A trio of finalists has been announced for this year’s National Women in Agriculture Awards.
Among them is an academic, while the remaining two are alumni of Harper Adams University in Shropshire.
The shortlisted candidates feature Chloe Gimson, who currently holds a position with Savills in Oxford and earned her BSc Agriculture with Farm Business Management qualification from Harper Adams.
Ms Gimson has earned a place among the contenders for the Rising Star of the Year honour, facing competition from fellow alumna Isla Soutter.
Louisa Dines, serving as principal lecturer and programme leader for agriculture at Harper Adams, has been selected as a finalist in the Training and Education Woman of the Year division.
Ms Gimson remarked that being included among such distinguished women within farming means a great deal, adding that much of her efforts in helping farmers professionally, championing British produce, and informing the public about food originate from her profound enthusiasm for the sector.
Following her graduation in 2021, she joined Savills and has progressed from a graduate post to associate level within the Food and Farming department.
Outside her main job, Ms Gimson remains active in farming through heading the Society of Agriculture Thames Valley Group and serving on the Ladies in Pigs Committee.
Ms Soutter, now working for ABP based close to Ashby de La Zouch in Leicestershire, expressed appreciation for the mentors who shaped her university experience.
She noted that being nominated alongside Louisa Dines, who instructed and guided her during her studies and contributed substantially to her career development, was particularly meaningful.
Since graduating, Ms Soutter has climbed to agriculture manager at ABP, overseeing the company’s gamechanger accounts.
She credits her professional path to Harper Adams.
Ms Soutter stated that Harper Adams marked where her career started, offering her the chances and setting to build her self-assurance and determination.
Ms Dines, located at the university’s Edgmond site, voiced her delight regarding the acknowledgment.
She explained that this honour carries particular significance given that two of the Rising Star candidates are recent Harper Adams graduates she and many university colleagues had the pleasure of teaching. Observing their move into agricultural professions makes teaching deeply rewarding, and seeing them gain award nominations so early in their careers proves remarkable.
Both Ms Gimson and Ms Soutter had earlier been under consideration for the Agricultural Student of the Year accolade during their concluding academic year at Harper Adams.
The National Women in Agriculture Awards presentation is set for London in early May.