The Board
The IMTA Board represents a cross-section of our members, including associate and affiliate members. The Board is responsible for steering and overseeing IMTA’s work, approving membership applications, and making important policy decisions. As well as trading companies on the board, there are also 3 spaces on the IMTA board for associate and affiliate members to represent the wider supply chain
The Board is chaired by Dr Margaret Boanas, who was elected in 2015. In 2025, board members, Steve Davies and James Parsons became deputy Chairmen of IMTA.
Dr Margaret Boanas DSc (h.c.)
Margaret has been Chairman of IMTA since 2015 and had been an active board member for many years before that. Margaret leads the IMTA board, ensuring good governance of the association and also represents IMTA at high-level events.
Having spent an exciting and varied career of over 40 years in the meat sector, Margaret provides invaluable insight to IMTA on the practicalities of the trade. Through her involvement in UECBV she has met European Commissioners, as well as Ministers and Ambassadors from across the world, building bridges between the UK meat trade sector and our international partners. As well as her role at IMTA, Margaret was Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers in 2021-22 and has served on the Board of UECBV. Margaret values good communication and often reminds policy makers to remember the person at the coalface when making decisions and striking deals that will affect the meat sector.
In 2020 Margaret was awarded the Women In Meat Industry Award in the Trade Body Category as well as the overall Meat Business Woman of the Year Award. In 2023 Margaret was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by Harper Adams University in recognition of her commitment to the meat sector and to education.
Steve Davies
- Phone:
- +44 (0) 207 236 1552
- Website:
- twocountiesfoods.co.uk/
James Parsons
- Phone:
- +44 (0) 20 8498 6750
- Website:
- www.gpsfoodgroup.com/
IMTA Board Members
Soraya Karimi-Ghovanlou
- Phone:
- 01603 252 400
- Website:
- smithfieldfoods.co.uk/
