Mary is a director of Dorwest Herbs based in two villages near Bridport in rural Dorset. 

This is a family business, established in 1948, that has been manufacturing licensed veterinary herbal medicines and dietary supplements for over 60 years. It specialises in products for the companion animal market and employs 14 people.  

Mary took over the running of the company in 1968 when it was virtually a “one man band”, having been run by her parents for the previous 20 years. 

She ran it along with her husband, Tony, building it up into the leading and authoritative company on complementary veterinary treatments whose products are available in over 20 countries worldwide. 

In recent years their children Joanna and Roly took over the management of the company, taking it forward to the third generation, although Mary is still has responsibilities within the company for quality control and assurance issues involving medicines legislation and regulatory affairs

She is a board member of National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), the trade association for the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, and chairs NOAH’s Companion Animal Sub-Committee, an active committee that supports responsible pet ownership by organising National Pet Month each year, the Pet Event held in Parliament every two years and which is also responsible for the independent Pet Health Information website www.pethealthinfo.org.uk and the “I Heart My Pet” campaign.

Mary lectures to veterinary practices and veterinary associations in the UK and overseas and has written articles for pet magazines and veterinary publications on matters relating to the use of herbal medicines and alternative therapies for companion animals. Her book “Herbal Medicines for Dogs” was published in 2004.

Outside of her work based activities Mary has also been a champion for small businesses, particularly those in rural areas.  She has been active within Federation of Small Businesses for over 20 years, having until recently chaired their Health, Safety and Risk Management Policy Unit for over 9 years as well as the Department of Work & Pensions Health, Work & Well-being Stakeholder’s Employers Group, and the expert advisory group that has been instrumental in the formation of DWP’s new Health & Work Service which will be launched this Autumn. 

She has been lucky enough to meet, and be consulted by, the current and previous Prime Ministers and various other government Ministers and Secretaries of State where she has been an advocate for the small and growing businesses that are important to our economy. 

Mary has always had a particular interest in staff training in businesses, and currently sits on the Dorset Employment & Skills Board where she represents the rural business community.  She is still an active member of the Federation of Small Businesses in Wessex and somehow manages to fit this all in with work and helping to take care of her four grandchildren when needed.

She was awarded an MBE for services to business and the community in 2005, has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts since 2006 and of the Royal Society of Medicine since 2010.