Beef & Lamb Engagement team

Your first port of call at AHDB is your regional manager. If you’re unsure which region you are in, just contact one manager and they will put you in touch with the right person.

Emily Symonds, Engagement Manager – (Maternity Leave from May 2026)

Emily has experience across the beef and lamb supply chain. Recently, she has been working within the R&D sector linking businesses up with science then translating the knowledge back to a business/farm level.

E: Emily.Symonds@ahdb.org.uk T: 07964 243 699

Joanne Alderson,  Engagement Manager - (Maternity Cover)  

Joannes passion for agriculture started at the age of 11 when she first started helping out on a friend’s farm. She went on to study Agriculture and Animal Science at Harper Adams Agricultural College, graduating in 2004. She spent many years working and managing dairy farms in Scotland and Durham before moving into the Beef Supply chain.    

Lately Joanne has worked with various retailers within the beef supply chain, working directly with farmers to ensure they produce the highest quality product for consumers. Joanne has joined the Beef and Lamb team as maternity cover as Engagement Manager for Beef and Lamb.  

E: Joanne.Alderson@ahdb.org.uk  T: 07889177284

Karl Pendlebury, Engagement Manager

Karl has more than 40 years’ experience in the beef and lamb sector and joins the KE team with a wealth of knowledge. After leaving Myerscough Agricultural College, Karl worked with a large suckler with all progeny to finish unit that also finished bulls for a direct contract, overwintering sheep (predominantly store lambs) and 450 ha cereals.

From here Karl took a keen interest in the technical aspect of red meat industry particularly beef and lamb and following a brief spell in animal trading became an auditor of food business from farm through to big business level and on to the consumer level. He then had time in a major retailer as technical supply chain and specifications manager before joining AHDB to oversee the quality schemes. Karl is now looking forward to getting closer to the farms once again.

E: Karl.Pendlebury@ahdb.org.uk T: 07392 319 847

Emma Craig, Midlands Engagement Manager 

Brought up on a mixed livestock farm in East Yorkshire, Emma has worked within AHDB since graduating from Newcastle University in 2016 with a first-class degree in Agriculture & Livestock Production Science. She spent 3 years working on sheep and beef genetic evaluations within Signet, followed by over 5 years looking after Midlands beef & sheep levy payers in the knowledge exchange /engagement team. 

E: Emma.Craig@ahdb.org.uk T: 07392319813

Kate Thompson, Engagement Manager

Kate is a bioscience graduate, which combined with a farming background, cemented a passion for the industry. Kate has previously worked in both the Benchmarking and Communications teams at AHDB.

E: Katrina.Thompson@ahdb.org.uk T: 07392 319 264

Tom Edwards,  Engagement Manager

Tom graduated from the Royal Agricultural University with a masters in Countryside Management and water quality research. Tom has since built his career in the agricultural sector with Catchment Sensitive Farming and Devon Wildlife Trust focusing on a wide range of general farm advice including, water quality and management, agri-environmental schemes, soil health and habitat creation.

E: Tom.Edwards@ahdb.org.uk  T: 07702 688 165

Prys Morgan, Sector Director

Prys has extensive experience across the UK red meat sector, spanning procurement, operations, industry development and stakeholder engagement. He has held senior roles with Kepak Group, 2 Sisters Red Meat, Vion, Welsh Country Foods, Hybu Cig Cymru and MLC Cymru. 

Most recently, Prys served as Livestock Director for Kepak Group, where he was responsible for the procurement of cattle and lambs across England and Wales, led agricultural strategy and represented the business in discussions with politicians, civil servants and industry partners on sustainability and food security. Earlier in his career, he held senior operational and industry development roles at Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales, leading market development, industry development and communications teams, and playing a key role in establishing EID Cymru, the statutory sheep movement database. 

Alongside his professional career, Prys and his family farm over 1,000 sheep and 50 suckler cows on a 550‑acre upland farm near Machynlleth, giving him direct, practical insight into livestock production and the wider supply chain.

Tess Howe, Head of Engagement – Beef & Lamb

Tess was brought up on an arable and beef farm in East Yorkshire. After graduating from Newcastle University, Tess began her career at the Malton Bacon Factory before joining the Humane Slaughter Association, providing international consultancy on animal welfare at markets, during transport and at slaughter. 

Tess joined AHDB in 2007, initially developing and managing the skills strategy for the pork division, before taking on a cross-sector role in 2012 with responsibility for staff and business development activities across all sectors. 

In 2021, Tess was part of the small team that established the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH), working with government and industry stakeholders to develop the first professional body for farmers and growers. After more than four years at TIAH, Tess returned to AHDB in 2026 as Head of Engagement for Beef and Lamb. 

Tess has a passion for building a profitable and resilient industry through investing in its people and their skills.

Lynn Briggs, Senior Engagement Manager (Maternity Cover until 31 December 2026)

Lynn was brought up on a beef and sheep farm in Durham and now farms in Cambridgeshire. She joined AHDB as a Senior Engagement Manager for Beef & Lamb in 2025. Prior to joining AHDB, Lynn has been providing independent advice for 20+years, specialising in soil, forage and environmental management as well as farm business planning. 

Lynn has an MSc in Soil Science, which she uses extensively in her work and has a passion for on farm education, regularly hosting school / FE visits as well as farming groups.  She has also worked in the farm assurance sector for many years and has managed teams of on-farm auditors, as well as co-running her own farm and managing the farms’ team of staff in their farmshop.

Leah Shanks, Senior Engagement Manager

Based in Wiltshire, Leah works nationally as a Senior Engagement Manager in the Beef and Lamb team.

Leah graduated university with a MSc in Veterinary Microbiology and a BSc in Animal Science. 

Following university, Leah began her career as a laboratory technician performing bovine diagnostics with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Leah then went on to work in the Antimicrobial Resistance team at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) before joining AHDB in 2019.

Katie Evans, Senior Engagement Manager

Katie Evans is a Senior Engagement Manager for the national Beef and Lamb team, where she develops strategic plans that help guide delivery to support the future of UK livestock farming. Her portfolio includes environmental stewardship, grassland systems, reputation management, and knowledge transfer through both digital and print media, ensuring farmers have access to the latest research and practical tools to support sustainable practices.

With a strong commitment to improving productivity and profitability in agriculture, Katie specialises in forage systems and resilient farming strategies. She has led initiatives such as AHDB’s Forage for Knowledge and GrassCheck GB, using data-driven approaches to foster innovation in grassland management.

Elizabeth Swancott, Senior Engagement Manager

Elizabeth originates from a hill sheep & beef farm in Powys. Elizabeth joined AHDB as a senior engagement manager for Beef & Lamb in 2025. Prior to joining AHDB Elizabeth worked for Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales, where she was involved in the Welsh Red Meat Development programme, specialising in meat eating quality research alongside animal health planning projects. More recently, her work has focused on market intelligence and engagement activity across the red meat supply chain. 

While studying Agriculture with Business studies at Aberystwyth University, Elizabeth spent a period working for a beef processor within the technical team. Elizabeth has a passion for animal health and on farm efficiency, which she believes works hand in hand with producing quality and nutritious beef and lamb.

Sarah Penrose, Senior Engagement Manager – Maternity leave until end of 2026

Beef & Lamb Sector Council

Cereals & Oilseeds Engagement team

Dairy Engagement team

Pork Engagement team

Full list of contacts (all sectors)