Sir Ben served on the Norwich Research Partners LLP Board from its inception in 2012. He was a committed supporter of Norwich Research Park whose input was invaluable and he will be greatly missed.
He had been a member of the John Innes Centre Governing Council since 2002 and took up the position of Trustee of the John Innes Foundation in 2010. In 1996 he was appointed a CBE and knighted in 2004.
Sir Ben was President of the NFU from 1998 to 2004 and led the industry during the most turbulent years in modern farming history. He was President of the Confederation of European Agriculture from 2000 to 2004 which saw the enlargement of the EU from 15 to 25 countries; and was a member of the Executive Committee of the World Body: International Federation of Agricultural Producers.
After retiring from the NFU he established his own businesses Hawkhills Consultancy Ltd (HCL) and The Hawk Creative Business Park Ltd (HCBP).
Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, Chief Executive Officer, Norwich Research Park said: “Sir Ben Gill had a forward-thinking and committed approach to his role on the Norwich Research Partners LLP Board. We will miss his enthusiasm and passion. Our sympathies go out to his wife Lady Carolyn and his four sons.”
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