Wales
Gareth Jones - Chairman of the Welsh Regional Advisors
Gareth was born in Caernarfen, North Wales and gained a HND in Agriculture from Aberystwyth in 1982. He then managed farms in mid Wales and Hereford before spending two years as Beef Specialist with the Meat and Livestock Commission. Gareth is currently the Farm Manager at Rhug, a large organic estate in North Wales. Gareth is a past chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru Scholar’s Association and was a member of Welsh Assembly Government 2020 Committee. Gareth is the current chairman of BroGeyndwr Male Voice Choir and is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies (FRAgS). Email Gareth Jones
Oli Hodgkinson
Oli was bought up on a farm of 2000 ewes and graduated from Liverpool Vet School in 1999 before going to work in a mixed vet practice in the heart of mid Wales. Oli then returned to Liverpool University as a resident in large animals, before running the Farm Animal Practice for 3 years. In 2007 Oli returned to mid Wales and joined Terfaldoyn Vets in Montgomery as a partner, working predominately as a large animal vet. Oli holds the sheep health and production certificate and runs a small flock of Balwen sheep at home. Email Oli Hodgkinson
Kate Phillips
Kate is a livestock consultant specialising in ruminant husbandry, health and welfare. She is a specialist in sheep husbandry and has over 25 years experience in farm advisory work. Kate lives in Shropshire and has a small flock of pedigree Lleyn ewes, working for ADAS UK Ltd but is field based in the West Midlands. Kate is currently very heavily involved with a joint project with Eblex promoting the benefits of proactive health planning and implementation of best practice on beef and sheep farms. Email Kate Phillips
John Hughes (co-opte
d)
John grew up on a hill farm in Montgomeryshire where his grandfather encouraged him to become a vet. He qualified from Liverpool in 1976 but a family tragedy meant he had to be a farmer for a while. An assistant’s job in Newtown became available and two years later a partner’s position. Then there were six vets, now there are thirteen. The farms are mostly beef and sheep with treatment mainly on a herd/flock basis with conditions such as TB, scab, lice and louping ill a continuous problem. He is married with two sons. Email John Hughes
The other Welsh Regional Advisor is Sulwyn Jenkins