Retired senior executive in the seeds industry with 35 years experience including directing global research and plant breeding programs, intellectual property management (plant breeders rights, patenting and licensing), commercial strategy, merger and acquisition, marketing and sales and general management. Specialist in the international development of cereal seeds markets and wheat and barley genetics. Director (former chairman) of the UK seeds industry trade association, with associated board memberships, former non executive director of a public sector institute and former chairman of pension fund trustees. Trained in commercial strategy and negotiation, with a diploma in company direction and a PhD in biometrics. A long term personal interest in prehistoric and Romano-British archaeology led in 2010 to an academic publication.