Phil Bicknell was appointed CEO of the UK Agri-Tech Centre as it launched in April 2024. He joined CIEL - one of the three companies which merged to create the UK Agri-Tech Centre - in 2021. Prior to the UK Agri-Tech Centre, Phil has had a varied career across food and farming: he led the 50-strong market intelligence team at the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB), equipping farmers and processors with the insight to manage market volatility, profitability and policy change; he was also chief economist at the National Farmers Union (NFU), spearheading the evidence to support a range of lobbying activity. Other roles include specialising in agri-trade issues at the US Department of Agriculture and advising a range of agribusiness clients with Bidwells. Phil grew up on the family livestock farm has a degree in agricultural economics.