2025 Women in Dairy award finalists announced
25th August 2025
Claire Whittle, Jane Barnes and Judy Dilks have been shortlisted for the Dairy Industry Woman of the Year award 2025. The award celebrates the achievements of women in the dairy sector, recognising individuals who demonstrate the Women in Dairy values of connect, share, and inspire others.
The winner will be announced on 17th September at the Women in Dairy Conference at Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth.
Laura Barber from RABDF, who helped shortlist this year’s entries, said that the quality of nominations this year was “exceptional”.
“Each of the finalists is an ambassador for our industry, beating the drum for dairying on both a national and local level,” she added.
The three finalists were chosen by the Women in Dairy Steering Committee and will undergo an interview round in September ahead of the winner being revealed.
The 2025 finalists
Claire Whittle from North Wales combines her work as a practising vet with farming and consultancy, championing regenerative agriculture and ecosystem health. From social media posts to dung beetle safaris and webinars, she connects with farmers nationwide, sharing her expertise and inspiring positive change in dairy farming.
Jane Barnes from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire runs Farmer Barnes Dairy with her husband and son, producing milk for Stilton cheese while welcoming thousands of visitors to the farm. She shares her knowledge through farm tours, talks, and workshops, inspiring the next generation and acting as a passionate ambassador for the dairy industry.
Judy Dilks from Hassop in Derbyshire runs Simply Milk Organic. She combines calm leadership with a focus on sustainability, animal welfare, and education. Judy connects with the community through school visits, farm tours, and Open Farm Sunday events, sharing knowledge and inspiring both young farmers and the wider public.
This year’s Women in Dairy Conference, sponsored by HSBC and Smaxtec, features a packed agenda of motivational speakers. Highlights include vet Hannah Batty who will be sharing insights from her Nuffield travels and exploring how understanding different personalities can drive positive change on farms and within the wider workforce.
Other speakers include social media influencer Rebecca Wilson, broadcaster and former international event rider Alice Plunkett, Nuffield Scholar Liz Haines, Andy Hipwell from HSBC UK and Aisling Downey from Smaxtec.
The conference also features a panel discussion, Moo-ving in the Right Direction on Labour, with panellists Kate Robinson (Harper Adams University), Becca Cavill (Boehringer Ingelheim), Stevie Edge-McKee (Farms for City Children), and Grace Nugent (De Lacy Executive).
The event offers excellent networking opportunities, with refreshments and lunch provided. Tickets cost £70 (+VAT and booking fee), with discounts available for groups, students, NFYFC members, and a 25% discount for Women in Dairy members. More information is available here.
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