Professional Experience:
During my career I have acquired a wealth of uniquely valuable experience drawing together the
following areas:
- Private sector & rural development in economically challenged areas of the UK (objective 1 & 5B).
- SME business start-up, strategy, management, financial control, growth and sale (both my own
businesses and as a business consultant, trainer and educator for other businesses and business
owners).
- Overseas development consultancy, policy and practice (private sector, rural and agricultural
development / Africa and Asia))
- Project conception, design and management. Both commercial and public sector
- Marketing. Both commercial and public sector
- Agriculture, practical farm management & agricultural research.
- Commercial property management
- Franchising
- Education. Both secondary and adult level. Course design and delivery.
- Non agricultural grassland expertise.
- The outdoor activity / adventure activity industry.
- Rural tourism.
- In addition I hold both business and development related post graduate qualifications.
This broad experience I believe allows me to work from a unique perspective. I have a genuine and deep understanding of SME businesses, having sat both sides of the table, as owner and advisor. I have a similar empathy with farmers, having for example watched weather and seasons influence crops, grassland and livestock under my own management, while also having worked at national policy level, influencing governments and ministers. In addition, I have been an educator, both of adults and secondary school pupils, working in institutions challenged by rapid policy changes and severe shortages of resources and funding. As a former researcher, both in commercial, marketing, social and scientific spheres, I have a thorough knowledge of the seeking of answers and understanding, and with my practical background, am often able to see and deliver practical outcomes to the research.
Specific career summary:
2006 - 2013 Director of two SME businesses, in the horticulture and commercial property management sectors
2004 - 2006 Course developer and deliverer, business management training for farmers and rural businesses, Duchy College, Cornwall
2001 - 2004 Rural livelihoods consultant (strengthening of partnership working within the rural extension sector of Bangladesh. National level project for DFID / World Bank.
1996 - 2001 (except 1998 - 99, see below). Rural business / farm management consultant, Promar International, Devon and Cornwall.
1998 - 1999 Associate Professional Officer, DFID, Namibia. Rural livelihoods advisor (farming systems research and extension).
1993 - 1996 Farm and agriculture department manager / leader. Agriculture teacher. VSO. Ghana
Prior to this I acquired 4 years practical experience in farming & rural tourism businesses, in the UK and Australia, including the outdoor activity sector.