Nicholas Thompson

Nicholas Thompson has an honours degree in agricultural science (plant breeding, agronomy and soil science) from Nottingham University, a master of science in agriculture from Reading University, a certificate in rice production from the International Rice Research Institute (Philippines) and a master of business administration from Bath University. He began his career in Papua New Guinea in 1984 as assistant manager at New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL), where he was promoted to deputy director plantations in 1991 and managing director in 1994. Under his leadership, NBPOL grew into one of the largest employers in Papua New Guinea and a renowned sustainable palm oil company, which was taken over by Sime Darby Plantations in 2015. That year he was awarded the honour of ‘Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’. He sat on the board of directors of the National Development Bank PNG, West New Britain University Centre and various palm oil industry professional organisations in Papua New Guinea. He has been a member of the SIPEF board since 2019.