Election to Council - Member Grade

Paul Baskerville MIAgrE

• Graduated NCAE Silsoe in 1969 with a B.Sc. Agricultural Engineering. 
• 50+ Years working in the Agricultural machinery business mostly in export markets.
• In early years after graduation spend 5 years with New Holland in Field Test and machinery development mostly in South Africa.
• 2 years with Massey Ferguson as a Service representative working in the Far East markets including Japan. 
• Spent 27 years with Ford tractors (now CNH) developing Agricultural Tractor markets for Ford Tractors
• In west and east Africa and then developing the middle east/far east markets.
• Managed 2 SME company’s (Spearhead and Master Farm services) for 6 years.
• Conducted a number of international Agricultural machinery surveys as an Independent Consultant. 
• An agricultural machinery man!
• First joined the institution in 1968.
• Have been a full member for around 50 years.
• Have been a member of the East Anglian branch of the IAgrE.
• Would be happy to serve on the IAgrE Advisory Council to assist in providing any advice and help that might be appropriate to the Institution particularly on export matters. 

Jonathan Chapman CEng MIAgrE

Jonathan studied Agricultural Engineering at Silsoe College (1977-80), and has worked on water management ever since. After a short time in research (soil and water, waste treatment) he has  spent the bulk of his career at the Environment Agency working on flood and water management. He is a chartered engineer, and has managed 3 structured training schemes for engineers in the Environment Agency.

He maintains an interest in Agricultural Engineering, and is the first to admit that while he has wide experience of engineering training, its mostly  been at “arms length” from agriculture. However, he has a good knowledge of other Professional Engineering Institutions.

He has been active in the Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management, and served on their River & Coastal Engineering Group and Trustee Board.
He lives in South West England.

Dr Teo Chee Loong CEng MIAgrE

I am honored to have the opportunity to stand for election as a Member Representative on the IAgrE Council. With over 12 years of experience in biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, and sustainable agriculture, I am deeply committed to advancing agricultural engineering practices that drive innovation, sustainability, and professional development.

My expertise bridges academia and industry, with a strong focus on pioneering research and applications in carbon capture, microalgae cultivation, biofertilizer development, and the exploration of AI-driven solutions for agricultural efficiency. As the Principal Investigator for large-scale microalgae cultivation projects and a leader in biotechnological innovation, I bring firsthand experience in integrating engineering principles with sustainable practices to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience.

Having served in leadership roles across multiple projects and institutions, I bring a strategic perspective to the Council. My experience as a mentor, researcher, and industry collaborator has equipped me with a broad understanding of the challenges and opportunities in agricultural engineering. I am particularly passionate about knowledge exchange, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and ensuring that IAgrE continues to support professionals at all career stages.

As an IAgrE Council Member, I will advocate for sustainability and innovation by promoting cutting-edge agricultural technologies, enhance professional development through mentorship, networking, and industry partnerships, and expand outreach and engagement by encouraging participation from diverse professionals, including students and early-career engineers, to build a more inclusive and forward-thinking IAgrE community.  I am eager to contribute my expertise and dedication to IAgrE, ensuring that our institution remains at the forefront of agricultural engineering. I appreciate your support and look forward to the opportunity to serve.
 

Nicholas Corker MSc CEnv MIAgrE FRSA

As the Innovation Manager at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), I am pleased to be invited to join the Council of the UK Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE). With over 25 years of experience spanning agricultural engineering, environmental sustainability, and research commercialization, I have consistently worked at the intersection of engineering, science, and innovation to develop practical, technology-driven solutions for sustainable land management, rural development, and green infrastructure.

Engineering & Innovation Projects:

1. Sustainable Farm Project Development

During my time at various agricultural colleges, I led the development of Sustainable Farm Projects, focusing on:

• Engineering land-use systems integrating crop production, livestock, and ecological conservation.
• Designing and constructing farm infrastructure, including irrigation systems, soil conservation techniques, and renewable energy integration.
• Implementing precision agriculture and smart water management to enhance productivity while reducing environmental impact.

2. Natural Fibres in Sustainable Construction – The Renewable House

At Building Research Establishment (BRE), I was involved in the groundbreaking Renewable House Project, pioneering the use of hemp-based construction materials:

• Material Innovation: Researching hempcrete, a bio-composite material made from hemp shiv and lime binder, offering superior thermal efficiency, fire resistance, and sustainability.
• Structural Design: Engineering modular, low-carbon housing solutions using natural fibers and sustainable materials.
• Industry & Policy Engagement: Working with architects, engineers, and policymakers to promote bio-based construction methods.

(See project details: The Renewable House)

4. Flood Risk Management Engineering

While at BRE, I led the "Living in Flood Risk Environments" project, addressing the engineering challenges of climate change adaptation:

• Developing hydrological models to assess flood risk in rural and agricultural landscapes.
• Designing flood mitigation infrastructure, including levees, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), and natural flood management solutions.
• Enhancing community resilience through strategic land-use planning and engineering interventions.

5. Agricultural Innovation & Technology Transfer

At UKCEH, I am responsible for commercializing research and translating scientific innovations into real-world applications:

• Developing and prototyping new environmental technologies, including precision farming tools, remote sensing applications, and agri-tech solutions.
• Managing intellectual property (IP), patents, and technology licensing for NERC science institutes.
• Collaborating with SMEs and industry partners to scale up innovations in agriculture and environmental engineering.

Vision for IAgrE Council Contribution

As a Chartered Environmentalist and Full Member of IAgrE, I am committed to:

1. Advancing Sustainable Agricultural Engineering – Promoting climate-smart technologies and low-carbon engineering solutions in farming and land management.
2. Bridging the Gap Between Research & Industry – Ensuring that cutting-edge scientific research is translated into practical, commercially viable engineering solutions.
3. Promoting Circular Economy Approaches – Encouraging the adoption of bio-based materials and nature-based solutions in construction and agriculture.
4. Enhancing Knowledge Exchange & Professional Development – Supporting IAgrE’s efforts to equip agricultural engineers with the skills and knowledge needed for the future.

I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my expertise in engineering, innovation, and sustainability to IAgrE, shaping the future of agricultural and environmental engineering in the UK and beyond.

Tom Gardener MIAgrE

Hi, my name is Tom Gardener and I joined the institution last year after being a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology for nearly 10 years, and I would like to put myself forward to volunteer on the council at member grade.

I spent my early years growing up on a mixed farm in Hertfordshire which planted seeds of interest in food, technology, animals and the environment. When my brother went off to agricultural college, I had decided I wanted to be an airline pilot and travel the world. So after finishing school I decided to study Aerospace Engineering at Sheffield University and completed an integrated masters degree with a year in industry. My placement was at Rolls-Royce in Derby working on safety critical electrical control systems, and that is where my passion for systems engineering and thinking really developed. I decided to change my focus from becoming a pilot to becoming a chartered engineer and a technical specialist. After finishing my degree, I returned to Rolls-Royce for a graduate scheme and upon completion of that I took up a permanent role in the Verification and Validation team, where I was responsible for auditing safety-critical electronic products against their design requirements. I envisaged myself having a long career at Rolls-Royce, but with growing concerns around the state of our environment and food system I felt compelled to change my career trajectory.

After ending my six years at Rolls-Royce in 2022, I have spent a huge amount of time and energy learning about the food system and networking with individuals and organisations that are working to improve it. I have a good understanding of the scale and urgency of the climate and nature emergencies, and in particular the effects they will have on our food security. I am committed to working collaboratively to achieve the necessary energy and food system transitions that are required to secure a safe future for us and generations to come. From this research and networking it is clear that farmers and land workers hold so many of the solutions to the problems we face, and that is why with two others I co-founded Vegans Support the Farmers in 2023. The project aims to unite the two communities that are the most passionate about food so that we can share knowledge and solve problems together. Through this project we have raised £6,000 to improve young farmers’ mental health, mobilised vegans to attend farming protests in support, and spoken to hundreds of attendees at farming and vegan events on the need to work together.

I will bring to the council a broad range of perspectives, a system-thinking mindset, a culture of continuous improvement, and a lot of energy and enthusiasm. I excel at identifying opportunities for improvement or existing challenges and then collaborating with others to find the best solutions available.

Dr Sarah Parsons MIAgrE

I have been pleased to be a member of the IAgrE for two and a half years now, since September 2022.  I attended the Wrekin branch meetings at Harper Adams University for many years before that.  I applied for membership of the IAgrE because I wanted to contribute back to the Institution, as I could see the benefits that the IAgrE gave to Harper Adams University, by accrediting our courses, to our students and benefits that I had also received from attending lectures.  Since joining I have continued to attend technical lectures in person and online, and I really enjoyed the IAgrE Presentation Day 2024 at CNH last April and the IAgrE Conference at Rothamsted in November.  I have also attended site visits, for example, the FarmDroid robotic weeder field demonstration 2 years ago.

My own career started in Information technology (for 10 years) after a Maths degree and Maths and Physics PGCE.  I joined Harper Adams University in 2001, part-time, lecturing in mathematics and providing Mathematics support.  I am now a Senior Lecturer, fulltime, in the Engineering Department. I teach on a range of subjects: particularly Mechanical Science to Years 0, 1 and 2, Measurement (including specialist Agricultural Engineering topics), 2nd year Agri-Tech, Year 0 Key Academic Skills,  and 5th year Masters students’ Advanced Research Methods.  In the 5th year module students can choose an experiment from all the equipment in the engineering department, large and small, or externally, which they plan, conduct, analyse and write up.  These research methods assignments have investigated a wide range of topics from GPS RTK accuracy, 3-d additive manufacturing methods and materials, solar panel efficiency, tractor engine vibrations, draft forces and accuracy of a wide range of sensors in different settings, and many more. 

A new area that I have been working in for several years is Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, using Python and MATLAB.  The rapid application of this technology has been remarkable.  I am by no means expert in all aspects of AI, but I have included technical information and examples in my teaching for the past three years.  I continue to take courses and self-study to learn more and investigate how this new technology can be taught and used in our Engineering curriculum.  

I am interested to promote and support young people’s interests. I am parent to two grown up sons and have supported their education and early STEM careers with interest.  I am particularly really interested to promote Women In Engineering, and in STEM careers.

I hope this provides sufficient detail of my genuine interest to be on the IAgrE Council and the expertise, experience and interests I would offer.