Simon Potts is Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services at the University of Reading, UK.

After studying biology at Oxford University, UK, Simon completed his PhD at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. Over the last 30 years he has worked closely with researchers, industry, NGOs and policymakers on the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services in farming systems in Europe, Africa, Asia and North and South America.

He is the Director of the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research at Reading University, UK, which focuses on providing research to support practices and policies to intensify food production while minimising negative environmental impacts. The Centre is a world-leader in the sustainable management of pollination services and pollinator conservation.

Simon is the co-chair of the United Nations IPBES, Intergovernmental science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services global assessment of ‘Pollinators, pollination and food production’. He has a  wide variety of advisory roles with the UN, FAO, EU, national governments as well as agri-food industry and NGOs.