Rathfriland woman elected chair of Lakeland Dairies committee

At the August Lakeland Dairies Regional Committee meeting held in Co Armagh, Elaine Weir, was elected the new chairperson of the Regional Committee for Electoral Area D. At the same meeting, Robert Martin was elected vice-chair of the same electoral area.

The Regional Committees are an important connection between the Lakeland Dairies board and local members of the co-operative.

After her successful election day, Elaine, who farms alongside her husband Nigel in Rathfriland, spoke with enthusiasm about her decision to put herself forward for the committee.

“I have always taken an interest in Lakeland Dairies and what goes on behind the scenes, because our livelihood depends so much on it. I didn’t get involved in the committee with the intention of becoming chairperson, but once I started attending meetings, I noticed the sheer lack of female representation and knew something needed to change.”

Encouraging other Lakeland Dairies female shareholders to join their regional committee, Elaine’s passion for a gender balanced co-operative structure is evident.

“This isn’t for me. It’s for other female farmers looking in from the outside. I put myself forward in the hope that I might encourage more women to get involved. And they should. That is the most important message from me.”

Elaine’s election comes as Lakeland Dairies shareholders voted in favour of rule changes at a recent SGM. The vote incorporated the adoption of a number of changes to the co-op’s rule book, including promotion of diverse membership and governance participation, and updating the language used in the rules to reflect a modern society e.g., Chairperson replacing Chairman.