Celebrating the Women Driving Change at Quality Meat Scotland

At Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), we are proud to have a strong and diverse team of women driving the future of Scotland’s red meat industry. With women comprising 67.4% of our workforce, including our Chief Executive and Chair, we are making great strides towards our goal of establishing Scotland as the premium choice for red meat. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate some of the incredible women who contribute to QMS and the industry each and every day. The 2025 theme for International Women’s Day, 'Accelerating Action,' underscores our commitment to progress in the industry.

Emma McGowan – Genetics Specialist

Emma works on improving animal genetics and making sure farmers and others in the industry understand how genetic research can help them. She has a PhD in the field, and her knowledge is helping to make real improvements in livestock breeding.

She works to identify areas for improvement in the form of genetic projects that can aid the sector in accomplishing its goals for efficiency, profitability and sustainability. Her experience both at a farm level and at a research level help to keep research focused on delivering for agriculture.

Emma focuses on the genetic optimization of the red meat sector to accelerate its ability to achieve sustainability goals while prioritizing continuing to deliver one of the most important public goods; a safe, reliable food supply.

Beth Alexander – Monitor Farm Programme Manager

Beth runs a beef and sheep farm in Perthshire and knows first-hand the challenges and rewards of farming. She studied at Newcastle University and joined QMS in 2019 as a cattle and sheep specialist. Now, she manages the Monitor Farm Programme.

During its 21-year history, the Monitor Farm initiative has led the way in pioneering new approaches, testing fresh ideas, and driving meaningful change. At its core, the programme is about people—never more so than in the current phase. With a ‘Farmer Led, Farmer Driven’ ethos, we remain committed to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing to build a sustainable, thriving future for Scotland’s farming sector.

Our Monitor Farmers take pride in the progress they are making, the challenges they are overcoming, and the future they are shaping—not just for themselves and their families, but for the environment and the wider Scottish farming industry.

As Charles Darwin famously said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” The Monitor Farm Programme develops industry leaders who can recognise opportunities and cultivate a culture where those opportunities can be maximised.

Lucy Ozanne – Industry Strategy and Public Affairs Manager

Lucy makes sure the priorities for the Scottish red meat supply chain are effectively shared with political influencers and policy decision makers. She works to highlight the vital contributions that the sector makes to Scotland’s health, wealth and environment, and the integral part it plays in the fabric of rural communities and local economies.

She also brings key stakeholders from across industry together to identify and realise opportunities for development and progress across the supply chain, as well as mitigating potential risks and threats. These groups provide essential insight into issues as well as recommendations for key strategic focuses to facilitate the development of the supply chain. They enable each element of the supply chain to have representation and for the sector as a whole to speak with one voice, adding weight and strength to key messages.

Lucy is passionate about working in a sector that reaches every part of Scotland and is central to its infrastructure and national security.

Abby Tong – Category Specialist

Abby helps gather and share important information about Scotland’s red meat industry. She makes sure farmers and processors have the facts they need to make good decisions. Abby also helps guide the long-term strategy to improve sales, value, and customer connection with our Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, and Specially Selected Pork brands in both retail and foodservice.

"I enjoy the variety of challenges in the red meat industry, where there are both risks and opportunities. But I also like how simple it is – we all work together, including the important contributions of women in the supply chain, to provide high-quality, premium red meat for consumers."

As a category specialist, Abby uses data to spot trends and help businesses adjust to changing demands. By keeping gender representation in mind when looking at insights and making decisions, we can help make the industry more inclusive and fair for everyone.

These women, along with many others at QMS, are making a real difference in shaping a sustainable, innovative, and thriving industry. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate their achievements and the positive impact they continue to make.