Meet the Team

TB Champions

  • Hi, I’m Sam, an Approved Tuberculin Tester (ATT) and TB Champion. I know a positive skin test can be a real blow, so I’m here to offer clear, practical guidance on testing and paperwork, plus a confidential, listening ear when things feel tough. If you’d like support, I’m happy to talk.

    Outside of work, you’ll usually find me walking my dogs, helping on a friend’s farm, watching rugby, or getting lost in a good book when given the chance!

  • I’m passionate about supporting our rural communities and helping farmers navigate the challenges that come with bovine TB. Alongside being a TB Champion, I work in the legal and financial sector while raising my two young children on Dartmoor. I understand the pressures that animal health issues can place on both businesses and families.

    My interest in bovine TB comes from growing up with an agricultural background and having family and friends within the farming community. I’ve seen firsthand the emotional and financial impact bTB can have, which is why I’m keen to help farmers feel supported, informed, and less isolated during difficult periods.

    The main areas I hope to support farmers with are offering practical guidance and signposting support for their businesses, while helping to build confidence around testing and restrictions. I want to be someone farmers can talk to openly and honestly, while helping connect them with the right information and support networks.

  • We have a Family Farm Beef and Sheep near Dartmoor, i also work for a local Vet Practice as TB Admin and also do audits on farm for a well know scheme. Im my spare time which is very little! I enjoy spending time with my children, showing my sheep at shows and riding my horses. I also volunteer for FCN and hold Framers Breakfast/Sunday Roast in the local area.

    I have gained knowledge and also first-hand experience of TB Breakdowns through my job and personal on our own farm and i can relate to farmers and understand how heart breaking TB is. I can offer supports and guidance but also help our farmer engage with different organisation to improve their own know around TB as well.

  • I’m a farmer in South Devon, primarily cattle and sheep. Rearing calves on contract and running stock on haytor, I have also worked for 2.5 years as an ATT for Southmoor farm vets. Vast experience of TB and breakdowns  from a personal perspective and also through my work at Southmoor. I was also part of the original group to try and facilitate a cull in our area. I can relate to farmers having gone through the trials and heartaches of TB, with also having gone down again recently.

    I am able to offer advice and support to enable farmers to address the problem and hopefully guide them through using my personal experience and knowledge I have gained over the years.

    In my spare time I enjoy showing my sheep and riding my horse to check our cattle on the moor! 

  • I am known locally as the 'turkey lady', as our family rear 8,000 organic Christmas turkeys. This is part of our agri-business covering 1,000 rented acres across Dartmoor on different sites. We run 85 suckler cows with a herd of Dartmoor ponies, which are both involved in agri-environmental schemes. 

    I have experienced TB breakdowns on our farm over the last 40 yrs and through my other work as a farm business advisor. It can be devastating both emotionally and financially. 

    As a TB Champion I can help with advice and support for families, through the often challenging, confusing tangle of paperwork and potential options to go forward. 

    I am straightforward, patient & bring experience and professionalism. 

    As well as being busy as a granny, I am involved in running Chagford outdoor Pool. A great place to come and relax. 

  • I run a mixed farm with my husband, alongside a campsite and a wedding barn venue & I taxi my children to their various netball and rugby fixtures!

    We have experienced bovine TB on our own farm, so I understand first-hand the stress, uncertainty, and disruption it brings. Going through the process has given me practical insight into testing, restrictions, and the impact on both the business and personal wellbeing. This experience has motivated me to support others facing similar challenges.

    I would particularly like to help farmers navigate the often complex and overwhelming paperwork and processes associated with bovine TB. Having been through it myself, I know how confusing it can be. I hope to make things clearer and less stressful for others, while also offering reassurance, sharing experiences, and helping them feel supported throughout their TB journey.

  • I am a keen rugby fan! I follow Exeter chiefs, I enjoy live music and being out and about with my dogs, especially working them in the winter months! 

    I am an ATT at present and in previous jobs worked within the animal vaccine/disease control establishment. I have always had an interest in TB and farm animal disease and looking into dealing with the cause and helping control it! 

    I can help with the day to day of TB control as I work very closely with farms and the on the ground situations, from housing and advice on herd management and stock control, with heredity and stress management too! 

  • I am a beef farmer’s daughter on the South Devon coast where we have a pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd. I have worked as a TB tester and Vet Technician for the last 3 years covering the whole of Devon seeing the broad range of farms and set ups across the county. The family farm has been down with TB in the past and having seen first-hand, I know how it feels for farmers to be losing their animals and the devastating knock on effect it can have. I have a passion to help famers understand where their breakdown may have come from and how best to manage it, to help them.

    When not farming or TB testing, I can be found scuba diving in the UK and abroad or doing sports, especially netball and CrossFit. I have also been competing in the Farmers Weekly Britain’s Fittest Farmer competition this year.

  • Born on a pedigree British Friesian dairy farm near Plympton, my passion for livestock and farming began at an early age and remains at the heart of everything I do.

    After studying at Seale Hayne, I spent 10 years working as a herdsperson across the UK and Europe, a role I thoroughly enjoyed. For the past 21 years, alongside raising my daughter and building our small farm and home, I have worked full-time in farm supplies as an on-farm generalist representative. I gain great satisfaction from helping farmers, sharing knowledge and learning from both customers and colleagues.

    I am particularly passionate about animal health and believe that “every day is a school day.” I enjoy helping farmers find practical, cost-effective solutions by focusing on the small details, making the best use of existing resources and refining management practices to achieve better outcomes.

    Farmer engagement is a key part of my role. Through markets, shows and seasonal displays at Exeter Market, I help raise awareness of farm safety and mental wellbeing, supporting initiatives such as Yellow Wellies, The Farming Community Network (FCN) and Lens Light. Over the years I have also helped many farmers access support when they needed it most.

    My farming journey has included both rewarding and challenging experiences, including first-hand experience of TB and Foot-and-Mouth Disease and their lasting impacts on farming families.

    As part of the TB Champions initiative, I hope to use my experience, empathy and industry connections to support farmer engagement, encourage access to support and help farms navigate the challenges they face.

  • I’m a lover of all things outdoors, whether that’s running, hiking, paddleboarding or spending time with my animals. When I’m not out on the trails, you’ll usually find me walking my dog or at the yard with my horse. Anything to do with the outdoors - I’ll be there!

    Coming from a non‑agricultural background, bovine TB wasn’t something I’d ever really encountered before. Since joining the NFU TB Team, I’ve seen first‑hand just how challenging and emotionally draining a TB breakdown can be for farmers. It’s given me a real appreciation for the pressures they face and the resilience they continue to show throughout the process.

    Farmers don’t always need an answer or solution immediately - sometimes what makes the biggest difference is having someone who will listen and stand alongside them when they need it most. I’d like to offer this kind of support to anyone who needs it. I’m also a dab hand at making a good tea or coffee – and we all know a good brew can solve almost everything!

  • Aside from my work with TB Champions, I’m an organic dairy farmer in South Dartmoor, a sports massage therapist, and a police officer — I like to keep busy!

    When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, walking my dog Finnegan with a decent coffee in hand, and keeping active through basketball, rowing, and cycling.

    Like so many farming families in Devon, we have experienced our fair share of TB breakdowns over the years. Most recently, however, we endured a breakdown that lasted three and a half years, during which we lost 131 cattle. It was heartbreaking.

    Throughout that difficult period, I made a conscious decision to get into the right headspace and become as informed as possible about our TB situation. I was fortunate to have a mentor who supported me both emotionally and educationally. By fully understanding the disease, the regulations, and the processes involved, I was able to engage more effectively in tackling TB on our farm and regain a sense of control during an incredibly challenging time.

    That experience shaped my determination to ensure that no farming family has to face bovine TB alone, which ultimately led to the creation of TB Champions CIC, modelled on the mentorship and support which helped turn our own breakdown around.

    The area I am most passionate about is helping farmers overcome the feelings of isolation, helplessness, and confusion that often accompany a TB breakdown. I want to provide a shoulder to lean on and a trusted source of support and guidance, helping families navigate the complexities of the system, make informed decisions, and reduce unnecessary stress during what can be an incredibly difficult time.

  • I have been working as an ATT since 2019, alongside running a pedigree beef shorthorn herd with my husband in West Devon.

    I have a vast experience of the effects of a TB breakdown both on a personal note and professionally.

    I would like to be able to guide farmers through their difficult times through my knowledge and experience.

    In my spare time I love going on long walks with my three Labradors, relief milking, cold water swimming, running and watch Plymouth argyle football. 

TB Experts

  • I am a farm veterinary surgeon with over 25 years’ experience working alongside livestock farmers and currently Lead Veterinary Science Expert at AHDB and Technical Director of the TB Advisory Service (TBAS). I am an RABDF (Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers) trustee and a board member of the NBA (national Beef Association)

    Throughout my career, I have been passionate about helping farmers prevent disease and build resilient, sustainable businesses. In recent years, I have focused on bovine TB (bTB), one of the most complex challenges facing the cattle industry, bringing together science, practical advice and collaboration across farmers, vets, industry and government.

    But what drives me most is the people. I have seen first-hand the emotional and financial toll bTB takes on farming families, the uncertainty, the restrictions and the daily pressure of living with the disease. I have spoken all too often to farmers like Emily and felt unable to help as much as I would want. That is why I am 100% behind what the TB Champions are trying to do.

    Outside of work, I’m a mum of three children and we have two chocolate labradors. I spend a lot of time supporting my children at their many sporting events, but this time allows me to reflect on why I do what I do, to help farmers take back bTB control and deal with breakdowns with more confidence.

Mental Health Support

  • I am a Chartered Counselling Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), a fully qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT), an accredited member of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP), and an EMDR therapist. These qualifications reflect my commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based psychological care.

    People come to therapy for many different reasons. Some wish to explore difficult emotions or experiences, while others seek a dedicated space for reflection, personal growth, and self-understanding. Whatever brings you to therapy, I offer a safe, compassionate, and non-judgemental environment where we can work together towards your goals.

    My clinical experience has been gained primarily within NHS mental health services, supporting adults experiencing a wide range of psychological difficulties. These include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, relationship difficulties, and emotional distress. I work integratively, drawing on different therapeutic approaches to meet your individual needs, and I use diagnostic labels thoughtfully to avoid unnecessarily medicalising human distress.

    Recognising that you are struggling and reaching out for support can be an important first step. My role is to listen openly, understand your experiences, and help you develop meaningful ways forward.

    I also have specialist experience supporting men, including farmers, who experience suicidal thoughts and emotional difficulties. As a member of a farming community, I understand some of the unique pressures faced by farmers and their families. My recent research, Walking and Talking with Male Farmers About Suicidal Feelings: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, explored these experiences in depth.

    I work with adults aged 18 and over experiencing stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, PTSD, self-harm, bereavement, addiction, relationship and family difficulties, dissociation, low confidence, and other emotional and psychological challenges.

  • I am a counsellor working in private practice, offering in-person sessions from my home near Ashburton on Dartmoor, as well as remotely via online and telephone appointments.

    Since 2021, I have supported members of the farming community through my work with the RABI scheme, developing a strong understanding of the unique challenges faced within this sector. To further deepen my knowledge, I have completed TB Champions training, enhancing my awareness of the impact of bovine TB on farmers and their wellbeing.

    Alongside my counselling work, I am a qualified Mental Health First Aid trainer and have been delivering training to the farming community since 2022.

    Living on a farm myself, while not a farmer, I have gained valuable insight into the realities of rural and agricultural life. This, combined with my professional experience, allows me to offer a compassionate, informed, and non-judgemental space for those I work with.

Digital Team

  • I’m a freelance web designer and also work as a photographic retoucher for an online sports retailer. Design and imagery have always been a real passion of mine, and being able to combine the two to create visually engaging, user-friendly websites is what I love most.

    In my free time, you’ll usually find me out walking with my Shih Tzu, Maze, exploring the river on my paddleboard, spending time with friends and family, or relaxing on the beach after work.

    Working with Emily on the TB Champions website has been a fantastic opportunity to learn more about bovine TB, the challenges it presents to the farming community, and the vital work TB Champions does to support those affected.