Dr Jason Aldiss BEM
Executive Director
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With nearly 30 years of experience as a veterinary professional, Dr Jason Aldiss is a global leader in public health, animal welfare, and sustainable food production systems. A visionary and strategic thinker, Jason has spearheaded transformative initiatives across multiple continents, from managing large-scale veterinary services to advising governments and advancing cutting-edge agricultural technologies.
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Jason's career highlights include serving as President of the Union of European Veterinary Hygienists and formerly co-founding Eville & Jones, the world’s largest provider of outsourced veterinary services. As Executive Director for the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers the UK’s largest post-farm gate meat sector trade body, he represents the interests of the UK meat industry with government and key stakeholders.
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A passionate advocate for innovation, Jason works on integrating AI and machine learning into meat inspection systems, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and compliance. Beyond his professional achievements, he is deeply committed to education, governance, and community, holding leadership roles such as Senior Independent Governor at Leeds Trinity University and Deputy Master of the York Butchers’ Gild.
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Honoured with the British Empire Medal, Jason’s dedication to his field and his pioneering spirit continue to shape the future of veterinary public health and food safety.
For more about Jason’s expertise and initiatives, visit his LinkedIn profile.
Norman Bagley
Head of Policy
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Norman Bagley is the founder and Head of Policy at AIMS. Norman is well known and respected across the industry and within Government and their agencies where he passionately defends the livestock sector whilst promoting positive change to ensure that business run efficiently and safely.
Simon Dawson
Policy Advisor
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Simon joined AIMS in 2020 after retiring early from the FSA in 2019.
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At the FSA he was a senior civil servant whose responsibilities included meat establishment approval and audit teams, contract management and delivery of agency animal welfare strategy. He also led the joint FSA/FSS 2017 review of cutting plants and cold stores, commissioned by Board Chair and CEO and initiated the FSA’s operational transformation programme in 2018.​
Christopher Dickinson
Poultry Sector Adviser
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Chris is a from a mixed farming family from North Cumbria with Beef, sheep, goat poultry and arable enterprises. He spent 7 years at the NFU as national poultry advisor lobbying on behalf of poultry farmers across the UK on key issues such as Avian Influenza, religious slaughter and labelling.
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Over the past 7 years Chris has set up a business supplying goat meat to high end wholesalers and restaurants with plans to add his own ready meals and an on farm Vending Machine. He also has been a critical part of the growth of the UK Wagyu industry.
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Finishing wagyu cattle on the family farm and a Director of the British Wagyu Association and World Wagyu Association. He is also a past recipient of a Henry Plumb scholarship, a OFC inspire programme participant and a judge for Cumbrian Farming awards.
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Chris has an extensive knowledge of the poultry industry through having birds on the family farm for over 20 years and also having the UK dealership for Facco laying poultry equipment, one of the worlds largest equipment companies.
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​Tony Goodger
Head of Marketing & Communications
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Tony began working with AIMS in late 2019 as marketing and communications advisor.
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He has worked in the food industry throughout his career firstly with United Biscuits PLC and then with the Meat and Livestock Commission / Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.
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His main interests are in public procurement of British meat, social media marketing, reducing the impact of the meat industry on the environment and business sales and marketing improvement both in the UK and overseas markets.
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Based in the East Midlands contact Tony with any issues you have. He’ll either have the answer or know someone who does.​
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Peter Hewson
Veterinary Director
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Peter is the Veterinary Director at AIMS.
He joined in 2009 after retiring from the FSA, where he had been a senior civil servant in the meat area since the Agency’s formation in 2000. During that time he was responsible for negotiating the EU Regulations concerning meat hygiene in Brussels, and as a result has an in depth knowledge of those Regulations.
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He is also particularly interested in the Official Controls Regulation, especially those concerning charging. He is happy to assist any member who believes they are being overcharged by the FSA.
Craig Kirby
Head of Technical
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Craig came to AIMS from FSA in 2015 as a veterinary advisor.
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He was Head of Approvals and Veterinary Advice at FSA, and before that, an OV in East Anglia for over 10 years. Originally from South Wales, he is now based in York.
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He’s interested in welfare at slaughter, international trade, and general day to day firefighting on behalf of the members. He has got experience with all species and all types of further processing. He is your first port of call for technical issues. He also does some of the CoC assessments for AIMS.
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Stephen Lomax
Legal Director
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Stephen, a Barrister as well as a Veterinary Surgeon has been heavily involved with AIMS since its creation in 2001. As a veterinary Surgeon his career has spanned large animal practice as well as having a deep and professional interest in Meat hygiene. He is predominantly a countryman as well as being a beef and sheep farmer based in the beautiful border country near Presteigne in Powys.
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His talents and professional ability as both a Barrister and Vet mean that he’s frequently been called as an expert witness and as an advocate to defend the interests of AIMS’ members who’ve fallen foul of The Food Standards Agency. His uncompromising and accurate professional assessment of sometimes complex situations have made him one of the key elements of making AIMS the success it is. His lifetime of involvement in all aspects of the livestock and meat trade make him an invaluable asset while the common sense Lancastrian’s approach he brings to all problems faced by meat processors founded on his long and involved experience of all aspects of the business are unparalleled.
John Thorley OBE FRAgS
Chairman & Independent Director
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John Thorley is an Independent Director and Chairman of AIMS, a position he’s occupied since 2012.
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John was the first CEO of National Sheep Association and was first involved in the organisation in 1968. He became its CEO in 1969 and retired in 2006.
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He was also CEO of National Cattle Breeders Association for 10 years from 1975 to 1985. Following retirement in 2006, he became founding secretary of The Campaign for Wool from 2008 to 2013. Chairman of Beef and Lamb Sector Board of Assured Farm Standards, (Red Tractor) as well as a director of the Main Board 2009-2017. He has been Chairman of The Henry Plumb Foundation (HPF) since 2017. The Foundation was created to help young people get into food and farming organisations by its Patron Lord Plumb former President of NFU and the only Englishman to have been President of the Euro[pean Parliament.
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Awards
OBE. For outstanding services to the livestock in dustry of Great Britain.
FRAgS. Fellowship of The Royal Agricultural Societies. Presented by the UK Council for Awards of The Royal Agricultural Societies for services to the Livestock Industry of UK.