John is a Principal Plant Patholologist in the Fera Plant Protection Programme, Sand Hutton, York, UK. He is a member of the EPPO panel on diagnosis of plant pathogenic bacteria and a founding member of the European Association of Phytobacteriologists. He is currently managing research within the AHDB Partnership on Soil Biology and Soil Health, involving molecular assessment of the effects of soil management practices on the survival of soil-borne plant pathogens and overall diversity within fungal and bacterial soil microbiomes. Other current AHDB projects include detection and control of bacterial diseases affecting potato, tomato and mushroom production. He is also developing contingency measures to reduce risks to UK horticulture posed by emerging pathogens such as Xylella fastidiosa.