Organisation

Ad van Velde is a proud dairy farmer in the Netherlands, a country where many generations of farmers have faced and overcome various challenges related to the dairy business. He developed Hunsingo Dairy, together with his wife Annette, to a successful family dairy operation. A farm that is in harmony with nature, where healthy cows live and have lived for many generations.

As President of Global Dairy Farmers he knows what drives farmers worldwide. Together with the dairy farmers, GDF has been developed into a unique platform. The only worldwide network of dairy farmers. Future-oriented and forward-thinking.

Ad has a lot of experience in the dairy business and is able to practically link changes in regulations and trends happening in society, both locally, nationally and globally, back to day-to-day practices at the farm.

Ad is convinced that cooperation, within the international dairy world, is very important right now. There are so many new developments going on, but also threats and challenges. GDF is the perfect platform to engage with this.

My name is Lidy Brink, born in 1964 in the beautiful region of Twente, the Netherlands. After completing high school, I followed my passion for communication / marketing after graduated from the School of Journalism. I embarked on a career in marketing, and I quickly developed affinity for the technology sector. I have worked as an International Marketing Manager for various large corporations, including Sensata, Malvern Panalytical, Ten Cate Grass, Ascom, and KPN Telecom. I have built an impressive track record in successfully launching high-tech products and services to the market.

While I have gained valuable experience in different industries, I developed a particular fondness for the agricultural sector during my time at Zinpro , especially the dairy industry. I strongly believe in the power of innovation and technology to provide sustainable solutions for the challenges faced by the agricultural industry. My added value in the community of Global Dairy Farmers with industry partners, farmers and science is to connect and facilitate all parties with each of their knowledge, know-how and experiences. I am proud to be part of the GDF Team.

Outside of my professional life, I am a dedicated wife to Gerben, and together we have two university-aged children, Jort and Julia, who bring joy and fulfillment to our lives. We share our home with two cats, adding a touch of coziness to our household.

I am an active and energetic person who enjoys a healthy lifestyle. I love engaging in physical activities such as running, cycling, and working out. I am also passionate about music and enjoy embarking on adventures with our camper.

Overall, I am passionate about my work, committed to my family, and find joy in the simple yet meaningful aspects of life.

As a passionate advocate for sustainable dairy farming and entrepreneurship, I have dedicated my career to these important topics. At Wageningen Economic Research, I primarily work on projects with industry partners to promote sustainability throughout the supply chain.

Since 2006, I have been involved with Global Dairy Farmers, an international network of dairy farmers and related business partners. Together with Bram Prins, I brought the Nuffield program to the Netherlands. The first scholars were selected in 2011, and we have since established a strong network of Nuffield scholars in the country.

As a son of a dairy farmer, I decided to do a bachelor in animal husbandry after secondary school. After this study I worked 18 months for a life insurance company before joining my parents in the dairy farm. For 4 years I was a full time dairy farmer but when one of my brothers also wanted to join I searched for a job, related to agriculture.

I found a position as a researcher at, currently, Wageningen Economic Research where I have been working and still work on a variety of research topics, mainly dealing with business economics of dairy farms. In the meantime I stayed involved in our dairy farm, mainly executing the administrative tasks. At the same time I did a master at Wageningen (agricultural) university and graduated in 1998.

I got involved in Global Dairy Farmers in 2007 on request of Bram Prins, the founder of GDF. I contributed to GDF with some presentations on GDF-congresses, reports concerning congresses and organisational issues. Since some years I am the treasurer of GDF.

Hans Peter Greve, a valued new board member of Global Dairy Farmers (GDF), brings with him a wealth of experience, innovation, and vision on dairy farming. Born and raised on a family farm in northern Germany, Hans Peter, 58, has spent his life dedicated to advancing the dairy industry. 

In 1991, he and his wife Kathrin with their 3 children made the bold move of selling their farm to establish new operations in East Germany, where they have since built an impressive enterprise. Today, they manage 5,000 hectares of farmland and milk 24,000 cows across two locations, with all milk processed through their own dairy company, Landmolkerei Hagenow.

Hans Peter’s commitment to progressive farming is evident in his efficient, large-scale operation and dedication to sustainable practices.

As a board member, he represents innovative farmers who seek to push boundaries and grow the dairy industry’s impact. His goal within GDF is to foster an inclusive community by bringing more farmers into the GDF network, ensuring that they too can benefit from global collaboration and shared knowledge.

Martijn Damsteegt, a committed dairy farmer based in southern Denmark, has been an active member of Global Dairy Farmers (GDF) since 2018.

Alongside his wife, Geeske, Martijn runs their farm with a family-oriented approach, raising their four children, aged 5 to 15. Originally starting their dairy journey in the southwest of the Netherlands in 2007, they emigrated to Denmark in 2014, where they’ve continued to grow their farm with dedication and vision.

Martijn values the opportunities that GDF provides, particularly the high-level congresses with insightful speakers and industry visits that offer deep insights into the dairy sector. These congresses allow him to build an international network and participate in lively discussions on global dairy trends, providing valuable perspectives that he applies to his own business.

Now, as a member of the Farmer Dairy Board, Martijn hopes to encourage more young, entrepreneurial farmers to join GDF.

His goal is to foster a vibrant community where members can inspire, support, and learn from each other, strengthening the future of dairy farming.

Richard is a farmer and dairy entrepreneur from the United Kingdom. Richard farms, alongside his brother, across the south of Scotland and northern England and currently milks around 2450 cows with 1600 youngstock on five separate pasture based dairy units.

Richard is a graduate of The University of Edinburgh, graduating with a BEng(1st) in Civil and Structural Engineering in 2011. Upon graduation he worked on grass based dairy systems in New Zealand’s southern dairy heartland, Canterbury, before returning to the UK to drive forward his family dairy business in 2012.

Global travel is a passion of Richards, and in 2019 Richard completed a Nuffield Farming Scholarship entitled ‘British Dairy Exports: the opportunities and challenges.’

Travelling the world and integrating with like-minded dairy enthusiasts from all corners of the globe led Richard to become a member of Global Dairy Farmers. It is his passion for sharing best practice at farm level and truly global integration at market level that has led to a position on the Global Dairy Farmers board.

Richard is incredibly optimistic about the future of our industry, as the health and wellbeing contribution of dairy to wider society becomes more pronounced at a global level. Dairying should be promoted across the world for its extremely positive nutritional, environmental and economic credentials, and Richard believes that by integrating globally through GDF we can share best practice, learn from each other and tell our positive story to every corner of the globe.

Lars Schilderink grew up immersed in the U.S. dairy industry, building a strong foundation in dairy management and agribusiness. Introduced early to the sector by his father, Laurens, who managed farms in Denmark, the Netherlands, and the U.S.,

Lars remains closely connected to his family roots. Curious about the future of dairy worldwide, he has traveled and worked internationally, gaining hands-on experience in diverse agricultural practices.

Having participated in two GDF Congresses, Lars has engaged with global peers and broadened his perspective.

He now manages one of his family’s dairy farms in Kansas, while exploring opportunities for innovation and growth in dairy production, both domestically and abroad.