Simon joined the retail team in 2017 to lead the IGD’s research and coverage on the UK multiples, focusing on the strategies being used to meet current and future consumer needs. Simon delivers a mixture of research outputs for IGD’s Retail Analysis service; building reports, delivering customised work and presenting at briefings and events to help retailers and suppliers adapt and grow. Simon’s 20+ years’ experience in Insight & Research has spanned both Retail & Manufacturing, having worked at Tesco and more recently Burtons Biscuits. Simon has also spent a significant amount of his career agency side delivering insight programs for many retailers and manufacturers. Simon holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Surrey as well as Diploma in Market Research (Distinction) from the University of Westminster.

Professor David Hughes is Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London, and Visiting Professor at the Royal Agricultural University, U.K. He is a much sought-after speaker at international conferences and seminars on global food industry issues, particularly consumer and retail trends. David has lived and worked in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Africa and South East Asia and has extensive experience as an international advisory board member with food companies and financial service organizations on three continents. For 20 years, he was a Non-Executive Director of Berry Gardens Ltd – a U.K. farmer-owned berry fruit business (£230 million turnover in 2015). With his American business partner, David established, grew and sold a branded fresh produce business which served supermarkets in the USA. Around the globe, he works with food and beverage supply chain companies – including farm input, growers, manufacturers and ingredient companies, retailers and food service firms – to assist them in management training, strategy and Board level decision-making. David’s views are frequently sought by TV, radio and the printed press.

Nan-Dirk Mulder joined Rabobank International’s Food & Agribusiness Advisory and Research department (FAR) in 2001. He is senior global animal protein specialist and has worked with many of the leading animal protein companies in the world. Nan-Dirk graduated in agricultural economics, marketing and market research from the Netherlands’ Wageningen Agricultural University in 1996. Before his appointment at Rabobank International, Nan-Dirk worked for the Product Boards for Livestock, Meat and Eggs (PVE) and the Agricultural Economic Research Institute (LEI) in the Netherlands. Since joining Rabobank International, Nan-Dirk advises the bank on global commitments in the animal protein industry. He has been also involved in the bank’s many advisory and research activities in the animal protein industry and has overtime built up an in-depth knowledge about strategic issues in these industries. Nan-Dirk has advised and participated in projects on all continents of the world and is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars all over the world.

Peter is IEC Economic Analyst an a senior economist at the LEI Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands. He is Europe’s premier Poultry Economist and specialises in poultry research projects for government and industry with particular focus on the economics of animal welfare, environmental protection, animal health and international competition.

Dr Marty Matlock is Executive Director of the University of Arkansas Resiliency Center and Professor of Ecological Engineering in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department. He received his Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering from Oklahoma State University, is a registered professional engineer, a Board Certified Environmental Engineer, and a Certified Ecosystem Designer. Marty has co-authored four books and more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Dr. Matlock’s research focuses on technologies and processes to increase the resilience of ecosystem services in human-dominated ecosystems. Dr. Matlock is the recipient of the 2018 CAST-Borlaug Agriculture Communications Award. He serves on the USEPA Science Advisory Committee for Agriculture, previously served on the US Secretary of Agriculture’s Committee for the 21st Century, is Chairman of the Cherokee Nation Environmental Protection Commission, and serves as sustainability science advisor for 12 food and agricultural product companies.

Professor Peter Sandøe is originally trained as a philosopher at the University of Copenhagen and at Oxford University. He has been professor of bioethics at the University of Copenhagen since 1997, presently with his chair divided between the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and the Department of Food and Resource Economics. Since 1990 the major part of his research has been within bioethics with particular emphasis on ethical issues related to animals, veterinary practice, biotechnology and food production. He is committed to interdisciplinary work combining perspectives from natural science, social sciences and philosophy.

Dr De Meester is an internationally renowned contributor in the fields of nutrition, and food science. With a PhD in Protein Chemistry from the University of Liège in Belgium, Fabien became a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Weizmann Institute of Science of Israel where he specialized in Molecular Biology. On returning to Belgium, Fabien studied for an Executive Master Degree in General Management at the Solvay Business School before joining the family business - BNLfood where he led the Research-Development-Production departments, until 1999 when he succeeded his father as President and CEO. Specialising in the fractionation of eggs into value-added ingredients for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, Fabien’s primary objective is to catalyse sustainable changes in the food sector. Today, he plays a significant role in communicating the ever expanding parameters of egg research.

Mark's goal is to help startups drive positive change in the food supply system. He is Director of Rockstart AgriFood, offering early stage Agritech and Foodtech startups access to capital, market, expertise and community through acceleration and investment. Mark is Scottish, based between Copenhagen and Amsterdam. He has a background in conventional/organic agriculture and vertical farming, having been a member of the startup team of UrbanFarmers AG and leading the finance, development and ramp-up of Europe's first commercial vertical farms in Switzerland and The Netherlands. He is also a qualified Scottish lawyer and holds an Executive MBA from Rotterdam School of Management. Mark currently leads Rockstart AgriFood, a €15million accelerator+follow on fund for AgriFood startups.