The Pastoral team is a diverse global group of precision farming engineers, designers, and livestock specialists who build solutions that drive impact for-good and for-profit.

Josh Thomas, an adventurer, engineer, and civic technologist, brings over 15 years of cross-industry experience as CEO & Co-Founder of Pastoral. Winner of the UNDP 'Global Innovator' award in 2020, Josh's leadership is rooted in his dedication to building entrepreneurial ventures and innovative tools, including award-winning IoT solutions that combat global challenges. His passion for embracing change drives Pastoral's commitment to sustainability and innovation in agriculture.

Shea McManigal is Pastoral's, Chief Financial Officer & Co-Founder, leveraging his wide-ranging experience in international finance, venture capital, and business strategy. With a background working in Big 4 Accounting across Seattle, London, and Hong Kong, Shea focuses on clients in the technology, life science, and manufacturing sectors. His expertise in handling complex accounting and reporting issues, exceptional mentorship and advocacy for marginalised groups make him a trusted and inclusive leader within the company.

Helen Hollyman brings her unique blend of culinary creativity and passion for sustainability to her role as Director of Product Innovation at Pastoral. As the founding Editor in Chief of MUNCHIES and a former Editor in Chief of Thrillist, she has a proven track record of cutting-edge storytelling and brand strategy. Helen left Vox Media in 2022 to innovate in the food system, focusing on regenerative farming and circularity. Her extensive experience as a writer, editor, podcast host, and strategist, combined with her background as a chef and truffle dealer, enriches Pastoral's pursuit of regenerative farming solutions. Her focus is on creating a more sustainable and profitable future for farmers.

Danny Kaibulaiev brings strategic and resourceful leadership to Pastoral, emphasising the importance of soft skills and communication over hard skills. Passionate about creating a motivating atmosphere, he leverages his extensive experience in various working methodologies to build world-class products. He believes in tailored approaches, enjoys learning new things, and shares valuable experiences with the team.

Nina Maksymova specialises in crafting intuitive and visually appealing interfaces that fulfil user needs and business objectives. Working across diverse industries, including investment, finance, and healthcare, she produces high-quality designs that exceed expectations. Driven by her passion for the latest design trends and technologies, Nina's expertise at Pastoral encompasses designing web, mobile apps, and desktop platforms. Her extensive portfolio illustrates her ability to create exceptional designs that align with business goals, making her a valuable asset to the company's pursuit of innovative and engaging user experiences.

Elena Lebedenko brings a determined and quality-focused mindset to her role as a QA Tester at Pastoral. With a background in requirements testing, smoke and regression checklists design, test documentation maintenance, and bug reporting, she contributes positively to the team's goals. Colleagues recognise her as a positive team player with good communication skills, committed to continuous learning and professional growth. Her diligent approach ensures that Pastoral's software meets the highest standards, aligning with the company's mission of sustainability and profitability in farming.

Saidakbar Mahmudxojaev, Pastoral's Technology Lead and Senior Front End Developer, plays a critical role in the company's success. His love for coding and creating architectures in the frontend sphere has been integral to the development of Pastoral since its inception. Known for solving complex engineering challenges, Saidakbar's technical prowess is complemented by his passion for music and piano. His artistic sensibility and technological expertise make him a unique and vital asset to the team.

Anvar Umarov transitioned from Pastoral's first back-end developer to focus on developing cutting-edge AI-driven tools, including animal health predictors and Pastoral's Vector Store database. Utilising his skills in modern technologies such as Golang, NodeJS, and PostgreSQL, he ensures that Pastoral remains at the forefront of AI development. Anvar's dedication to learning and problem-solving is evident in his participation in the ICPC semifinals, where he competed with talented programmers worldwide. His innovative approach keeps Pastoral on the edge of bespoke AI-driven strategies and novel inferred data set generation.

Mirobidjon Parpiyev is an experienced Golang Back End Developer at Pastoral, known for his strong proficiency in building scalable and high-performance systems. Leveraging technologies like Kubernetes, gRPC, and PostgreSQL, he develops robust and efficient solutions. His leadership in delivering successful projects within tight deadlines, passion for innovative software solutions, and commitment to quality make him an essential asset to the team. His continuous pursuit of industry trends and dedication to excellence reflects in every project he undertakes.

Azim Otajonov is Pastoral's mobile developer specialising in Flutter, bringing expertise in MVP development of mobile applications and games. He's proficient in various languages and technologies, including WebSockets, Bloc, Kotlin, Swift, Java, and Dart, and operates with a Clean Architecture mentality. His focus on building sleek and user-friendly mobile experiences aligns with Pastoral's commitment to innovation and quality.

Sarvar Salyamov, Pastoral's General Manager in Uzbekistan, embodies a spirit of getting things done. With his background in Information Communication Engineering and experience as an IT Consultant & mentor, he's an expert in technical and human resources. Passionate about entrepreneurial ventures and collaboration with international markets, Sarvar brings a creative approach to problem-solving. His achievements include exceeding objectives in multiple companies, closing over 200 positions in 3.5 years, and enhancing company culture. His commitment to team-building and motivation ensures that Pastoral's Uzbekistan operations run smoothly and innovatively.

Jonas Hornung, Senior Investment & Portfolio Manager at Übermorgen Ventures, is Pastoral's only Angel Investor (our other funding came from VC funds), showcasing his strong personal faith in the company's vision and team. With a passion for climate tech and a master's degree from the University of Cambridge, he advises Pastoral, particularly in GTM strategy, capitalisation, and VC fundraising. He serves as an invaluable insider within the VC sphere.

As a co-founder of The Briars Group, Kate Jolly brings extensive experience in entrepreneurial support to her role at Pastoral. Her expertise in People, Finance, Tax, and Administration, along with her leadership in various organizations, positions her to provide strategic insights and oversight to support Pastoral's growth and compliance needs. Her involvement in mentoring and coaching of corporate boards further adds to her capability to drive success at Pastoral.