Fertilizers: An In-Depth Introduction

Trainers

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Ben Hatton – Key Account and Sales Manager, Proagrica

Ben specialises in crop management software solutions for farmers and those that advise them. Based in the UK, Ben has been involved with agriculture for over 20 years having trained initially in land management following a career in the RAF. Latterly, he was involved with estates and farms who were applying for grant funding for agri-environmental schemes.

Today, Ben works across the Proagrica business as it continues to access and leverage data that can increase productivity and profitability in the industry.

Julia Meehan – Managing Editor, Fertilizers, ICIS

Based in Surrey, in the UK, Julia has worked in the global chemicals and fertilizer industries for over 25 years and has extensive experience of chemicals and fertilizers on an international scale.

Her current responsibilities include leading the global fertilizer team and supporting ICIS weekly coverage of urea and nitrates. She has also worked on ICIS coverage of sulphur, sulphuric acid and phosphates.

Before joining ICIS, Julia worked at Mobile Oil in the international re-sale chemical division based in Clements Inn, London.

Deepika Thapliyal – Deputy Managing Editor, Fertilizers, ICIS

Deepika Thapliyal is the Deputy Managing Editor – Fertilizers at ICIS, based in London. She has been covering the nitrogen market, particularly urea, for over 10 years.

Her current responsibilities include daily and weekly coverage of urea, and managing members of the fertilizers team. She has also worked on ICIS coverage of nitrates and potash.

Deepika previously worked as a news correspondent and anchor at New Delhi Television (NDTV Profit) and Newswire18 in Mumbai for over five years.

Sylvia Traganida – Senior Editor, Phosphates, ICIS

Sylvia Traganida is a senior editor with ICIS and covers the global phosphates market since joining the company in 2012. She is also leading the fertilizer’s team podcast output.

Sylvia has 15 years’ experience of financial reporting in the shipping and mergers and acquisitions sectors following studies at Cardiff University and Nottingham Trent University.

Andy Hemphill – Senior Editor – Fertilizers, ICIS

Andy Hemphill is Senior Markets Editor for sulphuric acid and potash at London-headquartered International Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS). Before joining ICIS, Andy worked as a public relations consultant for several arms of the Michelin Group, among other organisations.

He started his career in editorial in local news, before moving into business-to-business journalism after two years.

He has also worked in the aviation industry, as part of editorial for Flight International and Airline Business magazines – part of FlightGlobal.

Andy has a BA in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire, and grew up in a village north of Birmingham.

Erica Sesay – Senior Editor, ICIS

Erica Sesay is a Senior Editor at ICIS, covering the sulphur and ammonium sulphate markets for over two years.

She has seven years of experience in commodities market reporting, previously covering the metals and mining industries.

Alex Froley – Senior Analyst – LNG, ICIS

Alex Froley has been following the global gas and power markets for 20 years, working as an analyst, journalist and editor.

He is currently a senior analyst on the ICIS LNG Edge team, focusing on ship-tracking and daily market developments as well as the development of the LNG Edge information platform. He has presented at industry events in London, Houston and Qatar amongst other locations, and led both internal and external training sessions.

Manuja Pandey – Markets Editor, Fertilizers, ICIS

Manuja Pandey is the markets editor for nitrate fertilizers at ICIS and covers the global market since joining the company in May 2022.

Manuja has over 12 years’ experience of financial and corporate reporting in a news wire and a mainstream financial daily in India.

She has a diploma in Journalism from the Bombay College of Journalism, and has done her Masters in Biological Sciences from the Indian Institute of Science.

Charley Burnell, Sentinel Product Manager, Proagrica

Charley specialises in fertiliser and plant protection product compliance for crop management software solutions, for growers and for those who advise them. Before coming to Proagrica, she managed soil sampling and scanning services for a precision farming service provider, advising farmers on fertiliser choice and creating variable rate application maps for thousands of hectares per year.

FACTS and BASIS qualified, her on-farm experience allows her to ensure that software solutions meet the reality of modern agriculture so that growers can leverage their data to increase productivity and profitability.