Phil Weir is the co-owner of a 240ha dry stock farm in the Waikato. Holding a Master's degree in Marine Management from Canada's Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Social Science from Waikato University, before taking up farming Phil has worked in environmental science, research and development, commercialisation and intellectual property management.

Phil completed the Kellogg rural leadership programme in 2016 and is a Nuffield Scholar for 2020 where he will investigate industry collaboration and farmer representation and the structures that make it successful. Phil is a member of the Beef and Lamb Mid Northern North Island Farmer Council.

As an Agribusiness Consultant with Agfirst (Waikato), Phil has focused business development and project work looking at land use diversification. This has included being the author of a report for Waikato Regional Council which looks at the options for the region and the farmer decision making processes required to make change successfully.