Integrate - The Cross Sector Opportunities Conference

What is Integrate?

Integrate is MSD Animal Health UK’s pioneering conference for professionals within the pig, poultry and aquaculture sectors. The event aims to provide a rare opportunity for experts in professions such as veterinary, retail, farming and processing to come together to initiate cross sector learning. We want to help our sectors stay one step ahead at a time of great change for UK agriculture.  

Although these three sectors face their own challenges, there are common hurdles which are shared between them all. There are also similarities across the species meaning there is significant value in having the opportunity to share experiences, and beneficial tools and resources, with others.

Integrate 2021

We were delighted to have launched our first event, Integrate 2021, in November and welcomed over 60 delegates from across the three sectors.  

The conference drew on expertise from speakers outside the industry to uncover new ways of thinking to address the common challenges we face, with three key topics covered:

A creative approach to employment

Presented by Mike Heal, WDAD Communications.

Changing mindsets through psychology

Presented by Dr Zac Baynham-Herd, The Behavioral Insight Team.

These presentations were followed by panel discussions with guests joining us from across the agricultural sector.

Coaching a winning culture

​Presented by Sir Clive Woodward, England rugby player and coach, director of elite performance for the British Olympic Association and founder of Hive Learning.

A creative approach to employment

Mike Heal, managing director of the award-winning agency in recruitment communications and employer branding marketplace, WDAD Communications. Mike’s presentation discussed and gave practical insight on what we can learn from outside of our sector to help improve recruitment and retention within agriculture. He then related these to real life examples from within our sectors.

This session was followed by a panel discussion with:

• Christine Tacon, Director of MDS
• Tracy Bryant-Shaw, Head of Human Resources/Health & Safety at Scottish Sea Farms Ltd.
• Ian Cure, Farm Director at VetPartners

Changing mindsets through psychology

Dr Zac Baynham-Herd, The Behavioural Insight Team. Working in partnership with governments, local authorities and businesses, The Behavioural Insight Team has a magnitude of experience in implementing simple changes to tackle major policy problems. In his presentation, Dr Baynham-Herd discussed how psychological techniques can be used to encourage mindset change surrounding continuing challenges many of us come up against within our team.

This session was followed by a panel discussion with:

• Dr Zac Baynham-Herd, Advisor at The Behavioural Insights Team
• Christine Tacon, Chairman of Assured Food Standards
• Helen Brookes, Senior Behaviour Insights Manager at AHDB
• Sarah Tomlinson, Veterinary Consultant for Kingshay and Technical Director for the TB Advisory Service (TBAS)