An honours graduate in Botany Madge began her career as a hybrid wheat breeder at Nickersons in Lincolnshire before moving to New Zealand to run a mixed arable and livestock farm with her husband. Whilst in New Zealand she developed various export initiatives whilst also conducting out of season plant multiplications for several UK breeding companies.
On returning to the UK Madge held a national director’s role with Lantra, the sector skills council for the environmental and land based industries. Work involved engaging with government, economic development organisations, trade, education and professional organisations in the land based sector.
In her current capacity Madge chairs both the Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network and Grow Yorkshire with the remit to improve the economic performance and sustainability of the agricultural and rural sector across Yorkshire.
