Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Plant Science, University of Dundee, 2003
  • B.S., Biology, University of Stirling, Scotland, 1997

With a background in plant science research, Dr. Sunley has 20 years of broad ranging experience in EU regulatory affairs for plant protection products. He manages interdisciplinary projects in crop protection. 

Dr. Sunley's regulatory affairs specialisms include EU active substance and product risk assessments; pesticide efficacy; minor uses (speciality crops); crop trial data extrapolation; EU pesticide literature reviews; EU Zonal Authorisation; Comparative Assessment; phytosanitary affairs, and general agronomy.

Dr. Sunley worked as a pesticide regulator for the UK national chemicals regulator, CRD (Chemicals Regulation Directorate). He conducted product level risk assessments and managed off-label approvals (extensions of authorisation) to support minor uses on specialist crops. On an international level, Dr Sunley has been involved with numerous technical panels in crop protection and phytosanitary affairs; prepared workshops; and contributed to international developments in crop protection with organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Dr Sunley coordinated the development of numerous international standards for the efficacy evaluation of plant protection products while working at the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) based in Paris. He also worked on the development of principles for efficacy data extrapolation for minor uses and continues to be a champion for specialty crops.