Meat Business Women Expands Team with New Partnerships Director and Committee Members
Meat Business Women - the leading global community for women working across the meat and food supply chain - has announced the appointment of Harriet Wilson as the new Partnerships Director. Wilson is joined by three new UK & Ireland committee members, Jodie Bolland, Rebecca Gilligan, and Andrea Jex.
The appointments are central to Meat Business Women's commitment to driving positive transformation across the sector while strengthening its position as a premier platform for industry professionals across the globe.
Wilson will play a pivotal role in driving Meat Business Women’s overarching strategy with a particular focus on strengthening collaboration and enhancing engagement with corporate partners.
With an established career at McDonald’s, ALDI, and Co-op Food, Wilson brings valuable experience and strategic insight to her new role. As a former recipient of the Meat Business Women ‘One to Watch’ Award in 2018 and involvement with Meat Business Women’s UK&I committee since 2020, Wilson is passionate about the strategic aims of the organisation.
Laura Ryan, global chair of Meat Business Women, says: “Harriet’s profound commitment to driving meaningful change is seamlessly aligned with Meat Business Women’s vision. She will oversee the continued delivery of value and support to partners existing and new, whilst serving as a catalyst for ensuring the sustainability of the sector as a whole. We are thrilled to have her on board.”
Wilson says: ”I have always been passionate about the meat industry, it’s a big part of my heritage. But my drive comes from helping others to succeed. So, I’m delighted to be joining Meat Business Women which enables me to play a key role in helping to attract, develop and retain the best talent in the sector.”
Meat Business Women already empowers women across 4 global territories across the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand through networking and personal development opportunities. And Wilson has high ambitions for future growth of the organisation.
“I am fervent about helping more people to thrive in their careers by having access to the amazing opportunities available through our membership. So, I’m ambitious about how we develop our partnerships, the opportunities we can offer and how we can grow globally.”
New committee members
Jodie Bolland, Head of Livestock and External Sales at Morrisons, has over a decade of experience across the meat manufacturing and retail sectors. As the recipient of the Meat Business Women 'One to Watch' Award in 2019, she is a valuable addition to the committee. Bolland thrives on making a difference and will do exactly that as the representative for young Meat Business Women members based in the UK.
Rebecca Gilligan, winner of the Meat Business Women 'One to Watch' Award in 2022 is currently serving as Assistant Boning Hall Manager at ABP Slaney, Ireland. She brings a unique perspective to the committee from a diverse background in veterinary nursing and lean management. Her dedication to continuous improvement and empowering women is the perfect match for Meat Business Women. Gilligan’s role will be to represent young members based in Ireland.
Andrea Jex, Procurement Director at Hilton Foods, joins the committee with over three decades of experience in food procurement. With a passion for packaging innovation and sustainability, her active engagement in related global initiatives is testament to her determination to drive meaningful change. Her area of focus on the Meat Business Women committee is business development.
The collective wealth of expertise that Harriet, Jodie, Rebecca and Andrea bring marks a significant enhancement in Meat Business Women’s commitment to delivering unmatched value and sustainable change to members, partners, and the broader meat industry.
Laura Ryan says: "These dynamic additions to our team will significantly enhance Meat Business Women's impact in the UK & Ireland and beyond as we look to a future where the entire meat and food supply chain not only attracts, but retains the best female talent".
For more information about Meat Business Women and its initiatives, please visit www.meatbusinesswomen.org.
