As Executive Secretary, Chris Dodds is the face of the LAA, representing its members and the wider red-meat sector at Governmental, industry and public level. He has been instrumental in the LAA’s concerted efforts during the Coronavirus pandemic, keeping livestock markets open and supporting their essential role within the food supply chain. Chris has been developing the role of the LAA since his appointment in 2002, helping to rejuvenate the industry after the FMD outbreak of 2001. Through his leadership, the LAA robustly supports the role of its members, and the economic and social contribution livestock markets play within their communities across England and Wales.

Zanna joined the LAA in 2020, bringing with her 10 years of experience working within a livestock market, alongside a successful career within the Arts. As development officer, Zanna leads the development of programmes to support the LAA membership, including the MartSafe Training Programme and Next Generation Group. In addition, Zanna supports policy negotiations representing the LAA membership and oversees LAA social media and marketing. In her spare time, Zanna enjoys farming her flock of commercial sheep and training her sheep dog Maddie.

A dairy farmer’s son from Cheshire, Alastair has been in the livestock market industry for over 30 years and is senior auctioneer and manager of Bletsoes’ livestock markets in Thrapston and Stratford-upon-Avon. Alastair was elected to the role of vice chairman in November 2022, and has had a role on the LAA council since 2009.

Keith is a Director and auctioneer at Welshpool Livestock Sales having worked at the market with Morris Marshall and Poole for over 40 years.

He has been a member of the National Council since becoming Chairman of the Welsh Livestock Auctioneers Association in 2017 and went onto be elected as Vice Chairman of the National Council in 2022. Having been brought up on a dairy farm he now keeps sheep and store cattle with his wife Gwenan and their family.

Hereford Livestock Market auctioneer Greg Christopher has also been involved with the Next Generation Group since its formation in 2016 and was elected as Chair chairman in 2022. Greg sells the Store and Breeding Sheep and Store Cattle at Hereford, and since July 2020, also oversees Builth Wells Market in Mid Wales selling the finished lambs, cull ewes and seasonal breeding sheep. Greg also sits on the full LAA council.

Will Alexander is an Auctioneer at Bentham Auction Mart in North Yorkshire. Will completed the LAA Auctioneers course in January 2018 and has been involved with the Next Generation Group since, being elected as Vice Chairman in August 2022. Will heads up the Dairy, Calf, Young Store Cattle & Stirk Sales at Bentham, as well as being involved across all prime and breeding sheep sections.