2026 Poultry Forum Theatre Programme

1. 10:00
   

   Egg Outlook – helping you plan ahead

   Get the low down from industry experts from different parts of the supply chain, on their predictions for the challenges and opportunities ahead for eggs. Chaired by Aimee Mahony, NFU Chief Poultry Advisor the Outlook forum will provide valuable insight for everyone in the egg sector.

   Speakers:

   Ryan Darkin

   Barney Kay, Agriculture Director, Noble Foods (Wed)

   Nick Allen, Chief Executive, British Egg Industry Council

   Aimee Mahony, Chief Poultry Advisor, NFU (Chair)

   Will Lea, Country Fresh Pullets & NFU Poultry Board (Wed)
2. 11:00
   

   The communications battle – how should the poultry sector respond to activism?

   Can we build trust with consumers through greater transparency and openness and how do we protect people and businesses in the process? Chaired by Chloe Ryan, this session is set to be a very interesting panel discussion, with the views of both communications specialists and producers.

   Speakers:

   Anna Jones, Just Farmers (Thurs)

   Amy Jackson, Oxtale Communications (Wed)

   Chloe Ryan, Editor, Poultry Business (Chair)
3. 12:00
   

   Poultry Meat Outlook – expert insight for the year ahead

   What should you be planning for? Industry experts share their outlooks for the year ahead. Hear what they see as the challenges and opportunities ahead for the poultry meat sector.

   Speakers:

   Sam Drummond (Wed)

   Mark Gorton, Managing Director, Traditional Norfolk Poultry (Wed)

   Ralf Bishop, Premier Nutrition (Chair)

   David Neilson, General Manager - Chicken Agriculture, Avara Foods (Wed)

   Justin Coleman, Poultry Business Unit Director, Pilgrim’s Europe Limited (Thurs)
4. 13:00
   

   Fairness in the egg supply chain – what it means for producers. Plus meeting the environmental challenge – BFREPA

   Hear what fairness in the supply chain will really mean for producers and how it will strengthen BFREPA members’ position in the supply chain. Plus new guidance to help free range producers meet their environmental requirements.

   Speakers:

   Lewis Acred, Senior Policy Adviser, DEFRA

   Sharon Chisholm, Environment Agency

   James Baxter, BFREPA Chairman and Farmer

   Gary Ford, Head of Strategy and Producer Engagement, BFREPA (Chair)
5. 14:00
   

   Avian Influenza – meeting the challenge

   Hear what we have learnt from 2025/2026 season, an update on vaccination and how the egg and poultry sectors can learn to live with AI.

   Speakers:

   Gordon Hickman, Head of Exotic Disease Control, DEFRA

   Tessa Seymour, ABN (Chair)
6. 15:00

   Sustainable farms need sustainable people – Women in Agriculture

   Join the Women in Agriculture network for a panel discussion on how to make sure talent is retained on farm, highlighting the importance of supporting the people who work across pig and poultry production, followed by a casual networking session after with drinks and nibbles’

   Speakers:

   Hannah Cargill, Avara Foods

   Chloe Ryan, Editor, Poultry Business (Chair)