Henry Matthews is an agricultural consultant, educator and international development specialist with more than 30 years’ experience in farming, agribusiness and agricultural capacity building. He is currently an Associate Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University Writtle and works as a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Henry was raised on the family mixed farm in Essex which he went on to manage until its sale in 2008. His academic qualifications include a degree in Modern History with Economics from the University of Manchester, a Postgraduate Diploma in Agriculture and Farm Management from Writtle College, and an MSc in Agribusiness for Development from Imperial College London.

Throughout an academic career spanning 25 years at Writtle College, Henry combined teaching with extensive international project work. He contributed to European Union programmes supporting curriculum and institutional development in universities across former Soviet states and has worked on agricultural development initiatives with organisations including the World Bank, FAO, Oxfam, German Agro Action, NIRAS, private sector companies and national ministries of agriculture.

His professional expertise encompasses farm business management, agricultural marketing, value chain development, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture. In recent years, his work has focused on strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of smallholder farmers through training, capacity building and market-led approaches to agricultural development.

Henry has undertaken assignments in more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America, supporting farmers, agribusinesses, educational institutions and government agencies to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability.

He has served on the National Council of the Institute of Agricultural Management, been a member of the BASIS Professional Register, and is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers.