Each of the keynote speakers at Cultivate Conference have real, hands-on experience that they want to share with you. Some are specialists in management, leadership and business growth. They’ll be sharing their tips and strategies that help any rural business owner or manager to transform their operations and see instant success. Others are rural business owners themselves who’ve overseen incredible successes in their own business and want to share their stories with you.
Every speaker has been specifically chosen to speak at Cultivate because of the value and insight they can provide to those working in the rural and agricultural sector. They are all focused on helping businesses in our sector to embrace change and reach their full potential.
NIGEL RISNER
Nigel Risner is one of today’s leading high performance enhancing, motivational and communication speakers. He is the only speaker in Europe to have been awarded Speaker of the Year by all major CEO groups including Vistage Academy for Chief Executives and YPO.
Nigel has worked successfully with more than half the FTSE 100 companies, as well as numerous pharmaceutical companies across the globe. In business and industry. Some of his clients include: Pepsi Cola, Compaq, British Airways, Pfizer, Marks and Spencer and Royal Bank of Scotland.
He is the author of The Impact Code which has been translated in more than 10 languages and It’s a zoo Around Here which has been an Amazon No1 best seller many times over the last 20 years.
Nigel has created a unique communication programme and has licensed trainers around the world, sharing the message of ‘How To Be An Effective Zookeeper’.
He is better known as the Chief Zookeeper due to his programme of dealing with the different animals in the workplace.
SARAH DEAN
Sarah is the fourth-generation family member of Noble Foods (originally Deans) that has been operating since 1920. In 2019, she led a family buyback of a 50% share that had been sold in 2006, bringing the business back into 100% family ownership.
Since becoming Chair in May 2022, Sarah has led with Purpose and Culture to ensure Noble Foods is seen as industry-leading in the egg and animal feed industry. She works closely with her executive team focusing on continued growth, whilst staying true to the Company’s core values of animal welfare, sustainability and innovation.
Sarah is also a Councillor for the World Egg Organisation, a Member of the Family Business UK Board and a Judge for the National Women in Agriculture Awards. Alongside this, she is involved with Beeches Group, the investment vehicle of the Dean Family, which has interests in various sectors including a property portfolio and early- stage investment in agri-food technology, whilst also engaging in philanthropic activities.
ELEANOR THATCHER
Thatchers Cider is a family cider making business located at Myrtle Farm in Sandford, Somerset where cider has been made for over four generations. Eleanor is now the fifth-generation cider maker.
Eleanor was born and has grown up at Myrtle Farm, so has farming truly in her blood. Early memories of walking through the apple orchards with her grandfather are held very dear to her. Following a period of working in Australia, Eleanor’s initiation into the cider making business started in 2018. Since then, she has worked throughout the company, gaining valuable experience from the ground up and an in-depth knowledge of every working part of the business, from sales to cider making.
Eleanor’s passion is protecting the environment and ensuring sustainability of the business for future generations. Reducing Thatchers’ carbon footprint and protecting biodiversity is key to Eleanor’s philosophy.
Oli France
Oli inspires audiences with insights on resilience, self-confidence, and leadership. Oli specialises in guiding teams through the world’s wildest places. He has explored over 75 countries, including extreme environments like Iraq’s mountains, the Congolese jungles, and war-torn Aleppo. His decade-long experience includes guiding hundreds of travellers on global adventures, from business leaders and billionaires to CIA officers and terminal cancer patients.
In 2024 Oli became the first person this century to complete a human-powered expedition from Death Valley to Denali, the lowest point in North America to the highest, gaining global media coverage and world-class brand support. He undertook an 8000- mile solo winter trek across Asia, inspiring his book; Trail of the Mountain Folk; He has crossed a 405-mile frozen Siberian lake alone, and is currently embarking on a new world-first global challenge. Facing dangers like spies, minefields, severe illness, interrogations, arrest, and natural disasters, Oli has learned that even in adversity, there’s beauty and strength that can be found. His talks encourage audiences to shift their perspectives on what we think is possible, and describes what it takes to strive towards world-class goals.