Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena
Minister of Agriculture, Sri Lanka
Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is the Sri Lankan minister of agriculture. He has been active in politics for more than 25 years. Prior to this, he was the chief minister of the southern provincial council for two terms and then served as the deputy minister of healthcare. Additionally, he served as the minister of cultural affairs and national heritage. He is a representative of the Matara District for the United People’s Freedom Alliance in the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Rosanna Agble
Former Chief Nutrition Officer, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Ghana
Rosanna Agble is the former chief nutrition officer for the Ghanaian Ministry of Health. As chief nutrition officer, she worked on the development of policies, programs, and strategies in nutrition not only for Ghana but also for other African countries. Prior to that position, she was the regional administrator of Ghana Health Service nutrition programmes. Rosanna is now a freelance nutrition consultant. She holds a degree in nutritional biochemistry from the University of Ghana.
Isher Judge Ahluwalia
Chairperson, Board of Governors, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), India
Isher Judge Ahluwalia is the chairperson of the Board of Governors for the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). Prior to this, she served as the director and chief executive of ICRIER. She is the appointed chair of the High Powered Expert Committee on Urban Infrastructure of the Ministry of Urban Development and former chair of IFPRI’s Board of Trustees. In 2009, Isher received the Padma Bhushan from the president of India for her services in the field of education and literature. She received a B.A. in economics from Presidency College, Calcutta University, an M.A. in economics from the Delhi School of Economics, and a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India, India
Montek Singh Ahluwalia is the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission for the Government of India. Prior to this, he served as the director of the Independent Evaluation Office of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He also served on the Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister. He was also the secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, finance secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and special secretary to the prime minister. Additionally, he served as an economist and chief of several divisions at the World Bank. He holds a B.A. in economics from Delhi University and an M.A. and M. Phil. from Oxford University.
Graciela Noemí Albo
Associate Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, National University La Plata, Argentina
Graciela Noemí Albo is an associate professor within the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry at the National University La Plata, as well as an agricultural engineer. She is the director of the University’s extension program and directs research on optimizing the production of farm animals. Graciela is a representative of the OWN program, which strives to prevent infarction.
A. M. M. Shawkat Ali
Former Secretary of Agriculture, Bangladesh
A. M. M. Shawkat Ali is the former secretary of agriculture for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. In 2008, he also served as adviser to the caretaker government for the Ministries of Food and Disaster Management, Health, and Family Welfare.
Lindsay Allen
Center Director, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center, and Research Professor, University of California, Davis, USA
Lindsay Allen is the center director of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center, and a research professor at the University of California, Davis. She also serves as the vice president of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences. Previous to this, she served as president of the American Society for Nutrition and president of the Society for International Nutrition Research. Lindsay was awarded the American Society for Nutrition’s Kellogg International Nutrition Prize and the Conrad Elvehjem Award for Public Service in Nutrition.
Fawzi Al-Sultan
Chair, Board of Trustees, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Kuwait
Fawzi Al-Sultan is the chair of IFPRI’s board of trustees. He is also active on several boards for agricultural research, water, and education, and advises a number of regional private sector companies. Prior to this, he served as the managing director of a private Kuwaiti bank. Fawzi also served as president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and as an executive director at the World Bank.
Inger Andersen
Vice President, Sustainable Development Department, World Bank, and Chair, CGIAR Fund
Inger Andersen is the vice president of sustainable development at the World Bank. Prior to her appointment, she served as sustainable development director for the Africa Region and as director for the Rural Development, Water, & Environment Department. . Inger also served in many capacities at the United Nations (UN), including the management of projects on environmental concerns, international waters, and renewable energy. She holds a master’s degree in development economics and African politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Jennifer M. Anderson
Master of Public Health Candidate, Department of International Health, Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
Jennifer M. Anderson is a master of public health candidate in the Department of International Health, Human Nutrition at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Prior to this, she was the youth nutrition program coordinator and the senior nutrition program consultant at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Jennifer lived and worked in Nagaland, India while completing the Wheaton College Human Needs and Global Resources certificate program. She is on the board of directors of Engineers Without Borders-USA Chicagoland Professionals, as well as an active participant in their Central American activities. She holds a B.A. in cultural anthropology from Wheaton College.
Michael Anderson
Director General, Policy and Global Issues, Department for International Development (DFID), UK
Michael Anderson is the director general of policy and global issues at the Department for International Development (DFID). Prior to this position, he managed DFID’s programs for India, the Middle East, North Africa, and Iraq. Before joining DFID, Michael was the director of studies at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. In 2000, he cofounded Bazian Ltd., a company that specializes in information products for evidence-based medicine. Michael holds degrees in political science, social anthropology, and law from the Universities of Washington, Oxford, and London. He was awarded the President’s Medal at the University of Washington and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford.
Adriana Veiga Aranha
Professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, and Special Advisor to the Minister, Zero Hunger Advisory Board, Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger, Brazil
Adriana Veiga Aranha is a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais and visiting professor at the Polytechnic of Mozambique. She is also a public servant in Belo Horizonte for the Brazilian federal government and works as special adviser for the Zero Hunger strategy within the Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger in Brazil. Adriana holds a master’s degree in public administration and social policies.
Tom Arnold
Chief Executive Officer, Concern Worldwide, Ireland
Tom Arnold is the chief executive officer of Concern Worldwide. He was previously assistant secretary general and chief economist in the Department of Agriculture and Food in Ireland. He worked for the European Commission for 10 years, three of which were in Africa. He was chairman of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) committee for agriculture. He is also a member of the board of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Tom holds a degree in agricultural economics from University College Dublin, a master’s degree in business administration from Catholic University of Louvain, and a master’s degree in strategic management from Trinity College Dublin. He received an honorary doctorate of law from the National University of Ireland and an honorary doctorate in science from University College Dublin.
Tola Atinmo
Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, and President, Federation of African Nutrition Societies, Nigeria
Tola Atinmo is a professor of human nutrition at the University of Ibadan. He is the president of the Federation of African Nutrition Societies and a fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology. Previously, he served as president of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and as a member of the Council of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences. He is a member of the National Nutrition Council, chaired by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and chair of the Council’s technical committee. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Nutrition at Cornell University.
Sartaj Aziz
Vice Chancellor, Beaconhouse National University at Lahore, and Former Minister of Agriculture, of Finance, and of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan
Sartaj Aziz is the vice chancellor of the Beaconhouse National University at Lahore. Prior to this, he served in the Government of Pakistan as minister of food and agriculture, finance minister, foreign minister, and a Pakistani senator. Sartaj was also the deputy secretary general of the World Food Conference, deputy executive director of the World Food Council, and assistant president at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He holds a degree in commerce from the Punjab University in Pakistan and a master’s degree in development economics from Harvard University.
Daniel S. Balaban
President, Brazilian National Education Development Fund (FNDE), Brazil
Daniel S. Balaban is the president of the Brazilian National Education Development Fund (FNDE). He is also chair of Latin American’s School Feeding Network and a board member of the Global Child Nutrition Foundation. Previous to this, he served as finance analyst in the Ministry of Finance, economic adviser to the secretary of the treasury, and national coordinator of the Coordination of Tax-Economic Studies of the Secretariat of National Treasury. Daniel holds an M.B.A. in finance and a master’s degree in international relations.
David Beckmann
President, Bread for the World, USA
David Beckmann has been the president of Bread for the World since 1991. Prior to that, he served at the World Bank. He is also president of Bread for the World Institute. He founded and serves as president of the Alliance to End Hunger. David is the 2010 World Food Prize Laureate. He earned degrees from Yale, Christ Seminary, and the London School of Economics, and was awarded honorary doctorates from five universities.
Rob Bertram
Director, Agriculture, Technology, and Research Office, Bureau for Food Security, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USA
No bio available.
Laura Birx
Senior Nutrition and Food Security Advisor, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USA
No bio available.
Leszek Borysiewicz
Vice Chancellor, University of Cambridge, UK
Leszek Borysiewicz is the vice chancellor of the University of Cambridge and a clinical scientist specializing in infectious diseases. His research led to the development of a vaccine for human papillomavirus, a cause of cervical cancer. Previously, he was chief executive of the United Kingdom’s Medical Research Council and deputy rector of Imperial College London.
Robert Bos
Coordinator, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Health, World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland
Robert Bos is the coordinator of water, sanitation, hygiene, and health at the World Health Organization (WHO). He has served as a public health biologist with WHO for nearly 30 years, during which he served as an executive secretary of the joint WHO/FAO/UNEP Panel of Experts on Environmental Management for Vector Control. He has promoted the development of health impact assessments, managed research on environmental management, and contributed to the development of norms and standards for the safe use of wastewater in agriculture. He holds master of science degrees from the University of Amsterdam in medical biology and in basic and clinical immunology.
Howarth Bouis
Director, HarvestPlus Program, USA
Howarth Bouis is the director of the HarvestPlus program and holds a joint appointment at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) where he is based and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). He has promoted biofortification activities both within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), including their National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARES) partners, and in the international nutrition community. He received his B.A. in economics from Stanford University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Stanford University’s Food Research Institute.
Francesco Branca
Director, Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland
Francesco Branca is the director of the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development at the World Health Organization (WHO). Previously, he was president of the Federation of the European Nutrition Societies and a senior scientist at the Italian Food and Nutrition Research Institute. He holds a degree in medicine and surgery with a specialization in diabetology and metabolic diseases at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. He holds a Ph.D. in nutrition from Aberdeen University.
Lynn Brown
Acting Chief, Food Security and Safety Nets, Policy Planning and Strategy Division, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Italy
Lynn Brown is the acting chief of the Food Security and Safety Nets Service of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Lynn also worked for the World Bank’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department as a member of team for World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development. She also managed the World Bank’s nutrition portfolio from Bangladesh. She was a founding member of the OECD’s task-team on risk and vulnerability and chair of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Food Security and Vulnerability Information Mapping System. She undertook Ph.D. graduate studies at Cornell University and holds an M.S. in quantitative development economics from the University of Warwick.
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
President, Global Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA
Sylvia Mathews Burwell is the president of the Global Development Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She also served the Foundation as executive vice president, chief operating officer, and executive director. Prior to this, she served in the Clinton administration as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, assistant to the president, deputy chief of staff to the president, and chief of staff to former treasury secretary Robert E. Rubin. She also worked for McKinsey & Company, where she was a consultant for many financial institutions. She is a former Rhodes Scholar and holds a degree from Harvard University.
Derek Byerlee
Chair, Standing Panel on Impact Assessment Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Australia
Derek Byerlee is the chair of the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and a consultant and adviser to a number of international organizations. Formerly he was rural strategy adviser for the World Bank and co-director of the 2008 World Development Report: Agriculture for Development. Before joining the Bank, he was director of economics at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and associate professor at Michigan State University.
Margaret Catley-Carlson
Member, United Nations Secretary General Advisory Board on Water, Canada
Margaret Catley-Carlson is a member of the United Nations Secretary General Advisory Board on Water. She also serves as chair of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Water and Crop Diversity Trust. Prior to this, she served as president of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and as a Canadian diplomat. Margaret served as the deputy director general of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and president of the New York-based Population Council. She has 10 honorary degrees and is a Companion of the Order of Canada.
G. Chandrashekhar
Associate Editor, The Hindu/Business Line, India
G. Chandrashekhar is an associate editor of The Hindu/Business Line, an Indian daily newspaper, and specializes in agriculture, agribusiness, commodity markets, and international trade. He serves as chair of the Expert Committee on Agribusiness and Food Processing in the Indian Merchants’ Chamber, Mumbai. He also served as the independent director representing the Government of India on the board of directors of the Cotton Association of India and Bombay Commodities Exchange. He holds an M.A. in economics and an L.L.M. in constitutional and administrative law from Bombay University.
Dominique Charron
Program Leader, Ecosystems and Human Health Program, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada
Dominique Charron is the head of the Ecosystems and Human Health Program at Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Prior to this, Dominique practiced as a companion animal veterinarian and served as senior epidemiologist within the Public Health Agency of Canada. She holds degrees in veterinary medicine and epidemiology from the University of Guelph.
Pippa Chenevix Trench
Research Fellow, Market, Trade, and Institutions Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Pippa Chenevix Trench is a research fellow in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division at IFPRI and a development anthropologist. She currently works on food and water safety, managing a project on reducing the risk of aflatoxin contamination along the value chain in Mali and Kenya. Pippa has a Ph.D. in biological anthropology from University College London and a degree in pure and applied biology from Oxford University.
Kenda Cunningham
Doctoral Candidate in Public Health and Nutrition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
Kenda Cunningham is a doctoral candidate in public health and nutrition at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is also a research analyst with IFPRI. Previously, she worked at Save the Children, the International Debate Education Association, and the Carter Center. She holds an M.A. in Latin American studies and a certificate in immigration, refugees, and humanitarian emergencies from Georgetown University as well as a B.A. in political science and B.A. in Spanish from the University of North Texas.
Beatriz da Silveira Pinheiro
Director General, Strategic Studies and Capacity Strengthening, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrpa), Brazil
Beatriz da Silveira Pinheiro is the director general of Embrapa’s Strategic Studies and Capacity Strengthening division. She has also served in several positions at Embrapa, including director general and technical director of Embrapa Rice and Beans, and has assumed the leadership of many national and international projects researching rice. Beatriz is a member of the Global and Latin America International Networks for Genetic Evaluation of Rice and the coordinator of the International Year of Rice. She received a Ph.D. in plant biology from Universidade Estadual de Campinas, an M.S. in plant physiology from University of California, Davis, and a B.S. in agronomy from Universidad Federal de Pelotas.
Ken Davies
P4P Coordinator, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Italy
Ken Davies is the P4P (Purchase for Progress) coordinator for WFP. Previous to this he served the WFP in several capacities as program adviser in India and country director in Swaziland, Cambodia, Uganda, and Mozambique. Before joining WFP, he worked for the Band Aid/Live Aid Trust as the representative for Sudan, Eritrea, and Tigray and for the Save the Children Federation. Ken was a self-employed farmer of vegetables and grain in Canada. He obtained his B.S. in agriculture and M.A.T. degrees from Cornell University, and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School.
Denise C. Coitinho Delmuè
Executive Secretary, United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN), World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland
Denise C. Coitinho Delmuè is the executive secretary of the SCN. Prior to this, she served as director of the WHO’s Nutrition for Health and Development Department and was vice-chair of the SCN. Also at the WHO, she coordinated the REACH Initiative of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Denise has worked in Africa with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and has also been a researcher and senior lecturer in public health nutrition at the University of Brasília. She was the director of the Food and Nutrition Policy Unit at the Ministry of Health in Brasília. She holds an M.S. from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Ph.D. from the University of São Paulo.
S. Mahendra Dev
Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), India
S. Mahendra Dev is the director of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR). Previously, he was chair of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices of the Government of India. He also served as director at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies. He also was a senior fellow at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. He served as a member of several governmental committees, including the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Employment and the Rangarajan Commission on Financial Inclusion. He received his Ph.D. from the Delhi School of Economics and completed his postdoctoral research at the Economic Growth Center, Yale University.
Lisa Dreier
Director, Food Security and Development Initiatives, World Economic Forum USA, USA
Lisa Dreier is the director of Food Security and Development Initiatives at the World Economic Forum USA. She manages its New Vision for Agriculture initiative and the Global Agenda Council on Food Security. She previously worked at the Earth Institute at Columbia University, as well as coordinated the United Nations Millennium Project Hunger Task Force. Prior to those positions, Lisa worked as a consultant to the North American Development Bank and the World Bank and served as a staff member with the Environmental Defense Fund. She holds an M.A. in energy and resources, an M.P.P. in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. from Bowdoin College.
Charlotte Dufour
Food Security Nutrition and Livelihoods Officer, Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Italy
Charlotte Dufour is a food security nutrition and livelihoods officer with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and is working on the project Supporting Food Security, Nutrition, and Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to this, Charlotte spent ten years working on nutrition and food security in Afghanistan with Accion Contre la Faim, Groupe URD, FAO, the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Public Health, and other development partners. She holds a B.A. in human sciences from Oxford University and an M.S. in public health nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Olivier Ecker
Postdoctoral Fellow, Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Olivier Ecker is a postdoctoral fellow in IFPRI’s Development Strategy and Governance Division. Before joining IFPRI, he worked as a research associate at the University of Hohenheim’s Department of International Agricultural Trade and Food Security, and was also the executive manager of the University’s Center of Excellence in Developing Collaboration in Food Security. Olivier received his doctoral degree from the University of Hohenheim.
Shenggen Fan
Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Shenggen Fan is the director general of FPRI. Prior to this position, he served as the director of IFPRI’s Development Strategy and Governance Division. Before joining IFPRI, he held positions at the International Service for National Agricultural Research in the Netherlands and the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at the University of Arkansas. He is currently an Executive Committee member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists. Shenggen received his Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of Minnesota and his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Nanjing Agricultural University in China.
Jessica Fanzo
Senior Scientist, Bioversity International, Italy
Jessica Fanzo is a senior scientist for nutrition at Bioversity International. Prior to this, she served as the nutrition coordinator for the Millennium Villages Project and the nutrition director for the Center for Global Health and Economic Development at The Earth Institute at Columbia University. Additionally, Jessica was the program officer for medical research at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. She completed her Ph.D. in nutrition at the University of Arizona and was a Stephen I. Morse immunology postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University.
Kevin Farrell
Special Envoy for Hunger, Ireland
Kevin Farrell is the special envoy for hunger to assist in Ireland’s efforts to advance hunger reduction. Prior to this, he was a member of Ireland’s Hunger Task Force. He also served the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) as head of Great Lakes Operations, head of the WFP in Uganda and Somalia, and most recently head of the WFP in Zimbabwe. Kevin has also served as deputy humanitarian coordinator for the United Nations Iraq Program. He was chief executive officer in the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). He was educated at University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and University College.
Milton Rondó Filho
General Coordinator, International Actions Against Hunger, Ministry of External Relations, Brazil
Milton Rondó Filho is the general coordinator for International Actions Against Hunger in the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil. He oversees Brazilian foreign policy for food security, rural development, and nutrition in conjunction with several government ministries, agencies, and forums, including the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Civil Society Movements. Milton is also an appointee to the United Nations Advisory Group of the Central Emergency Response Fund.
Harriet Friedmann
Professor of Sociology, Geography, and Planning, University of Toronto, Canada
Harriet Friedmann is a professor of sociology, geography, and planning and is affiliated with the Munk School of Global Affairs and with history and philosophy of science at the University of Toronto. She was a visiting fellow at many institutions, including the Maison de Science de l`Homme, the Yale Center for Agrarian Studies, and All Souls College. She served as review editor for the United Nations-led International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science, and Technology. She received a Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University and was a postdoctoral fellow in economics at Cambridge University.
Linda Fulponi
Senior Agricultural Policy Analyst, Directorate for Trade and Agriculture, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), France
Linda Fulponi is a senior agricultural policy analyst at the OECD where she has worked for over 20 years. Her recent research has focused on agricultural policy and health, private standards, and the food economy, as well as food price variability and impacts of regional trade agreements for agriculture. Linda has taught at the Wharton School and Boston University, as well as the Universities of Bologna, Modena, and Naples. She received her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Boitshepo “Bibi” Giyose
Senior Food and Nutrition Security Adviser, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Secretariat, South Africa
Boitshepo “Bibi” Giyose is a senior food and nutrition security adviser with NEPAD. Before joining NEPAD, she worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Botswana, as the regional project coordinator. She has also worked as the regional coordinator for the Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat for East, Central and Southern Africa and as a nutritionist for the Government of Botswana. She has served on the Global Horticulture Board and the Oversight Committee of the Collaborative Crops Research Program of the McKnight Foundation (USA). She holds an M.S. in International Nutrition from Cornell University and a B.S. in nutrition and dietetics from Appalachian State University.
Marie Gaarder
Global Deputy Director, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), India
Marie Gaarder is the global deputy director of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie). Prior to joining 3ie, she worked as a social development economist at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). She has taught at University College London and has been a visiting researcher at the World Bank. Marie holds an M.S. in economics from the London School of Economics, and master’s degrees in Arabic, political science, and economics from the Universities of Hamburg and Oslo. She holds a Ph.D. in economics from University College London.
Stuart Gillespie
Senior Research Fellow, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Stuart Gillespie is a senior research fellow with IFPRI’s Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division. He is a cofounder and the director of the Regional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods, and Food Security (RENEWAL) and the coordinator of the Agriculture and Health Research Platform. Prior to joining IFPRI, Stuart worked with international agencies, bilateral agencies, and nongovernmental organizations on nutrition policy analysis, information systems development, and monitoring and evaluation. He holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in human nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Daniel Gilligan
Senior Research Fellow, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Daniel Gilligan is a senior research fellow in IFPRI’s Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division. His research addresses the economics of household investments in childhood education and nutrition in developing countries, as well as the impact and cost-effectiveness of social protection programs and agricultural and nutrition interventions. He holds a Ph.D. in agricultural and resource economics from the University of Maryland.
Brad Gilmour
Chief of International Analysis, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Canada
Brad Gilmour is chief of international analysis for Agriculture and Agri-food. Prior to this, he collaborated with Chinese colleagues on capacity-building related to World Trade Organization (WTO) accession and worked with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Asian Development Bank (ADB) colleagues on initiatives related to trade facilitation. Brad has also managed programs related to multilateral environmental agreements and overseen work related to water and resource governance.
Ashok Gulati
Director, Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), India
Ashok Gulati is the director in Asia for IFPRI. Previously, he was the director of IFPRI’s Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division. He also served as a National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) chair professor at the Institute of Economic Growth in Delhi and chief economist at the National Council of Applied Economic Research. Ashok has been a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister of India, a member of the State Planning Board of Karnataka, and a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He has an M.A. in economics and a Ph.D. from the Delhi School of Economics.
Lawrence Haddad
Director, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, and President, Development Studies Association of the UK and Ireland (DSA), UK
Lawrence Haddad is the director of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, and the current president of the United Kingdom and Ireland’s Development Studies Association (DSA). He is an economist, and his main research interests are in the intersection of poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Lawrence is also a member of the Lead Expert Group for the UK Government Foresight Program and of the Steering Committee of the High Level Panel of Experts of the United Nation’s Committee on World Food Security.
Stephen Hall
Director General, The WorldFish Center, Malaysia
Stephen Hall is the director general of the WorldFish Center, an institution dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger by improving fisheries and aquaculture in developing countries. A leading scientist in fisheries and aquaculture research, Stephen’s previous positions include director and CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science and professor of marine biology at Flinders University, South Australia.
Corinna Hawkes
Consultant, Food and Nutrition Policy, France, and Visiting Fellow, Centre for Food Policy, City University London, UK
Corinna Hawkes is a consultant specializing in identifying and analyzing food policies throughout the food supply chain to promote healthy eating. She has specific expertise in the links among agriculture, food, diet, and health. Her clients around the world include international organizations, national governments, foundations, and nongovernment organizations. Corinna has worked for the World Health Organization (WHO), led the program on food policy and dietary change at IFPRI, and was a fellow in the Department of Nutrition at the School of Public Health, University Of São Paulo.
Derek Headey
Research Fellow, Development Strategies and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Ethiopia
Derek Headey is a research fellow in the Development Strategies and Governance Division at IFPRI, where he joined as a postdoctoral fellow in 2008. His research encompasses a wide range of issues, including development strategies, agricultural development, poverty and nutrition, structural change, demography and development, rebuilding after emergencies, and the political economy of development. He received his Ph.D. and undergraduate degrees in economics from the University of Queensland.
Franz Heidhues
Professor Emeritus, Stuttgart-Hohenheim University, Germany
Franz Heidhues is a professor emeritus at Hohenheim University in Stuttgart, Germany. He conducts research on poverty, rural development, natural resource management, food and nutrition security, and rural finance, primarily focusing on Southeast Asia and Africa. Before joining this university, Franz worked at the World Bank. He holds a doctorate degree in economics from the University of Muenster.
John Hoddinott
Deputy Director, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, USA
John Hoddinott is a deputy director in the Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division of IFPRI. Before joining IFPRI, he held university appointments in Canada and the United Kingdom, including a University Lectureship in Economics and Fellowship at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford. A Canadian citizen, John holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Toronto, an M.A. from York University, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Oxford.
Lora Iannotti
Assistant Professor, Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
Lora Iannotti is an assistant professor in the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research focuses on program evaluation and impact modeling of undernutrition, infectious diseases, and poverty. Lora received a Ph.D. in international nutrition from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and an M.A. in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.
Thiam Ismael
Program Officer, Noncommunicable Diseases and Nutrition and Food Security, West African Health Organization (WAHO) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Burkina Faso
Thiam Ismael is the program officer for Noncommunicable Diseases and Nutrition and Food Security for the West African Health Organization (WAHO) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He also served as nutrition and child survival adviser at WAHO and as coordinator of the ECOWAS Nutrition Forum. Prior to this, he worked for the first national Community Nutrition Program of the Word Bank in Senegal. Thiam also served as regional nutrition adviser for a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project on nutrition and child survival for West Africa (BASICS). He is a medical doctor and holds a postgraduate degree in public nutrition from Senegal.
Cheryl Jackson-Lewis
Senior Nutrition and Health Advisor, Bureau for Food Security, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USA
Cheryl Jackson-Lewis is a senior nutrition and health adviser for the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Food Security. Previously, Cheryl was a branch chief and supervisory nutritionist for USAID’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). She has worked in both the public and private sectors as a chief clinical and administrative dietitian. Cheryl has worked extensively on health, nutrition, and food security programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Diane Jacovella
Vice President, Multilateral and Global Programs Branch, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canada
Diane Jacovella is the vice president for the Multilateral and Global Programs Branch of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). She also served as director general of CIDA’s Southern and Eastern Africa Directorate, director general of the Office of the Privy Council, and director general of Human Resources and Skills Development.
D. Patrick Johnson
Associate, Diplomacy and International Development, Booz Allen Hamilton, USA
D. Patrick Johnson is an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he helps lead the firm’s diplomacy and international development practice. He has supported strategic and transformational projects across the World Bank Group, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Millennium Challenge Corporation, International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United States Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Labor.
Hans Jöhr
Corporate Head of Agriculture, Nestlé, Switzerland
Hans Jöhr is the corporate head of Agriculture at Nestlé. Prior to joining Nestlé, he served as chief executive officer of AFC Consulting in Brazil, engaged in agribusiness and forestry consulting and management. He is on the Board of the International Policy Council on Agriculture Food and Trade and the Board of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, and is the director of the Board of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center in Costa Rica. Hans is a former president of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association and cofounder/former president of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative of the food industry. He completed formal education in agricultural economics and received his doctoral degree in economic science with complementary management programmes at l’Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires and International Institute for Management Development.
Kabba Joiner
Former Director General, West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Burkina Faso
Kabba Joiner is the former director general of the West African Health Organisation, an intergovernmental organization whose membership comprises the 15 West African states. He completed his term in 2008 and is currently a consultant to the African Medical Research Foundation. He has served as vice dean clinical at the University of Ilorin, executive secretary of the West African Post-graduate Medical College, and executive director of the West African Health Community. In 2008, he received a prize for Leadership in Advocacy for Food Fortification in West Africa from the Food Fortification Initiative.
Agnes M. Kalibata
Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda
Agnes M. Kalibata is the minister of agriculture and animal resources for Rwanda. Prior to this, she was the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources. Agnes also served as a scientist with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). She holds a Ph.D. in plant, soils, and insect science from University of Massachusetts Amherst, an M.S. in agriculture and forestry from Makerere University, and a B.S. in applied entomology and biochemistry from Makerere University.
Bhushana Karandikar
Agribusiness Strategist, Mahagrapes, India
Bhushana Karandikar is an agribusiness strategist at Mahagrapes. She facilitates the links among farmer’s groups and self-help groups and market channels. She is also involved in knowledge gathering using advanced technologies, thereby assuring authentic, accurate, and seamless data. Bhushana is an economist by training and a development administrator by profession.
Dyno Keatinge
Director General, The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC), Taiwan
Dyno Keatinge is the director general of The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC). He is also vice-chair of the Global Horticulture Initiative and is on the Advisory Committee to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Program (HortCRSP). Dyno has worked at the International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Agricultural Research for Development in Africa (IITA), and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). He is a visiting professor of tropical agriculture at the University of Reading. He holds a doctorate in agriculture from Queen’s University of Belfast.
Eileen Kennedy
Dean, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, USA
Eileen Kennedy is the dean of the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Prior to this, she was the first executive director of the Center on Nutrition Policy and Promotion in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), where she created the “Healthy Eating Index,” a validated measure for researchers monitoring nutrition. Eileen served on the United Nations (UN) Advisory Group on Nutrition, and her leadership experience has included involvement with many UN organizations, the National Academy of Sciences, the White House National Science and Technology Council, and the Surgeon General’s Task Force on Health Disparities.
Joyce Kinabo
Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
Joyce Kinabo is an associate professor of human nutrition in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the Sokoine University of Agriculture. She is actively involved in community nutrition research focusing on improving the capacity of communities to solve their nutritional problems by identifying and formulating appropriate interventions. Joyce has participated in drafting the food security policy and strategy for Tanzania, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Pillar III, and the Tanzania Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plan. She holds a Ph.D. in nutritional physiology.
Jaspreet Kindra
Journalist, Focal Point for Climate Change and Food Security, IRIN News, South Africa
Jaspreet Kindra is the focal point for climate change and food security coverage of IRIN News, the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) online news service. A journalist for the past 20 years, Jaspreet has worked in Asia and Africa, and her writing has been published in the UN’s Standing Committee for Nutrition (SCN) journal, The Guardian, the Hindustan Times and Outlook magazine. In 2009, she won the Internews Earth Journalism award for her reporting on climate change adaptation in Eritrea.
Manfred Konukiewitz
Deputy Director General, Global and Sectoral Policies, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany
Manfred Konukiewitz is the deputy director general of global and sectoral policies at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Before his appointment, he directed the division for water, energy, and urban development. Under his leadership, Germany expanded its international role in rural development activities and implemented a scaled-up program for development partnerships in food security and agriculture. Manfred is a graduate of the Free University of Berlin and he holds a Ph.D. in political science from Indiana University.
John Kufuor
Former President, Republic of Ghana, Ghana
John Kufuor is the former president of the Republic of Ghana, having served two terms from 2001–2009. During his presidency, he served as chairperson of the African Union (2007–2008) and a chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (2003–2005). He also served as a deputy minister of foreign affairs, representing Ghana’s delegation to the United Nations (UN). President Kufuor has twice been elected as a member of parliament. Earlier in his career, he served as secretary for local government, chief legal officer, and city manager for the city of Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana. He is currently a Global Ambassador Against Hunger for the UN World Food Programme (WFP). He received his B.A. and M.A. from Oxford University.
Manoj Kumar
Chief Executive Officer, Naandi Foundation, India
Manoj Kumar is the chief executive officer of the Naandi Foundation, a nonprofit involved in child nutrition, water and sanitation, child education, and food security and livelihoods. Currently, he is leading the first scientific survey of hunger and malnutrition (HUNGaMA Survey) in 100 districts in India with the lowest child health and nutrition indices. He is also a fellow of the Aspen Institute, Colorado.
T. Vijay Kumar
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, and Director, National Rural Livelihoods Mission, India
T. Vijay Kumar is the joint secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development and the director of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. Prior to this, he managed the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Anna Lartey
Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, and President-Elect, International Union of Nutritional Sciences (2009–2013), Ghana
Anna Lartey is an associate professor in the department of nutrition and food science at the University of Ghana. She is currently the president-elect of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences, a position that she began in 2009. For over 20 years, Anna has conducted research on maternal and child nutrition issues in Ghana.
Lloyd Le Page
Chief Executive Officer, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Consortium Board, USA
No bio available.
Xing Li
Economist, Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd., Beijing Branch, China
Xing Li is an economist in the Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd. in Beijing. Her area of expertise is agricultural insurance and public policies, insurance, and reinsurance. She holds a Ph.D.in agricultural economics from Nanjing Agricultural University. Xing Li did her postdoctoral research on public policy and rural poverty jointly sponsored by the Chinese Agricultural Academy of Sciences and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
Luc Maene
Director General, International Fertilizer Association (IFA), France
Luc Maene is the director general of the International Fertilizer Association (IFA). Also at IFA, he has held the positions of executive secretary for agro-economic and technical matters, deputy secretary general, and secretary general. Prior to working at IFA, he served in the Belgian Administration for Development Cooperation. He also worked for the United Nations on the Fertilizer Advisory, Development, and Information Network for Asia and the Pacific. Luc is the vice chairman of the Board of the International Fertilizer Development Center and the past chairman of the board of directors of the Fertilizer Industry Round Table. He received a degree in agricultural engineering and soil science from the University of Gent and was awarded a doctorate honoris causa in agriculture by the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
Sushila Malla
President, Nepal Nutrition Association, and Director, National Center for Health and Nutrition, Nepal
Sushila Malla is the current president of the Nepal Nutrition Association. She is also the director of the National Center for Health and Nutrition and an associate professor at the Institute of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, in Nepal. Additionally, Sushila serves as chair for the Tej Foundation and is a nutrition consultant for the Local Initiatives for Biodiversity Research and Development (LI-BIRD) and ICIMODE.
M. G. Venkatesh Mannar
President, Micronutrient Initiative, Canada
M. G. Venkatesh Mannar is the president of the Micronutrient Initiative (MI). Prior to this, he worked with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to lead global efforts to address iodine deficiency by the universal iodization of salt. He co-developed a process for the double fortification of salt with iodine and iron to simultaneously address major nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, he worked on micronutrient deficiency issues with the United Nations (UN) and many bilateral aid agencies. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and an M.S. in chemical engineering from Northwestern University.
Grace S. Marquis
Associate Professor, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Canada
Grace S. Marquis is a Canadian research chair in social and environmental aspects of nutrition in the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition and the interim co-director for the Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment at McGill University. Grace has worked in community research on child nutrition for more than 25 years, primarily in Peru and Ghana. Her research has examined determinants of diet and nutritional status of infants and young children living in poverty and the means by which individuals, communities, and societies can intervene to promote optimal nutrition.
William A. Masters
Professor of Food Policy, Friedman School of Nutrition, Tufts University, USA
William A. Masters is a professor in the Department of Food Policy and Applied Nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University. He is the director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – funded Nutrition Collaborative Support Program for Africa at Tufts University. He serves as coeditor of Agricultural Economics, the journal of the International Association of Agricultural Economists. William attended Deep Springs College and graduated from Yale University. He holds a Ph.D. from the Food Research Institute of Stanford University.
Bonnie McClafferty
Manager, Agriculture and Nutrition Security, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), USA
Bonnie McClafferty is the manager of agriculture and nutrition security for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). She also oversees communications, advocacy, and fundraising for HarvestPlus, a biofortification research and delivery program. She has technical training in agronomy, public policy, communication, and management, as well as over 20 years of experience working on agricultural development, nutrition, and gender. She serves on Helen Keller International (HKI)’s Technical Advisory Committee and is a member of the Executive Steering Committee for Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI).
John McDermott
Deputy Director General of Research, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya
John McDermott is the deputy director general and the director of research at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). He has worked in livestock development and animal and public health in developing countries for over 20 years as a professor, researcher, and manager. He has also been a professor of veterinary epidemiology at the University of Guelph. His main contributions have been in the areas of infectious disease control, quantitative veterinary epidemiology, and modeling of infectious disease transmission.
Milla McLachlan
Professor, Division of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Milla McLachlan is a professor in the Division of Human Nutrition in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University. She currently leads a research program on community food and nutrition security in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, and she is co-convenor of the Southern Africa Food Lab. Milla has served as nutrition adviser in the World Bank’s Health, Nutrition, and Population Division and as principal policy analyst on poverty and social issues at the Development Bank of Southern Africa. She holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from Michigan State University, an M.A. in transpersonal psychology (ecopsychology) from Naropa University, and a B.S. from the University of Stellenbosch.
Purvi Mehta-Bhatt
Head, Capacity Strengthening, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya
Purvi Mehta-Bhatt is the head of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)’s global capacity development initiatives. Purvi has been involved with a large number of capacity development, outreach, and technology transfer initiatives around the world and brings over 16 years of experience designing and implementing capacity development and stakeholder networking interventions.
Ruth Meinzen-Dick
Senior Research Fellow, Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Ruth Meinzen-Dick is senior research follow in the Environment and Production Technology Division of IFPRI, as well as the coordinator of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Program on Collective Action and Property Rights. She leads IFPRI’s gender task force and co-leads work on strengthening women’s assets. Much of Ruth’s research has been in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. She received Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in development sociology from Cornell University and a B.A. in anthropology from Washington University in st. Louis.
Jaime Miranda
Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, and Director, CRONICAS Center of Excellence to Combat Chronic Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
Jaime Miranda is an associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine and the director of CRONICAS Center of Excellence to Combat Chronic Diseases, both at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. He has worked in the nongovernment organization, health-related sector as well as in academia. Jaime trained in medicine in Peru and earned a Ph.D. in epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Siwa Msangi
Senior Research Fellow, Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Siwa Msangi is a senior research fellow within the Environment and Production Technology Division at IFPRI and co-leads IFPRI’s research theme on Global Food and Natural Resources. He holds a doctoral degree in agricultural and resources economics from the University of California, Davis, and a master’s degree in international development policy and an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, both from Stanford University.
Kioko Munyao
Team Leader, Integrated Technical Services-International Programs, World Vision Canada, Canada
Kioko Munyao is team leader in Integrated Technical Services-International Programs at World Vision Canada. He has over 15 years of experience in food and nutrition security, working both in the public sector and in the nongovernmental organization sector across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. His work has focused on the integration of agriculture, food security, and nutrition from both programming and policy dimensions. Kioko holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Nairobi and a master’s degree in international agriculture and rural development from Cornell University.
Robert Mwadime
Senior Regional Nutrition Adviser, Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II (FANTA-2) Project, AED, Uganda
Robert Mwadime is a senior regional nutrition adviser for AED’s Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II (FANTA-2) project. He has lived and worked extensively throughout Eastern and Southern Africa and within academia and nongovernmental organizations for over a decade. Robert’s main interests have been in program performance, food and nutrition policy development, nutrition advocacy, and capacity development in food security and nutrition. He holds a Ph.D. in nutrition and development planning.
David Nabarro
Special Representative on Food Security and Nutrition, United Nations (UN), Switzerland
David Nabarro is the special representative on food security and nutrition at the United Nations (UN). Prior to this, he was the coordinator of the UN System’s High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the food security crisis. He has served as regional (East Africa) and chief health and population adviser for the UK Overseas Development Administration, as director for human development at the UK’s Department of International Development (DIFD), and as the director responsible for malaria at the World Health Organization (WHO). Additionally, David served as executive director and chef de cabinet, senior UN system coordinator for avian and pandemic influenza, and UN assistant secretary-general. He studied at Oxford and London universities to qualify as a physician and receive master’s degrees in reproductive endocrinology and community health.
Video comments by David Nabarro on nutrition security
Jay Naidoo
Chairman, Board of Directors and Partnership Council, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and Founder, J&J Group Development Trust, South Africa
Jay Naidoo is chair of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and founder of the social development arm of an investment and management company he cofounded, J&J Group. He currently serves in an advisory capacity for a number of organizations, including the Global Health Advisory Panel of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Previously, he was the minister responsible for South Africa’s Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP) and communications minister in Nelson Mandela’s cabinet. Jay was the founding general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), and he chaired the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). He was the recipient of the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honor)and the “Drivers for Change Award” from the Southern African Trust and Mail & Guardian newspaper.
Brenda Shenute Namugumya
Program Officer and Public Nutrition Specialist, Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care, Uganda
Brenda Shenute Namugumya is the program officer and public nutrition specialist at the Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care. She also worked on the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II (FANTA-2) Project. Brenda supported the development of the Uganda Nutrition Advocacy tools, as well as the designing and implementation of the Nutrition Star Pilot in northern Uganda. Brenda received her master’s degree in applied human nutrition from Makerere University.
Namanga Ngongi
President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Kenya
Namanga Ngongi is the president of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). He has served as the deputy executive director of the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) as well as undersecretary-general and special representative and head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He began his career alongside farmers in his native Cameroon, where he worked as an agricultural extension officer for the Ministry of Agriculture. He obtained his Ph.D. in agronomy from Cornell University.
Danielle Nierenberg
Senior Researcher, The Worldwatch Institute, and Co-project Director, Nourishing the Planet, USA
Danielle Nierenberg is a senior researcher at The Worldwatch Institute and co-director of the Institute’s Nourishing the Planet project. She has traveled to more than 25 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa to evaluate environmentally sustainable ways of alleviating hunger and poverty. Danielle worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic. She holds an M.S. in agriculture, food, and environment from Tufts University and a B.A. in environmental policy from Monmouth College.
Eduardo A. F. Nilson
Substitute Coordinator of Food and Nutrition, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Eduardo A. F. Nilson is the substitute coordinator of food and nutrition and the manager of the Monitoring and Evaulation Area within Brazil’s Ministry of Health. His activities address health and nutrition policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation, and food and nutrition surveillance. Eduardo holds a B.S. in biology, anda postgraduate degree in molecular biology, and is a specialist in public policy and governmental management.
Carlos Pérez del Castillo
Chair, Consortium Board, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Uruguay
Carlos Pérez del Castillo is the chair of the Consortium Board of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR). Carlos has served as chairman of the WTO General Council, as vice-minister and acting minister of foreign affairs of Uruguay, and as permanent secretary of the Latin American Economic System. He is a member of the Board of the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC), of the Steering Committee of the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE), and runs a small cattle farm.
Joseph John Otim
Senior Presidential Adviser, Government of Uganda, Uganda
Joseph John Otim currently serves as senior presidential adviser in the Government of Uganda and the president of the Agricultural Council of Uganda. Previously, he served as a member of Parliament and minister of Animal Industry and Fisheries. He lectured in the faculties of Makerere and Nairobi universities. He worked as principal research officer and deputy in-charge of research and outreach programmes in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. He earned a B.S. in agriculture, and an M.S. in animal production from Makerere University and a Ph.D. in animal nutrition and veterinary physiology from Saskatchewan University.
Apollo O. Owuor
Agronomy Manager, Kenya Horticultural Exporters Ltd., Kenya
Apollo O. Owuor is the agronomy manager at Kenya Horticultural Exporters Ltd. He manages food production programs, farmer recruiting and training, and food safety management systems. He also leads the company’s social responsibility activities and oversees the food production system for all of its farmers. Apollo serves as a board member of the Waitrose Foundation Kenya and the Kenya Global GAP Technical Working Group. He obtained a degree in agricultural economics from Egerton University.
Robert Paarlberg
Betty Freyhof Johnson Class of 1944 Professor of Political Science, Wellesley College, and Adjunct Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School, USA
Robert Paarlberg is professor of political science at Wellesley College and adjunct professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He writes and consults in the area of international food and agricultural policy, most recently for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Robert’s 2008 book published by the Harvard University Press included a foreword by Norman Borlaug and Jimmy Carter.
Rajul Pandya-Lorch
Chief of Staff and Head of the 2020 Vision Initiative, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Rajul Pandya-Lorch concurrently serves as the chief of staff in the Director General’s Office and head of the 2020 Vision Initiative at IFPRI. Rajul is the co-recipient of two awards from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association: 2010 Quality of Communication Award and 2002 Award for Distinguished Policy Contribution. Rajul earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in public and international affairs from Princeton University.
Chet Raj Pant
Member, National Planning Commission, Goverment of Nepal, Nepal
Chet Raj Pant is a member of the National Planning Commission of the Government of Nepal. He has a background in international public health. Prior to this, he was a professor of ophthalmology at the Medical School of Kathmandu University.
Esther Penunia
Secretary-General, Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), Philippines
Esther Penunia is the secretary-general of the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), a regional alliance established in 2002. AFA carries out programs on policy advocacy, capacity building, management of on-ground initiatives, and governance. Prior to this, she served as a nongovernmental organization executive and a community organizer. Esther is a social development worker and has spent her professional years in the field of rural development working with farmers, fishing communities, and intellectual property sectors.
Prabhu Pingali
Deputy Director, Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA
Prabhu Pingali is the deputy director of agricultural development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Prior to this, he was the director of the Agricultural and Development Economics Division of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), director of the Economics Program at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), an agricultural economist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and an economist in the World Bank’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department. Prabhu was a foreign fellow at the United States National Academy of Sciences as well as the president and a fellow of the International Association of Agricultural Economists. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from North Carolina State University.
Per Pinstrup-Andersen
H.E. Babcock Professor of Food, Nutrition and Public Policy, Cornell University, USA
Per Pinstrup-Andersen is the H.E. Babcock Professor of Food, Nutrition, and Public Policy, the J. Thomas Clark Professor of Entrepreneurship, and professor of applied economics at Cornell University, as well as professor of agricultural economics at Copenhagen University. He is the former chairman of the Science Council of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and past president of the American Agricultural Economics Association. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Agricultural Economics Association. Per served as IFPRI’s director general, as an economist at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, and as a professor at Wageningen University. He is the 2001 World Food Prize laureate. He has a B.S. from Danish Agricultural University, an M.S. and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University, and honorary doctoral degrees from universities in five different countries.
Hans-Joachim Preuss
Managing Director, Deutshe Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), Germany
Hans-Joachim Preuss is the managing director of Deutshe Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ). Prior to this, he served as both secretary general and managing director of Welthungerhilfe. He was also a research associate at the Zentrum für regionale Entwicklungsforschung (Centre for Regional Development Research). Hans-Joachim is a member of the advisory committee on international programs at Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Church Development Service), a member of the advisory board of the German foreign and security policy quarterly Zeitschrift für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik, and on the board of directors of Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft. He obtained an undergraduate degree in agricultural science from Giessen and completed postgraduate studies at the German Development Institute.
Agusdin Pulungan
President, Indonesian Farmers and Fishers Society Organization (WAMTI), Indonesia
Agusdin Pulungan is the president of the Indonesian Farmers and Fishers Society Organization (WAMTI). He is active in capacity building for farmers. Additionally, Agusdin is a resource person for media and delivers workshops on food security and agrarian reform. He is also involved with biodiversity issues. He holds a degree in agriculture engineering and an M.S. in sociology from the University of Indonesia.
Victoria Quinn
Senior Vice President, Programs, Helen Keller International (HKI), USA
Victoria Quinn is senior vice president of programs at Helen Keller International (HKI). Prior to this, she served as the director of the Academy for Educational Development (AED)’s Center for Nutrition. Also with AED, she was the senior technical manager of the country programs for the LINKAGES Project. She also worked as the regional coordinator of a multicountry nutrition policy, advocacy, and surveillance effort with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Since 2007, Victoria has served as an adjunct associate professor in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
Sultan Hafeez Rahman
Director General, South Asia Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Philippines
Sultan Hafeez Rahman is the director general of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s South Asia Department (SARD). Previous to this, he served as director general of ADB’s Pacific Department, as deputy director general of SARD, and as director of operations coordination for South Asia. He also worked in the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). He was an adviser to the Ministry of Finance and Planning. He holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.
Rohan Rajapakse
Senior Professor, Agricultural Biology, University of Ruhuna, and Acting Vice-Chairman and Member, University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka
Rojan Rajapakse is a senior professor in agricultural biology at the University of Ruhuna, and the acting vice chairman and member of the University Grants Commission. He is also the chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Vet Medicine, and Animal Sciences. Rohan also formerly served as the executive director of the Sri Lanka Council of Agricultural Research Policy. He is the chairman of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Library Committee and a member of the NSF Agricultural Advisory Board. In 2008, he was awarded the Fellowship of National Academy of Sciences Sri Lanka (FNASSL). He holds a B.S. and M.S. in agriculture from Peradeniya, as well as a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Florida.
C. H. Hanumantha Rao
Honorary Professor, Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderbad, and Former Member, Planning Commission, Government of India, India
C. H. Hanumantha Rao is an honorary professor at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad, and is a former member of the Planning Commission of India. He is also the former chair of the Institute of Economic Growth in Delhi. Previous to this, he was affiliated with the seventh and eighth Finance Commissions and served on the board of directors for the Reserve Bank of India. His fields of specialization are agricultural and rural economics.
Mohammad Abdur Razzaque
Minister, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, Goverment of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Mohammad Abdur Razzaque is the minister of food and disaster management of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. He has been a political activist since his student life. He served for two terms as a member of Parliament. He is a member of the American Society of Agronomy and the Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS). He obtained his master’s degree in agriculture from Bangladesh Agricultural University and his Ph.D. in agronomy from Purdue University.
K. Srinath Reddy
President, Public Health Foundation for India (PHFI), India
K. Srinath Reddy is the president of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). He formerly headed the Department of Cardiology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He serves as visiting professor of cardiovascular health at the Harvard School of Public Health and is an adjunct professor of the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. He edited the National Medical Journal of India for 10 years. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Health Board, a member of the National Science and Engineering Research Board of Government of India, and chairs the World Heart Federation Foundation’s Advisory Board and High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage. He is also the president of the National Board of Examinations for Post-graduate Medical Studies in India.
Roseline Remans
Associate Research Scientist, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, USA
Roseline Remans is a Marie Curie research fellow and associate research scientist at the Earth Institute of Columbia University and affiliated with the University of Leuven. Her research focuses on how agricultural systems impact human nutrition in the Millennium Villages Project, and on developing new holistic ways for monitoring agriculture. Roseline completed her Ph.D. in bioscience engineering in 2007 at the University of Leuven in collaboration with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Colombia and the National Soils Institute in Cuba.
Angelina Resurreccion
Science Journalist and Science Editor, Business Mirror, the Philippines
Angelina “Lyn” Resurreccion is a science journalist and the science editor of the Business Mirror, a daily business newspaper. She has special interest in agricultural research, biotechnology, biodiversity, climate change, and nuclear technology. She recently received two Jose G. Burgos Awards in Biotech Journalism for her articles “Worm-free talong [eggplant]” and “China ‘Bt’ rice OKd to boost supply.”
Catherine Riungu
Journalist, Nation Media Group, Kenya
Catherine Riungu is a journalist with the Nation Media Group (NMG). She covers agriculture, health, and environmental issues. Additionally, Catherine owns and is the publisher of the East African Horticultural News, a bimonthly, fresh produce journal. She also provides communications and media consulting for a number of agricultural development agencies.
Ana Victoria Roman
General Coordinator, Nutrition and Food and Nutrition Security Division, Institute of Nutrition in Central America and Panama (INCAP), Guatemala
No bio available.
Mark Rosegrant
Director, Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Mark Rosegrant is the director of the Environment and Production Technology Division at IFPRI. He developed IFPRI’s International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT) and IMPACT-WATER. He currently directs research on climate change, water resources, sustainable land management, and agriculture and energy. Mark is a Fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science and Distinguished Fellow of the American Agricultural Economics Association. He holds a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Michigan.
Marie Ruel
Director, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Marie Ruel is the director of the Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division at IFPRI. She has served on various international expert committees. She currently co-leads the development of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Research Program 4 on “Agriculture for Improved Nutrition and Health.” Before joining IFPRI, Marie was head of the Nutrition and Health Division at Instituto de Nutrición de Centro América y Panamá (INCAP) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Guatemala.
Michal Rutkowski
Director, Human Development Department, South Asia Region, The World Bank, USA
Michal Rutkowski is the director of the human development department for the South Asia Region of the World Bank. Prior to this, he was sector director for human development for the Europe and Central Asia Region and the Middle East and North Africa Region as well as the sector manager for social protection. Michal is the former director of the Office for Social Security Reform in the Government of Poland and a coauthor of the design of the new Polish pension system. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Warsaw School of Economics and did postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics.
Men Sarom
Vice Rector, Royal University of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Cambodia
Men Sarom is the vice rector at the Royal University of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Prior to this, he was director of Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. He also served as editor of the Cambodian Journal of Agriculture. He served as the head of the Plant Breeding Programme in the Department of Agronomy for the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture. He holds a Ph.D. in agriculture and plant breeding from the University of Western Australia and an M.S. in agriculture and plant breeding from the University of Agriculture, Bulgaria.
Loren Saulsberry
Research Assistant, Medicine and Genetics Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA
Loren Saulsberry is a research assistant in the Medicine and Genetics Division at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She has participated in a variety of health research projects involving elements of neuroscience and the role of nutrition in genetics at Wellesley College, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and currently, Harvard Medical School. Loren is a recent graduate of Wellesley College where she was a neuroscience major and english minor.
Ursula Schaefer-Preuss
Vice President, Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Philippines
Ursula Schaefer-Preuss is the vice president of knowledge management and sustainable development at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Prior to joining ADB, she was the director general of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. She has served as chief of cabinet of the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development and also held postings as alternate executive director of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations (UN), and in the German Embassy in Sudan. She earned her doctorate and master’s degree in economics at the Albert-Ludwig University in Freiburg.
Emmy Simmons
Former Assistant Administrator, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USA
Emmy Simmons is the former assistant administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and an independent consultant on international development issues. She serves on the boards of the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and the Society for International Development. Emmy also worked in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs in Liberia and taught and conducted research at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria. She holds an M.S. degree in agricultural economics from Cornell University and a B.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Meera Shekar
Lead Health and Nutrition Specialist, Health, Nutrition, and Population, Human Development Network, The World Bank, USA
Meera Shekar is the lead health and nutrition specialist in the Health, Nutrition, and Population Division with the Human Development Network at the World Bank. She has been actively engaged in the G8 agenda-setting processes and in the development of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Framework for Action. Prior to this, Meera led the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s health, nutrition, water, and sanitation programs in several African countries. She has consulted extensively with Johns Hopkins University Population Communications Services and Population Services International. She has a Ph.D. in international nutrition, epidemiology, and population studies from Cornell University, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nutrition from Delhi University.
Sheila Sisulu
Deputy Executive Director for Hunger Solutions, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Italy
Sheila Sisulu is the deputy executive director for hunger solutions at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Prior to this, she served as the deputy executive director for WFP’s Policy and External Affairs Department. Sheila also served as consul general in New York and ambassador to Washington for South Africa. She was a high school teacher and was responsible for South African policy on gender equity, youth development, and early childhood care and education. She received a B.A. from the University of Botswana Lesotho and Swaziland and a postgraduate degree in education from the University of Witwatersrand. She holds honorary doctorates from the University of Maryland and the City University of New York.
Mercedita “Mercy” Sombilla
Manager, Research and Development Department, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Philippines
Mercedita “Mercy” Sombilla is the manager of the Research and Development Department at the Southeast Asian Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Prior to this, she worked with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). She completed her Ph.D. in agricultural and applied economics at the University of Minnesota. She holds an M.A in economics and a B.S. in mathematics from the University of the Philippines, Dillman.
Tahlim Sudaryanto
Assistant Minister for International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia
Tahlim Sudaryanto is the assistant minister for international cooperation within the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia. Prior to this, Tahlim was the director of a research center and planning and developing agencies within the Ministry of Agriculture. His major areas of research are food policy, international trade, and rural economies. He completed his Ph.D. in economics from North Carolina State University and his B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural economics at Bogor Agricultural University.
M. S. Swaminathan
UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology, and Chairman, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, India
M. S. Swaminathan is the chairman of and the UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology at the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. He is a member of the Parliament of India. He was chairman of the United Nations Science Advisory Committee to take follow-up action on the Vienna Plan of Action, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council, and the National Commission on Farmers. He was also the president of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He served as director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), as well as secretariat in many capacities to the Government of India. He is a plant geneticist by training and has contributed to the agricultural renaissance of India. He has received many awards including the World Food Prize and the Mahatma Gandhi Prize of UNESCO. He is a fellow of many scientific academies and has received 60 honorary doctorate degrees.
Sukhadeo Thorat
Chairman, University Grants Commission, India
Sukhadeo Thorat is the chairman of the University Grants Commission and a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He founded and directed the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies for which he is currently the managing trustee and permanent trustee. He has also served as visiting faculty member in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University, lecturer at Vasantrao Naik College, and research associate at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). He has received several awards such as the Government of India’s Padma Shree Award and honorary degrees from seven universities. He received an M.A. in economics from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, a diploma in economic planning from the Warsaw School of Economics (formerly Main School of Planning and Statistics), and M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Richard Tiffin
Director, Centre for Food Security, University of Reading, UK
Richard Tiffin is director of the newly formed Centre for Food Security at the University of Reading. He has also held posts at the universities of Newcastle and Durham. His recent work has examined the impacts of alternative food policies on land use and of a fat tax on health in the UK. Richard is trained as an applied econometrician, and his current research is focused on diet and health policy.
Maximo Torero
Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division, and Director, Latin America, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA
Maximo Torero is the director of the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division and the director of Latin America for IFPRI. He also leads the global research program on institutions and infrastructure for market development. Prior to joining IFPRI, Maximo was a senior researcher and member of the Executive Committee at Group of Analysis for Development (GRADE). He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and held a postdoctoral fellow position at the UCLA Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR).
Adelaida Trujillo
Director and co-Founder, Citurna Film and Video Productions and the Imaginario Foundation, Colombia
Adelaide Trujillo Caicedo is the director of Citurna Film and Video Productions and the Imaginario Foundation. She co-founded Citurna in 1986 and it is now broadcast internationally. Her broadcast “Tune into Kids” received the EMMY-UNICEF award in 2001 and 2003. Adelaida directs the Communication Initiative Latin America.
Rhoda Peace Tumusiime
Commissioner, Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union, Ethiopia
Rhoda Peace Tumusiime is the commissioner for rural economy and agriculture of the African Union. Additionally, she manages Africa’s Food Security Programme and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Rhoda serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the World Expo 2015 and a member of the Advisory Group for the United Nations International Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). She also chairs the Governing Council for the Operationalization of the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) and is a member of the Board of the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC). She is an agricultural economist.
Ricardo Uauy
Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK), and Professor, Nutrition and Pediatrics, University of Chile, Chile
Ricardo Uauy is a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and at the University of Chile, and has directed the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA). He served as president of the Chilean Nutrition Society and the International Union of Nutritional Sciences council, as expert on many WHO/FAO nutrition committees, as chairman of the UN Administrative Committee on Coordination and Subcommittee’s Nutrition Advisory Group, and as a member of the NIH (USA) Nutrition Study Section and the Novartis Foundation Scientific Advisory. Ricardo received the American Society for Nutritional Sciences McCollum Award. He received his M.D. from the University of Chile, completed residency training in pediatrics at Harvard University, and was awarded a neonatology fellowship at Yale University. He obtained his doctoral degree in nutritional biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Barbara Underwood
Retired, Adjunct Professor of Nutrition, Columbia University, USA
Barbara Underwood is a retired adjunct professor of nutrition at Columbia University’s Institute of Human Nutrition. She has held professorial positions at the University of Maryland, Pennsylvania State University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has served as the assistant director for International Programs of the National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute, the focal point for micronutrient malnutrition at the World Health Organization (WHO), a scholar in residence at the Institute of Medicine, and the president of the International Union of Nutritional Science. Barbara received the International Union of Nutrition Science Award for International Nutrition and the American Institute of Nutrition Borden Award for Nutritional Research, and has been a fellow at the American Society for Nutritional Sciences and International Union of Nutritional Sciences.
Marc Van Ameringen
Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Switzerland
No bio available.
Ajay Vashee
President, Zambia National Farmers Union, Zambia
Ajay Vashee is the president of the Zambia National Farmers Union. He is also the founding president of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) and is currently its honorary president. He has also served as the former president of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP). He is a dairy and crop farmer with a dairy processing operation in Zambia.
Joachim von Braun
Director, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany
Joachim von Braun is the director of the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, and professor for economic and technological change. Prior to this, he served as director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and was a professor for food economics and policy at Kiel University. Joachim serves on the board of the Bioeconomy Council advising the German Government and the Advisory Board for Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security, and Climate Change of the European Union (EU). He was president of the International Association of Agricultural Economists, is a member of Academies in Germany and China, and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences. He has received an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Hohenheim and the Bertebos Prize of the Swedish Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He received a doctoral degree from University of Goettingen, Germany.
Vijay Shankar Vyas
Member, Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister, India
Vijay Shankar Vyas is a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India and professor emeritus at the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur. Prior to this, he taught at Bombay University, Sardar Patel University, and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Vijay is the past president of the Asian Society of Agricultural Economists and Indian Society of Agricultural Economics. He was awarded the Padam Bhushan by the president of India. He holds a Ph.D. degree in economics from the University of Bombay.
Jeff Waage
Director, London International Development Centre, and Professor, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, United Kingdom
Jeff Waage is the director of the London International Development Centre and a professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Jeff has worked with United Nations (UN) organizations and the World Bank, and on panels in United Kingdom Research Councils and Office of Science. Prior to this, he ran the Agricultural and Environmental Departments of Imperial College London. He recently led the establishment of the Cross College Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health, which he chairs. He also served as manager for CAB International’s sustainable agricultural research and training programs. In 2007, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire for his contributions to science. He holds a degree from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in ecology from Imperial College London.
Suwit Wibulpolprasert
Senior Adviser on Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Suwit Wibulpolprasert is the senior adviser on disease control at the Ministry of Public Health. He serves as a general practitioner, public health specialist, and policy adviser. He has chaired several international committees such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board, Health Metrics Network, Intergovernmental Forum for Chemical Safety, and the Asian Partnership on Emerging Infectious Disease Research. Suwit served as deputy permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Public Health.
Pattanee Winichagoon
Associate Professor, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Thailand
Pattanee Winichagoon is an associate professor at the Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Thailand. Previously, she was the deputy director for academic affairs and the secretariat for the Nutrition Association in Thailand. She is a member of the International Scientific Committee for the Symposium on Measurement and Assessment of Food Deprivation and Under-nutrition. She was also vice-chair of the scientific committee for the 19th International Congress of Nutrition. Pattanee holds a B.S. in food technology from Chulalongkorn University, an M.S. in nutrition from the University of Hawaii, and a Ph.D. in international nutrition from Cornell University.
Vo-Tong Xuan
Rector, Tan Tao University, Vietnam
No bio available.
Derek Yach
Senior Vice President, Global Health and Agriculture Policy, PepsiCo, USA
Derek Yach is senior vice president of global health policy at PepsiCo. Previously he headed global health at the Rockefeller Foundation and was professor of public health and head of the Division of Global Health at Yale University. He was also executive director of the World Health Organization (WHO), where he served as cabinet director; led development of WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and led the development of the Global Strategy on Diet and Physical Activity. Derek established the Centre for Epidemiological Research at the South African Medical Research Council. He serves on many advisory boards including the Clinton Global Initiative, the World Economic Forum, the PAHEF Foundation, the Oxford Health Alliance, and Vitality USA.
Jocelyn C. Zuckerman
Freelance Writer and Adjunct Professor, Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
Jocelyn C. Zuckerman is a freelance writer and an adjunct professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She has written for the online version of The Atlantic.com, Bon Appétit, Huffington Post, The New York Times Magazine, OnEarth, Parade, Plenty, Saveur, and other publications. Prior to freelancing, Jocelyn was deputy editor of Gourmet magazine. She is the recipient of a James Beard Journalism Award for feature writing and of fellowships from the Peter Jennings Project, the Geneva-based Media21, Columbia University’s Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, and the Carter Center. She holds a degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.