From Shearing Sheep to Boardrooms - Claire Donovan’s Unconventional Career Journey
Welcome to another episode of The MorePeople Podcast, where we delve into the world of careers in the food, agriculture, and horticulture supply chain, with insight from industry leaders, change-makers, and everyday experts. In this episode, our Managing Director, Richard Hanwell, sits down with the inspiring and ever-insightful Claire Donovan, a technical and ethical expert with a rich career in UK food and farming.
From Cardiff to Crops - Claire’s Start in Agriculture
Claire's career path is far from typical. Raised in a council estate in Cardiff, her life changed when her parents moved to a rural village in the Vale of Glamorgan. That’s where she was introduced to the world of agriculture - not through family ties, but through exposure and a bit of fate.
Dragged along to young farmers’ clubs at the age of 14, Claire soon found herself judging livestock, speaking publicly, and even joining a shearing gang. This led her to study agriculture at Seale-Hayne Agricultural College, with a strong interest in animal science and trials.
"It was a happy accident really, but once I was in, I loved it," says Claire.
From Fields to Food Retail Giants
Claire's technical expertise took her from sheep feeding trials to leading roles in major UK retailers like Tesco, working on vegetables, fruit, and most notably, bagged salads. A role she fell into by knowing just enough at the right interview.
She’s since worked with both retailers and suppliers, gaining a unique perspective on the challenges and pressures faced by both sides of the supply chain.
"Being in a retailer is like being in the front row of a scrum - you're being pushed from both sides," she explains. "Whereas in supply, you feel more like a number eight, pushing one way with your business behind you."
Bridging the Gap: Technical, Commercial & Communication Skills
Claire reflects on how technical professionals are underrepresented at board level, despite their critical role in safeguarding reputation and risk in food businesses.
"We’re naturally risk-averse. We think in terms of what might go wrong - that’s our job. But to reach board level, you need to learn how to balance that mindset with leadership, communication, and commercial acumen."
She also highlights the importance of diversity in boardrooms, especially diversity of thought:
"It's not just about gender or background - it's about lived experience and different ways of thinking that challenge the status quo."
Fighting Modern Slavery: Claire’s Work with EMSON
Claire is also a passionate advocate for ethical trading. As a board member of EMSON (Ethical Modern Slavery Operations Network), she plays a crucial role in combatting modern slavery in UK supply chains.
The work is urgent. Modern slavery isn’t a problem overseas. It’s happening here in the UK, right now, often in plain sight.
"If you're not finding signs of labour abuse or modern slavery, you're probably not looking hard enough," Claire warns. "It's not about individuals 'stealing food', it's about recognising that they may be victims who aren't being fed at home."
EMSON's mission is to enable safe, secure intelligence sharing between businesses to help identify and dismantle the networks behind these crimes.
Listen Now
This episode is a must-listen for anyone in food, farming, retail, or recruitment. Claire’s story is a powerful reminder of how curiosity, grit, and values can shape an extraordinary career and make a real difference along the way.
