Michele Chiarini Pouncey
Agriculture and Agri-Food specialist
Freelance Consultant - Research Associate
RESUME
Skills
Professional
info
Born in Florence (Italy) in 1967, Italian and English mother tongue, he started gaining skills and experience of the agricultural world whilst working during the summer months on a large mixed estate in Suffolk (UK).
After obtaining his Agricultural Diploma in Florence, he moved to the UK for six years, where he first completed a BSc in Agricultural Business Management and, after working one year for Agra CEASC, an MSc in Agricultural Economics with specialization in Marketing.
Employed as Assistant Export Manager for a local publisher of tourist souvenir books of famous world locations, before joining the British Consulate in Florence as Commercial Officer during the period 1998-2006, an opportunity to gain experience and knowledge of other sectors, including textiles and clothing, leather, tableware and giftware, railways and local transport systems, airports and ports, as well as skills such as public speaking, events management, B2B liaison, public relations, dealing with the press.
Only committed to jobs he knows he can undertake and deliver within the agreed deadlines. All contacts and work is dealt with in the strictest confidence.
Project Management
Desk Research
In Depth Interviews
Focus Groups
Data analysis
Report writing
Events management
Client Presentations
Public Speaking
Mothertongue: Italian & English
Excel, Word, Powerpoint
2010 - present
2010 - present
Work
experience
Consultant
2006 - present
Working freelance for clients such as GfK, Promar International, Agra CEASC, Agralytica. Mainly involved in Market Research and Marketing or Economic Studies, but also other activities such as Agent/Importer Research, Events organisation, Promotions.
UKT&I Commercial Officer - British Consulate Florence
1998-2006
Main duties: the promotion of British products and services as well as inward investment in the UK; market research projects and sector reports; assist Italian companies to search for British suppliers, also by means of the web based “lead” service; organisation and participation to commercial missions in Italy and the UK; participation at selected Italian and British trade fairs; establish and maintain relations with the various public and private economic and commercial associations and institutions up to the top level; point of contact for visiting British businessman and delegations; organisation of promotional events, such as the “Scottish Market”; organisation of commercial visits by the Ambassador, ministers and/or ministerial staff, Royal visitors (HRH the Prince of Wales; HRH the Duke of York).
Assistant Export Manager - Tourist Books Publisher
1995-1997
Assistant export manager for the European, Central-North American and East Asian markets for a Florentine publisher of tourist books and guides.
Duties: liaison with foreign clients and suppliers; business strategy analysis of potential markets; reception of foreign delegations; organisation of business meetings with foreign clients; management of the participation at international trade fairs (Frankfurt, Tokyo, Chicago); management of book ISBN numbering and EAN/UPC code bars.
Education
Wye College (University of London) - UK
BSc Agricultural Business Management (1991)
MSc Agricultural Economics: Marketing (1993)
After my studies in Italy I had the opportunity to study in the UK at Wye College, a very international and stimulating environment. In between my BSc and MSc I worked for Agra CEASC also based in Wye, my first experience in project research work. MSc Dissertation: "DOC: an effective marketing tool for Italian olive oil exports. The case for the UK market."
Istituto Tecnico Agrario di Firenze - Italy
Diploma di Perito Agrario (1987)
A technical school that also provides "hands on" experience, from the school's chemistry lab to working on its small estate where a vast variety of annual and tree crops are grown, as well as ornamental plants and trees.