Joyce Crackles, Chairman

I started my working life in a bank but after marrying a farmer and leaving the bank to have children, I retrained over a period of three years at my local agricultural college, before starting off in the job I had always wanted, in 1995, at the age of 34. Very soon afterwards I joined IAgSA and found such great support and a wealth of information available to me.  I joined my local branch in Cumbria and shortly afterwards took the role of Chairman. I am also involved with the newly formed Lancashire branch.

I have now served on the Council of Management for five years, responsible for Branch Liaison followed by a period as Vice-Chairman. My time on Council has made me aware of the hard work and dedication given to the continued development of IAgSA. During my time in office as Chairman, I intend to build on that, particularly focussing on the further development of training opportunities, not only for existing members but to encourage new people into the industry. Council have been working hard with NPTC to develop the Certificate of Rural Business Administration with significant success. We are now seeing this course being run by some land-based colleges throughout the country. Our aim is to expand on that availability and help both young people and ‘late starters’ like myself into the industry.

The year 2007 will see the 40th Anniversary of IAgSA. This is a great occasion to celebrate the success of an organisation which provides such a huge support network to its members, both through it’s local branches and nationally.

It is an honour to hold the Chairmanship in this special year.

IAgSA is widely recognised in the world of rural business and finance, and it is thanks to our members and all the organisations, which support us that we have achieved so much over the last 40 years; those links have proved invaluable. On behalf of the IAgSA membership I would like to express our sincere thanks to these organisations.

Tracey Nicholls, Vice Chairman

Tracey Nicholls is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants and has worked as an accountant focussing primarily on farming and rural businesses throughout her career.  Tracey trained in the agricultural department of Deloittes, before moving on to her current position as a senior manager at WKH.  She has 18 years experience in the field and throughout all of that time has been a staunch supporter of the Institute, joining Council in 2000. She is currently responsible for our CPD scheme and also edits our annual Journal.  Apart from a very busy career, Tracey has two wonderful children and a very supportive husband to keep her on track.  It is this support that she credits most as her secret to success.

Tim Cartwright – Hon Treasurer
Accounts Manager for Ray Gasson & Associates, Farm Business Consultants, based in Hook Norton, Oxon managing the day to day and year end accounts procedures for over 40 clients as well as the busy office. Previously a Software Support/Trainer for HN/Farmplan specialising in Accounts, Payroll and Property program training and support.  Brought up on the family farm in Lincolnshire and has always worked in jobs connected with agriculture, and specifically accounts for the last 14 years. 

Based in Leamington Spa, I completed my AAT qualifications in 2005, have served on Council for 3 years as Treasurer and have been an IAgSA member for over 28 years. Having been involved with the Institute for so long I am very keen for the Institute to grow in membership and recognition within the industry.

Ann Davies
I work as a mobile farm secretary. My farms range from 250 pedigree Holstein Friesian cow Organic Dairy Farm to 25 Red Poll suckler cow herd, and 750 acre sheep/beef/cereals (formally a 300 cow dairy) to 850 acre cereal farm with extra 1500 acres on FBT or share farming agreements.

Rebecca Hill

I have been working as a self-employed farm secretary in Wiltshire for over 20 years.  I look after about ten different farms and small businesses varying in size from 200 acres to 4,500 acres.  I am keen to promote the benefits of branch membership as well as national membership and the importance of training opportunities for new entrants as well as those needing to update their skills in an ever-changing world.

Fiona Ives 
 
I have been an IAgSA member for some 20 years and my roles on Council have included The Farm Secretary of the Year Competition (taking finalists to the Woodland Training Centre in deepest Hampshire), Education and College Liaison, and in March 2006 finished her two year Chairmanship.
 
I am married to Bob (who farms with his parents and brother) and we have a 14 year old son, Dan.  Life on the home farm is fairly hectic - 300 cow Pedigree Holstein Friesian Dairy rearing all their heifers, arable, let properties, use of the farm for 4 x 4 dealer days and corporate entertainment.  Bob also spends approximately 2 months of the year abroad (Wildtrackers-4X4 vehicle launches).
 
Having trained at Sparsholt College Hampshire from 1979 to 1981 (BTEC National Diploma) I worked for a local farming family (as diversified as they come!) for 10 years until becoming self-employed.  I now look after the accounts for all aspects of the home farm business, itself fairly time consuming, and for an agronomist/buying group (job sharing with Rachel Page, an IAgSA member and complete star!).  I also train for Farmplan (Hampshire/Wiltshire area), have 2 monthly clients and various other clients (mostly annual, some quarterly).  Since relinquishing the Chairmanship, work has been especially busy (covering for maternity leave), and having become a Church Warden in my home village of Herriard in April.
 
Hobbies include walking, tennis, gardening, cycling and village life!!

Billie Johnson MAAT AIAgSA

 Billie Johnson is the Council member responsible for Membership Development and Corporate Liaison.  She is a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians and has been a member of IAgSA since 1986.  Billie is a partner in Ellam Oxtoby & Peck; a farm business consultancy and accountancy practice operating on the outskirts of Oxford and near Tiverton in Devon.

Lucy Levinge

Growing up on a small Welsh hill farm, I realised I would like to work within the agricultural industry.  After gaining experience through my first couple of jobs, I spent ten years working in the farm office of a Herefordshire potato grower.

With this experience, together with the City & Guilds qualification for Farm Records & Accounts I became self-employed, following the arrival of my two children.  I joined the Herefordshire Branch of IAgSA in 1996.  The help from both branch and national proved extremely beneficial when starting my Business.

I currently visit twelve small rural businesses, either monthly or quarterly.  This combines well with looking after the children and life on the farm at home.  My position as General Secretary for The Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep Society is also one which gives me much satisfaction.  My spare time revolves around the sheep and Welsh Cobs I keep. 

I have been a Council Member for the past three years.  Currently my job involves Branch Liaison and Publicity.  Our 40th Anniversary will be an excellent opportunity for Members to become involved with our celebrations.

Cathy Meredith

In 1999 I became Projects Co-ordinator at Holme Lacy College working on rural projects and this has led onto the development of the Rural Hubs and my taking on the role of Co-ordinator for Herefordshire Rural Hub in 2004.  Herefordshire Rural Hub is part of the network of Rural Hubs covering the West Midlands area and such has representation with all the main agencies and funding bodies. The Hubs give rural businesses the opportunity to communicate their idea and needs directly to those agencies who can assist.

I am currently working with The NFU, CLA & Environment Agency under the banner of the ‘Green Futures’ programme providing support to farming businesses in coming to terms with the cultural change of CAP reform and the ever increasing rules & regulations.

Interests – horses, dogs, sport
Jim Harrison, co-opted Farmer

Jim has been a senior partner for 50 years in a family farming partnership which grew from 12 cows and 100 acres to 1,040 cows and 2,000 acres.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Agricultural Management, of the Royal Agricultural Societies, an honary Nuffield School, secretary to the Dairy Study Group and a Mentor for the Prince's Trust.

In 2002 Jim was presented with the RABDF Princess Anne Award for services to Dairy Farming and in 2004 was a recipient of the Plunkett Foundation Plaque, Milk Group Award, for the most outstanding contribution from a Farmer member.

Kevin Pantling, NFU Representative

Kevin Pantling joined the NFU at the end of March 2005. His responsibilities there include the provision of support to other Head Office departments on matters of taxation policy affecting agriculture and horticulture and the management of the NFU’s own taxation affairs.

Kevin joined Price Waterhouse, Birmingham in 1983. In 1985, he moved into the owner managed business section of the taxation department, where he completed his articles as a chartered accountant. In 1989, he left Price Waterhouse to set up a taxation function at the headquarters of the newly privatised Anglian Water Plc. From 1989 until he joined the NFU, apart from a two year break back with PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Senior Manager in corporate tax compliance, Kevin has continued to work in industry managing the corporation tax, VAT and employer tax affairs of large companies. In two of those organisations, he has also had responsibility for treasury management.

Charlotte O'Kane, Company Secretary

Charlotte joined IAgSA in 1988.