Cookie Consent by TermsFeed
Michael Mack - The Rural Consultant image

With a foundation as a trained agricultural economist and over twenty five years of experience, I specialise in guiding businesses, families, and charitable organisations through complex challenges. As an independent consultant, I work collaboratively to develop strategies that add real value, whether diversifying income streams, addressing family dynamics, planning for succession, or securing critical grant funding.


My clients include respected names such as the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, the Department for Education, A D Harvey, World Wildlife Fund and the Prince's Charitable Trust. A recipient of the prestigious Nuffield Farming Scholarship, I had the opportunity to explore cutting-edge systems and processes for the next generation of farmers, further enhancing my insights. While I operate independently, I benefit from the expertise of the Anglia Rural Consultants network.


Since 2019, I have served as CEO of The Family Mediation Trust, leading the charity through a merger, navigating Covid-19, and addressing the cost-of-living crisis. Under my leadership, the trust has supported a growing number of clients each year, improved staff conditions, and consistently delivered a surplus. In 2024, The Family Mediation Trust was recognized as the Legal Aid Provider of the Year, a testament to our commitment to accessible and impactful services.


My dedication extends to advocacy and governance. I chair the Family Mediation Legal Aid Action Group, working to protect legal aid for low-income families, and sit on the Legal Services Board Consumer Panel. I am also the founding member of the Succession Alliance, fostering collaboration among UK experts in succession planning.


Outside consultancy, I’ve served as a magistrate for over 19 years, contributed to the Family Mediation Standards Board, and acted as a trustee for the Norfolk Viking Foundation.

The Succession Alliance
I founded and chair The Succession Alliance, a UK-wide, not-for-profit partnership that gives farm succession a unified voice.

The Alliance doesn't work directly with families. It supports a network of independent succession experts (facilitators, coaches, consultants and mediators) who do, and it champions an approach to succession that looks after the family and the individuals as well as the business and the tax position.

Its work includes a free resource library of blogs, research and Succession TV videos, workshops for farming businesses and support organisations, talks at conferences and events across the UK, and a directory of trusted succession experts.

The Alliance is a partner of the CLA, offering CLA members specialist mediation for the difficult conversations around land, property and business succession.

As Chair I host the International Succession Symposium, bringing together practitioners, researchers and farmers from the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. The second symposium is provisionally set for 27 January 2027.

Find out more at successionalliance.com, or get in touch with me directly.