TIAH Chair meets OFC Inspire Programme participants

The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture’s Chair, David Fursdon, met participants of the Oxford Farming Conference Inspire Programme when he gave a guest speech at their away day in London. 

TIAH is sponsoring the Inspire Programme, which supports 18 individuals involved in the rural, food and farming sector, who demonstrate leadership potential and have never attended the Oxford Farming Conference before. Inspire provides them with a bursary to enable them to attend the event from 5 to 7 January 2022. 

David’s talk to the delegates covered his career in farming to date, and TIAH’s aims and ambitions as agriculture and horticulture’s home of skills, careers and professionalism. 

David said: “It was a pleasure to meet the OFC Inspire delegates, each of whom is very enthusiastic about developing their own skills and experiences in farming and growing, as well as about supporting a thriving industry. TIAH’s values are very closely aligned with those of the OFC Inspire Programme, in that our activities are built upon the ethos of professionalism and personal development, so we are very pleased to be lending our support to the programme. I look forward to meeting the delegates again at the conference next month.” 

OFC Director and Inspire Programme leader, Emily Norton, said: We’re thrilled that David joined us to share his knowledge with our Inspire delegates. Stepping out of your comfort zone to attend something like the Oxford Farming Conference is essential for personal development, and the support TIAH is offering our delegates is transformational in enabling them to start their journeys and to learn from those who have gone before.  

The away day took place at The Farmers Club on 2 December. The delegates also enjoyed a tour of the US Embassy. 

More information about TIAH can be found at www.tiah.org.