of relevant policy long cared for farming: he worked developments, dairy market for years in the family farming analysis, advising member business before entering politics. companies as well as lobbying.

Will Evans Will farms , cereal crops, Charlie Perotti and free-range laying hens with Charlie has life long experience his family near Wrexham in North in the global dairy industry. His Wales. In March 2017 he created current position is Production Rock and Roll Farming Podcast to Director for Fonterra in China showcase UK agricultural and its where he manages 32,000 practitioners to the wider world, milking cows on seven dairy helping reconnect food producers units. A third generation dairy and consumers. Last year he won farmer, Charlie is also a general Digital Innovator of the Year at the partner in a family-owned British Farming Awards. 100 year-old dairy farm. The leading agents of change

Giovanni Gnemmi Chris Walkland Professor of Bovine Reproduction Dr Mike Lohuis Chris is an agricultural journalist, at University of Valencia, Giovanni’s Mike is Vice President, Research & market analyst and consultant fields of interest are reproductive Innovation for Semex worldwide. His specialising in the dairy sector. management, preventive medicine team develops new products and He has written for the main UK and continuing education of strategies for semen, embryos monthly magazines for around dairy workers and veterinarians. and genomic improvement. With 25 years on all aspects of the In these areas of expertise, he high qualifications in animal breeding dairy supply chain from primary has developed an international and health, his career has led from production down on the farm reputation as a consultant to Sire Analyst to leading Monsanto’s through to the economics and very large herd managers in environmental strategy for politics at processor, retailer and Europe, , China, agriculture before joining Semex. consumer level. and the Middle East.

Jeremy Higgins Tom Levitt Joe Wannop Jeremy is herd manager of Tom is a former journalist at Joe is from Morecambe, Lancashire Reidstra Dairy Ltd in Michigan the Guardian, the Ecologist and and farms alongside his dad, mum USA. Farming over 3,500 acres, Farmers Guardian. A research and brother James. The Wannop the business is comprised of three associate at the RSA Food, Farming family care for 500 milking cows operations milking over 4,600 and Countryside Commission and and 200 Texel-cross Beltex sheep, cows through a herringbone, director for the Oxford Farming performing all farming duties rotary and robot system. The farm Conference, Tom has an MSc in themselves. As modern farmers also breeds 150 angus cows and Food Policy and is a food editor they embrace enlightened staff fattens over 1,000 steers annually. at Huffington Post. His Nuffield management, feed efficiency and Reidstra Dairy, as core to its scholarship has looked at the moving with changing times – breeding objectives, has used future of liquid milk and how it including the use of Semex ai24 Immunity+ sires with amazing achieves value in a competitive to monitor heat and health. results. consumer food market. Sunday 13 January Conference REGISTRATION Hotel check-in and relaxation. HOSPITALITY IN THE MEGALITHIC Unwind with Calendar smooth jazz from the Marcus Ford Trio as you relish the Best of the World Buffet. Network with delegates at your leisure and ease yourself into the conference.

Monday 14 January Tuesday 15 January CONFERENCE WELCOME WELCOME by Colin Price. by Michael Dennison, National Sales Manager, Semex UK. Introduction by SESSION 4 conference chairman Colin Price. Ash Amirahmadi SESSION 1 Tom Levitt Minette Batters Chris Walkland Jukka Likitalo Q&A George Eustice MP Break Q&A Break SESSION 5 Giovanni Gnemmi SESSION 2 Joe Wannop Sue McCloskey Will Evans Charlie Perotti Q&A Lunch

Q&A CONFERENCE CLOSE by Michael Dennison and Colin Price. SESSION 3

Dr Mike Lohuis All content subject to change. Please visit www.semex.co.uk for the latest information. Jeremy Higgins Q&A DAY’S SUMMARY by Colin Price. Monday Evening Civic Reception courtesy of Glasgow City Council Holstein UK President’s Medal Award THE BURNS SUPPER Background image: Joep Driessen of Cow Signals speaking at the 2016 Semex Conference. Semex at the 2016 Signals speaking Cow of image: Joep Driessen Background The famous Semex hospitality starts as soon as you arrive on the Sunday night. The subtlety of late-night jazz adds a relaxing backdrop to the mouth-watering Best of the World Buffet. Upping An event, the tempo on the Monday hotel and evening the city to Burns Supper 5-star remember features thrilling pipers, entertainment graceful dancers and the highly-entertaining verbal jousting of the acclaimed Robbie Duncan and Edith Forrest. Robbie Duncan was born and The 5-star Radisson Blu bred in Burns’ hotel is a striking, modern symbol Ayrshire. He on the Glasgow landscape and your speaks on the first-class conference venue. It’s a bard with great wit and humour, entertaining audiences sleek creation that values comfort throughout Britain when not running in each beautifully-designed room. his own farm supplies company. Ideally located, the hotel is close to the considerable shopping, culture Edith Forrest and nightlife attractions that one of is a popular speaker at Burns Europe’s most vibrant cities has to offer. Suppers and corporate events throughout the country. As a criminal advocate by day, she draws entertainingly on her colourful work experiences. The full conference package for 13-15 January costs #SemexConf19 £425 plus VAT, and includes all of the following:

Delegates’ Gala Reception and upmarket buffet with jazz group and welcome drinks

Two nights at the modern 5-star Radisson Blu Hotel, located right in Glasgow city-centre

Access to two days of the conference with engaging Call Leanne Garden speakers from all sectors of the industry on 0800 86 88 90 or email Full Scottish breakfasts [email protected] to register your interest. Tasty buffet lunches

Morning coffee and afternoon tea

Burns Supper with entertainment, preceded by our special Civic Reception

Delegate registration pack

REGISTRATION FEES

Full stay: 2-night, 3-day £425*

Full stay (single room rate): £555 Maple Park Monkton Day Delegate: £90 Prestwick Ayrshire KA9 2RJ Evening dinner: £55 0800 86 88 90 www.semex.co.uk *Price is for two sharing. All fees subject to VAT.