Hughes

RHYS HUGHES

International Agribusiness & Commercial Development Professional Export
Development • Business Development • Commercial Operations • Supply Chain •
Logistics • Operations Management

Lviv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Commercially focused agribusiness professional with more than 30 years of
international experience across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and
Ukraine.

Throughout my career I have successfully combined practical agricultural knowledge
with commercial leadership, business development, logistics coordination, technical
sales and operational management.

I have managed large-scale farming operations, developed new customer
relationships, represented businesses at international industry events, delivered
agricultural education, recruited and developed international workforces, and
produced strategic business improvement programmes for commercial agricultural
businesses.

My experience enables me to communicate effectively with growers, processors,
exporters, suppliers, contractors and international customers while maintaining a
practical, solutions-focused approach to improving business performance.

A native English speaker based in Ukraine, I am seeking opportunities where I can
contribute to business growth, international trade, operational excellence and
long-term commercial success.
SELECTED CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS

●​ More than 30 years of international commercial agricultural experience across
Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
●​ Managed operations for a 2,400-cow commercial dairy enterprise leading a
team of 15 employees.
●​ Successfully recruited, trained and retained international employees from
Europe and Pacific nations during periods of significant labour shortages.
●​ Held nationwide sales responsibility for Collard Machinery throughout New
Zealand.
●​ Exceeded sales targets within the first eight months of joining the company.
●​ Planned, organised and represented Collard Machinery at the 6th International
Cool Climate Symposium for Viticulture and Oenology, Christchurch, New
Zealand (2006).
●​ Invited to support the company's planned expansion into Australia before
returning to the UK for family reasons.
●​ Delivered lectures in Dairy Husbandry, Dairy Management, Agricultural
Business Management, Agricultural Financial Management, Forestry and
Equine Studies at Coleg Glynllifon.
●​ Conducted a comprehensive operational and commercial assessment of a
12-hectare commercial apple orchard in Ukraine producing approximately 75
tonnes of fresh apples.
●​ Produced a detailed orchard recovery and business improvement programme
covering regenerative management, pollination, spray programmes, labour
planning, machinery requirements and commercial development.
●​ Developed relationships with 12 Ukrainian wholesale fruit buyers, including
processors supplying European markets.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Commercial Export Development • Business Development • International Trade •
Customer Relationship Management • Commercial Negotiation • Technical Sales • Key
Account Management

Operations Supply Chain Coordination • Logistics Planning • Procurement • Contractor
Management • Harvest Planning • Production Planning • Continuous Improvement

Leadership Operations Management • Team Leadership • Staff Recruitment • Staff
Training • Performance Development • Change Management

Agriculture Fresh Produce • Orchard Management • Dairy Production • Viticulture •
Regenerative Agriculture • Agricultural Consultancy
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

OPERATIONS & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT Norbilc LLC – Lviv Oblast,
Ukraine January 2025 – Present

●​ Conducted a comprehensive operational assessment of a 12-hectare orchard
producing approximately 75 tonnes of fresh apples across eight commercial
varieties.
●​ Completed a full tree census identifying productive, missing and declining
trees.
●​ Produced a phased business improvement strategy aligned with available
investment.
●​ Developed recommendations covering regenerative orchard management, bee
pollination, orchard spray programmes, labour planning, machinery
requirements, infrastructure improvements and commercial development.
●​ Identified and established relationships with 12 Ukrainian wholesale fruit
buyers.
●​ Developed commercial contacts with processors exporting fruit juice and
catering apples into European markets.
●​ Assisted with labour recruitment, harvest planning and transport logistics.
●​ Prepared operational reports supporting future investment decisions.

AREA SALES MANAGER Collard Machinery – Hastings, New Zealand March 2005 –
March 2006

●​ Managed national sales activities across New Zealand.
●​ Exceeded sales targets within the first eight months.
●​ Built long-term relationships with vineyard owners, orchard managers, growers
and agricultural contractors.
●​ Planned, organised and managed the company's exhibition at the 6th
International Cool Climate Symposium for Viticulture and Oenology in
Christchurch.
●​ Demonstrated specialist vineyard and orchard machinery to commercial
customers.
●​ Coordinated machinery deliveries and after-sales customer support.
●​ Recognised for commercial performance and invited to support planned
business expansion into Australia before returning to the United Kingdom for
family reasons.
OPERATIONS MANAGER R & D Pritchard – Anglesey, United Kingdom June 2007 –
December 2024

●​ Led and developed a multicultural workforce.
●​ Recruited, trained and retained international employees during prolonged
labour shortages.
●​ Successfully sourced employees from Europe and Pacific nations.
●​ Managed labour planning and operational scheduling.
●​ Coordinated feed procurement and logistics.
●​ Managed contractor activities and machinery scheduling.
●​ Maintained production records and regulatory compliance.
●​ Delivered consistently high operational standards across the business.

LECTURER (Maternity Cover) Coleg Glynllifon – Gwynedd, Wales September 2000 –
July 2001

●​ Delivered classroom and practical teaching to agricultural students while
providing maternity cover.
●​ Subjects taught: Dairy Husbandry, Dairy Management, Agricultural Business
Management, Agricultural Financial Management, Forestry, Equine Studies.
●​ Prepared and delivered lectures, developed teaching materials, assessed
student progress, delivered practical agricultural instruction, and applied
commercial farming experience to teaching.

AREA MANAGER / UNIT MANAGER New Zealand 2001 – February 2005

●​ Managed multiple farming units with responsibility for production planning,
staffing, procurement, machinery scheduling and operational performance.
●​ Responsibilities included operational planning, staff leadership, budget
awareness, procurement, contractor management, health & safety, machinery
management, and performance improvement.

ASSISTANT FARM MANAGER New Zealand 1996 – 2000

●​ Progressed through increasing levels of responsibility within a large
commercial dairy business, supporting production, labour management and
operational planning before promotion into senior management.
DAIRY FARM MANAGER Katandra, Victoria, Australia 1995 – 1996

●​ Following graduation from Harper Adams University, relocated to Australia to
manage a commercial dairy farm, gaining valuable experience of Australian
production systems before moving to New Zealand.

BUSINESS OWNER – Property Renovation & Livestock Enterprise United Kingdom
2011 – 2024 (Evenings & Weekends alongside full-time employment)

●​ Developed and managed a private renovation and livestock enterprise with the
knowledge and support of my employer.
●​ Responsibilities included procurement, budgeting, contractor management,
scheduling, supplier negotiations and customer liaison.

EDUCATION

●​ Diploma of Higher Education in Agriculture – Harper Adams University, United
Kingdom (1991–1995)
●​ Agricultural Studies – Coleg Glynllifon, Wales

LANGUAGES

●​ English — Native
●​ Welsh — Native
●​ Ukrainian — Elementary (actively learning)

CERTIFICATIONS

●​ PA2A – Agrochemical Application

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

●​ Based in Lviv Oblast, Ukraine
●​ Full UK driving licence (B)
●​ Eligible and willing to travel internationally
●​ Available to start immediately or by negotiation
●​ References available on request