Currently farming in Cambridgeshire, Charles graduated in agricultural science and spent eight years doing postgraduate and postdoctoral research on pulse crops, followed by 12 years helping to bring new varieties of combinable crops to the market. He has also worked for 15 years in information technology, bringing him into contact with a range of business areas including arable farming, retail, tax accountancy and the police.
One of his other interests is planning and land use which developed from his experience as a District Councillor and as Chairman of his local Civic Society. His relationship with NIAB began with a number of student vacation jobs and continued through his work on crop varieties; he retains and uses his Crop Inspector’s Licence.