The Team

Our team is a unique mixture of skills, from theoretical and practical farming to industry based, designing of the Channel Tunnel.

Chris Clark

Chris is a Partner in Nethergill Associates (NA), a business management consultancy currently assisting with the conjecturing and management of future farming uncertainties in all four countries within the UK as well as overseas.

He and his NA team, as of February 2024 have analysed over 250 farms with many more contracted this year. With all these farms he has calculated their individual MSO, advised them how to move their business towards Maximum Sustainable Output (MSO) and hence achieve maximum profitability without compromising nature.

He is co-author of The Less is More report commissioned by the RSPB, National Trust and Wildlife Trust.

Following a formal agricultural education at Seale Hayne College in Devon he became a farm manager, farm tenant and business advisor. Chris now has thirty years of business management experience.

Previously he owned and managed Nethergill Farm for 15 years, with his wife Fiona in the Yorkshire Dales. They built an eco-hill farm business with a sustainable added-value meat activity, an educational and field study facility and eco-tourism holiday lets. The concept of MSO was developed here.

They moved to the South West in 2020 to Exeridge Farm, Oakfordbridge, Devon to be closer to family, a new challenge involving ancient woodland and hay meadow restoration and creation of wildlife ponds. Many more individual farmers and groups of farmers are adopting the MSO principles now and work continues apace.

Past Chairman of the Yorkshire Dales Farmer Network and Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) (England). He is now a member of the NFFN Steering Group Committee and works with them to help move farmers towards MSO. He is frequently asked to speak at conferences and webinars and has more recently run workshops for farmer groups countrywide.

Brian Scanlon

After degrees in Physics and Operations Research, Brian joined British Steel Corporation in the corporate planning function and then became Development Manager responsible for global logistics. Subsequently he spent over ten years as a management consultant with AT Kearney where he became responsible for the Strategy and Marketing practice in the UK before joining Costain Group as Marketing Director. His work at Costain included heading its new Ventures Division which took equity positions in major projects around the world.

Over the past 20 years or so, Brian has run his own company as a vehicle to undertake consultancy and project development work where he has served over 70 companies across most sectors of the economy in the ﬁelds of strategy development, marketing, logistics, operational improvements, and new venture development. He has held, and still holds, a number of positions as Chairman, CEO or NED of fast growth SMEs. More recently, Brian moved to a client and became Vice President of Treasury Services with JP Morgan Chase Bank, the largest clearer of US$ funds in the world. Brian is co-author with Chris of The Less is More report.

Fiona Clark

Fiona owned and managed Nethergill Farm with Chris, and was involved with the day to day running of Nethergill Associates, Nethergill self catering and field study facility.

Fiona followed a formal agricultural education with Chris before re training in Graphic Design and setting up a design business servicing SMEs with logo and design solutions to further their businesses. Fiona acts as a sounding board to Nethergill Associates helping to communicate some of the more far reaching concepts in and around farming issues.

Inspired by the stunning hill landscapes and wildlife Fiona paints in all types of medium, exhibiting and selling her work on line and locally. For samples of her work please visit www.artbyfiona.co.uk or email - Fiona.clark@nethergillassoc.co.uk

Becky Hoare

Becky is from an agricultural background, having grown up in a farming family. She has a Communications degree and now helps Nethergill Associates with website management and communications on a part-time basis, alongside managing a Landscaping Business in Hampshire and Oxfordshire.

Clare Fynn

Clare started her working life in the Press Office for The Savoy Group, London. She currently divides her time between running a successful events and wedding business, as well as supporting businesses, such as Nethergill Associates, with many aspects of business administration. She is pivotal in ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the business and is an integral part of the team.

Elizabeth Stock

Elizabeth (Lizzie) owns and runs her own business The Devon Bookkeeper and helps manage all aspects of the bookkeeping at Nethergill Associates. She brings a wealth of experience and is a member of the nation's largest bookkeeping professional body, the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. She is an invaluable asset to Nethergill Associates and we are very pleased to have her onboard.