Willie grew up on an upland beef and sheep farm overlooking Glasgow, leaving to study Agriculture at Aberdeen University.
After graduating in 1985, Willie joined leading animal nutrition specialists, Harbro, as animal nutritionist where he worked with many of the most progressive livestock producers in the UK. As the role expanded he forged strong links with many of the UK’s leading research institutes and encouraged a scientific approach to farm decision making. This led to the formation of Innovent Technology, a specialist technology SME focussed on the use of advanced technologies and data analytics to create a new understanding of livestock growth and behaviour. Innovent have led the field in intelligent abattoir data modelling and their award-winning Qscan system uses the latest AI technology to provide automatic reports and alerts to vets and producers.
Willie was founder Chairman of the UK Agri-EPI Centre and was a lead in the 2018 UK-China SmartFarm initiative.
