Mr. Francois Knowles is the Registrar of the Agricultural Produce Agents Council (known as APAC). The objective of APAC as a self-sustaining regulatory body, is to regulate and manage the occupations of fresh produce, export and livestock agents in South Africa. This industry is worth more than R130 Billion per year.

His introduction into agriculture came in 1995. He has vast experience in the management of fresh produce markets and commercial marketing of agricultural products.

He is a qualified Work Study Practitioner, has a qualification in marketing (UNISA), obtained a BCom degree in Economics and Accounting, a post graduate qualification in Operational Management and a master’s degree at the University of Pretoria with research that focused on Sustainable Integrated Environmental Management in the fresh produce domain. His work and research were published in Europe by the World Union of Wholesale Markets and serves as a benchmark for international fresh produce trading platforms.

He has great passion for his profession and the people that he works with.