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Yu Zhang
Mr. Zhang graduated from the Huazhong agriculture University with a Doctor's degree in agriculture. During the postgraduate period, he was mainly engaged in the research of molecular mechanism of water-saving and drought-resistance rice. From 2020 he worked for Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The research direction is molecular mechanism of plant resistance to abiotic stress. The relevant research results have been published in ‘plos Genetics’, ‘Frontiers in Plant Science’ and ‘Molecular Genetics and Genomics’ et al.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/53112e04-33a0-46af-acca-e55c8b6d76dc.jpg","name":"Mr. Yu Zhang, Research Associate, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225348,"bio":"
Etienne Bucher
Etienne Bucher is leading the Crop Genome Dynamics Group at Agroscope in Switzerland. Agroscope is the Swiss center of excellence in agricultural research. His main research interests lie in the study of epigenetic and genetic changes that are induced by climate change in plants and aims at using the findings to accelerate the breeding of climate-ready crops.
Etienne Bucher did his PhD thesis at the Wageningen University (The Netherlands) in plant virology, a post-doc at the Gregor Mendel Institute in Vienna (Austria), a post-doc at the University of Geneva (Switzerland) and then became group leader at the University of Basel (Switzerland) working on plant epigenetics. He then obtained a tenured PI position at INRAe in Angers (France) where he was leading the apple genome sequencing consortium. He’s been awarded an ERC Consolidator grant (project BUNGEE) aiming at using transposable elements to accelerate crop breeding.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/9f4447bc-004a-4c97-b44b-370506fc0c7d.jpg","name":"Mr. Etienne Bucher, Research group leader “Crop Genome Dynamics”, Agroscope, Switzerland","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225349,"bio":"
José Ré
Dr. José Ré graduated as Ingeniero Agrónomo from the Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina. He holds a M.Sc. in Seed Production from California State University, Fresno, and Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Oregon State University.
José started his career as a plant breeder with Dekalb Argentina, later part of Monsanto Argentina. Since 2004 he has been with RiceTec and has held several positions of responsibility in R&D for both the U.S. and South America. José is the Vice President of Global Research and New Product Development for RiceTec, and he leads new product development teams throughout India and the Americas. During José’s 35 years career in the seed industry, he has led the development of new hybrids for a variety of crops. José has served on several industry and government boards, including the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders, Seed Science Foundation, American Seed Trade Association, U.S. Plant Variety Protection (PVP), and the International Seed Federation.
In his free time, José enjoys opera (especially Italian operas), growing orchids, reading, and travel.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/98cfe28d-1091-4577-a8bd-eb12514bd18c.jpg","name":"Mr. José Ré, Vice President, Global New Products Development – Rice Tech USA, United States of America","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225350,"bio":"
Hayat ZAHER
Ms. Hayat Zaher graduated as an engineer from the IAV Hassan II Rabat Morocco in 1992. In 2015, she had a Phd in Biochimistry and plant Biotechnology at the University Cadi Ayyad, Semlalia, Marrakesh.
From 1993 to 2005, Mrs. Hayat Zaher worked as a researcher on date palm Program at INRA Marrakech. Since 2005 she worked as a researcher in INRA, UR Plant breeding and quality in the laboratory of olive breeding. Her research activities concern the olive genetic improvement, Identification, characterization, collection, conservation and use of genetic resources of olive in Morocco and Organoleptic characterization of virgin olive oils.
Since 2008, she became a member of the Regional taste panel of olive oil in the region of Marrakech- Safi
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Robert Boehm
After studying biology in Freiburg i.Breisgau 1988-1994, Robert Boehm received his Ph.D. in 1999 in the field of Pharmaceutical Biology (metabolic engineering) at the University of Tuebingen. He then joined the Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants at the University of Bonn as a junior research group leader, working on Molecular Farming systems. He spent some time at the Institute of Glycobiology at Oxford University and at the Institute of Agricultural Genetics in Hanoi/Vietnam to gain further experience in plant biotechnology. In 2007, Robert Boehm joined Selecta One in Stuttgart as head of research and development. 2014-2021 Robert Boehm was responsible for the group's central laboratory facility in Stuttgart, which includes plant pathogen diagnostics, in vitro culture and molecular breeding. From 2022 on, he is concentrating on the area of biotechnological research projects, research collaborations and patenting.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/979e22e9-dc01-4de2-88e8-cbb62f16ce1a.jpg","name":"Mr. Robert Boehm, Head of Biotechnology, Selecta One, Germany","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225352,"bio":"
Tina Henriksson
Tina Henriksson works as a senior plant breeder and group manager at Lantmännen Lantbruk in Sweden. Lantmännen is a coop owned by 90% af the Swedish farmers. Tina has a genuine interest in improving the crops both for the Lantmännen owners in particular and for the world In general. Tina has worked in field peas and winter wheat breeding all of her working life and has the best job anyone could ever wish for!
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/3697dc3b-a454-44c9-b09b-e06b236cdb98.jpg","name":"Ms. Tina Henriksson, Group Manager Breeding, Cereals & Pulses & Senior winter wheat breeder, Swedish Company Lantmännen, Sweden","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225353,"bio":"
Pitambar Shrestha
Mr. Pitambar Shrestha works as Programme Advisor of LI-BIRD Since 1 January 2022. Before, he worked as Programme Operations Director in the same organization.
Mr. Shrestha graduated from the Indira Gandhi National Open University with a Master degree in Rural Development.
From 1992 to 1995, he worked as a Technical Assistant in a Participatory Plant Breeding Programme Funded by the DFID for the first time in the western hills of Nepal. In 1996, he joined LI-BIRD and continued to work as a Technical Assistant and implemented a Participatory Crop Improvement Project under a high potential production system in the central terai, Nepal. From 2003 to 2012, he managed a variety of research and development projects related to on-farm agricultural biodiversity management. From 2013 to 2016, he was Regional Coordinator for South Asia and managed the Community-based Biodiversity Management in South Asia Programme funded by NORAD through the Development Fund Norway.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/7c9bc0d7-3e4f-4eb2-aab2-e0baf47162c4.jpg","name":"Mr. Pitambar Shrestha, Programme Advisor, Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Nepal","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225354,"bio":"
Astrid Schenkeveld
Ms. Astrid Schenkeveld has been working as a Specialist Plant breeder’s Rights & Variety Registration at Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel B.V. since 1989 at the Head Office in De Lier, the Netherlands, from where all the company’s plant breeder’s rights applications worldwide are coordinated. Rijk Zwaan ranks 4th in the global market for vegetable seeds, is family owned and develops new varieties in 25+ species.
She is an active participant in meetings with examination offices and/or PBR authorities on behalf of Euroseeds or ISF, at the CPVO and UPOV. Furthermore, she is chair of the Naktuinbouw Advisory Committee Variety Examination. She has been a lecturer at the International Plant Variety Protection Course in Wageningen, the Netherlands for quite some years.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/8a0e8543-7ae4-4136-880f-ef465593d8d0.png","name":"Ms. Astrid Schenkeveld, Specialist Plant Breeder's Rights & Variety Registration, Rijk Zwaan, Netherlands","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225355,"bio":null,"birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/1e2f51e5-631d-46ec-92ca-04f63404fdeb.jpg","name":"Moderator: Mr. Manuel Toro Ugalde, Vice-Chair of the Administrative and Legal Committee, UPOV","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225356,"bio":"
Emma Brown
General Manager Plant Varieties
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research) is a Crown Research Institute (CRI) formed in 2008 from the amalgamation of two other New Zealand CRIs. As a CRI, it is a government-owned company operating as a corporate entity. Our purpose is to enhance the value and productivity of New Zealand's horticultural, arable, seafood, and food and beverage industries, to contribute to economic growth and the environmental and social prosperity of Aotearoa New Zealand. Plant & Food Research operates a wide variety of plant breeding programmes in the fruit, arable, and ornamental sectors with breeding programmes located both in Aotearoa New Zealand and offshore.
As General Manager Plant Varieties, I lead the strategic protection and commercialisation of intellectual assets leveraging plant varieties from Plant & Food Research’s breeding programmes together with our commercialisation partners, joint ventures, and licensees. I completed an MSc in Horticultural Science at Massey University and went on to become the inaugural graduate of the CIOPORA Academy with a certificate in IP Competence. I started with Plant & Food Research in 2010 in the role of IP Coordinator, and after several years moved into a Business Development Manager role, before being appointed General Manager Plant Varieties in 2019.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/eba970a5-2079-44b1-9f27-06485620dfaf.jpg","name":"Ms. Emma Brown, General Manager, Plant Varieties, , Plant & Food Research, New Zealand","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225357,"bio":"
Zac Hanley
General Manager New Cultivar Innovation
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research) is a Crown Research Institute (CRI) formed in 2008 from the amalgamation of two other New Zealand CRIs. As a CRI, it is a government-owned company operating as a corporate entity. Our purpose is to enhance the value and productivity of New Zealand's horticultural, arable, seafood, and food and beverage industries, to contribute to economic growth and the environmental and social prosperity of Aotearoa New Zealand. Plant & Food Research operates a wide variety of plant breeding programmes in the fruit, arable, and ornamental sectors with breeding programmes located both in Aotearoa New Zealand and offshore.
As General Manager New Cultivar Innovation, I lead a portfolio of 180 scientists working across crops of importance to Aotearoa New Zealand, from fundamental studies in traits to the breeding of new varieties. We aim to develop better cultivars faster so that our country and our strategic partners remain internationally recognized as smart, green, and ready for global changes in science, society, and climate. My PhD from the University of Sheffield (UK) is in plant molecular biology and I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in plant breeding from Massey University (NZ). I have been with Plant & Food Research since 2014, first leading the Kiwiwfruit New Cultivar science area before becoming General Manager New Cultivar Innovation in 2018.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/868acb88-7334-44a1-9e4a-366381d5078c.jpg","name":"Mr. Zac Hanley, General Manager Science, Plant & Food Research, New Zealand","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225358,"bio":"
Moha Ferrahi
Dr. Moha Ferrahi was appointed Head of the Breeding and Genetic resources Conservation Department at INRA Morocco on November 1st, 2021, having previously held the role of lead the durum wheat breeding team to deliver varieties adapted to dryland agriculture.
Dr. Ferrahi holds a PhD in Genetics and Breeding from Kansas State University, USA in 2001 and M.Sc. in 1990 from the Agronomic and Veterinary Hassan II Institute (IAV) in Rabat, Morocco.
From 1990 to 2011 he worked for INRA in the development of new wheat varieties and has released several varieties. In 2011 he was appointed as Director for the Pillar 2 Resources Center (CRP2) of the Moroccan Green Plan that was established to assist in mobilizing expertise in conception and implementation of solidarity projects. In 2015, Dr Ferrahi joined the Regional Center of Agricultural Research in Meknes as durum wheat breeder. He occupied this position until his nomination of as Department Head at INRA headquarters in Rabat.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/0e142359-ebfc-4d76-ba73-d37680780ba9.jpg","name":"Mr. Moha Ferrahi, Head, Genetic Resources Improvement and Conservation Department (DACRG), Scientific Division, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Morocco","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225359,"bio":"
Stefan van der Heijden
Stefan van der Heijden is currently working as an associate of Innova Connect. He is focused on bringing innovations in the food production to the market at large.
Stefan van der Heijden graduated from the Wageningen University, Nijenrode University and Insead.
From 1982 to 2021 he worked for several plant breeding plant breeding companies in field crops, grasses, ornamentals with a global responsibility as director of R&D and member of the board. He also served in the supervisory board of a vegetable company and a company involved in animal breeding (pigs).
Besides his active career he was involved in the breeding committee of Assinsel (as a chairman) and later a member of breeders committee of ISF and Plantum in several committees including New Breeding Technologies.
Currently he is involved in supporting the Dutch potato industry in the development of sustainable potato production.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/d630634c-f252-4c6c-b016-4f2a2e60aa6b.jpg","name":"Mr. Stefan van der Heijden, Associate, Innova Connect, Netherlands","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225360,"bio":"
Morten LILLEMO
Morten Lillemo is professor in plant breeding at the Norwegian University of Life Science in Ås, Norway.
Morten Lillemo earned his master’s degree in crop science from the Agricultural University of Norway in 1996 and the PhD degree in Plant Breeding from the same university in 2001.
After working for three years as a wheat breeder at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico he returned to Norway in 2005 and established his own research group at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
Morten Lillemo has spent his career on studying the genetics of disease resistance and agronomic traits in cereals, working closely together with the plant breeding industry to develop new breeding tools such as molecular markers, genomic selection methodologies and high-throughput field phenotyping.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/970070a5-6d90-42ce-b706-b46a25933aec.jpg","name":"Mr. Morten Lillemo, Professor, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Faculty of Biosciences, Norway","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225361,"bio":"
Joseph Adjebeng-Danquah
Dr. Joseph Adjebeng-Danquah is Plant Breeder and Senior Research scientist at the CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala. He was engaged in November 2007 and was promoted to senior research scientist in July 2017. Between January 2019 and December 2020, he was the Head of the Scientific Support Group, at CSIR-SARI.
He has been involved in plant breeding and agronomic evaluation of crops for end-user preferred traits for over 15 years. He uses participatory approaches that involve farmers and other end-users to design the desired product profiles. He has since led the release of seven varieties of sweetpotatoes for the Guinea Savannah ecology of Ghana. He utilises conventional and molecular approaches to improve the abiotic stress tolerance of crops particularly drought. He currently coordinates a project that seeks to revive neglected under-utilized species like fonio and frafra potato to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure food and nutrition security.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/75b7d67f-2c8a-4105-9d15-c6530b7b945d.jpg","name":"Mr. Joseph Adjebeng-Danquah, Senior Research Scientist, Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Institute (CSIR-SARI), Ghana","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225362,"bio":"
Abdelghani Nabloussi
Ph.D (2004), University of Cordoba, Spain, in Plant Breeding and Genetic Engineering. Agronomist Engineer (1992), Plant Breeding, Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco.
Position: Since 1993, Researcher at the Regional Center of Meknes (National Institute for Agricultural Research, INRA). Since 2013 until today: Coordinator of Research Unit of Plant Breeding and Plant Genetic Resources Conservation at the same Regional Center. Since 2017 until today: Coordinator of oilseed crops megaproject at INRA-Morocco.
Since 1993, Dr. Abdelghani Nabloussi has been responsible of rapeseed breeding program. In 2001-2004, he achieved his doctoral thesis on Ethiopian mustard mutants’ development and characterization. In 2005, he launched a new breeding program on autumn sunflower and safflower. In 2013, he began a research on sesame landraces characterization and evaluation. He is mainly working on germplasms and varieties development and is leading and coordinating several projects on related themes. He has developed many germplasms and released several varieties of rapeseed, Ethiopian mustard and safflower.
Author of a scientific book on Rapeseed Breeding in Morocco and co-author of two technical guides on rapeseed and safflower. Author and co-author of more than 50 scientific articles and 60 proceedings of national and international conferences. Also, he is reviewer for many international scientific journals.
Member of the International Sunflower Association (ISA) and winner of two international grants, from International Fund for Science (IFS, Sweden) and Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI, Spain), and two patents for invention of various Ethiopian mustard lines with contrasted fatty acid profiles. He is winner of the award ‘Grand Prix Hassan II-edition 2015’ for his work on rapeseed breeding and varieties release.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/d2f0e7eb-5743-44d6-80b1-bb3089dfb2b1.jpg","name":"Mr. Abdelghani Nabloussi, Researcher, Meknès Regional Agricultural Research Centre (CRRA), National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Morocco","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225363,"bio":"
Muath Alsheikh
Dr. Muath Alsheikh is the Research and Development director and breeder at Graminor Plant Breeding Ltd. (Norway). Muath also holds an adjunct associate professor position in the department of plant breeding and genetics at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). His combined position aims to facilitate the application of scientific research in the Norwegian plant breeding.
Muath completed his Ph.D. degree in Plant Biotechnology from the University of Reading (UK) in 2000. He obtained his B.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences in 1994 from Jordan University. Muath also holds Executive MBA degree from BI Norwegian Business School in 2014.
From 2001 to 2006 he worked at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis and Iowa State University (USA) as postdoctoral fellow in plant biology and genetics. In 2006, Muath joined Graminor Ltd. as R&D coordinator and breeder and become the head of the division in 2016. In 2021, Muath becomes a member of the Norwegian Genetic technology Committee to investigate new genomic techniques.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/8683d3aa-97c1-483f-a77b-3e714b212922.jpg","name":"Mr. Muath Alsheikh, Head of Research and Development, Graminor AS, Norway","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225364,"bio":"
Fernando Ortega-Klose
Born in Chile, his first degree was Agronomy at the University of Chile, did his PhD at IBERS, Aberysthwyth, Wales, in Forage Breeding. Has been working for the main R & D research institution of Chile (“Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias”, INIA Chile) since 1987. His research area is Forage Breeder & genetic resources, working with temperate species. Has registered two commercial cultivars of Red Clover and two of Bromegrass; has been author or co-author of 40 referred papers, chapters of books, one book and more than 100 presentations at conferences. During his career, he has also been involved in managerial positions; within them, was head of INIA Carillanca Research Centre (2000 to 2010), National Coordinator of Crops and Genetic Resources R & D programs of INIA Chile (2012 to 2019), National head of the Plant Science area of INIA Chile (2020 to 2022), President of the Chilean Society of Animal Production (2010-12), representative of South America in the continuing committee of the International Grassland Congress (2015 to present) and member of the Chilean National PVR committee of the “Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero”, Ministry of Agriculture, Chile (2014 to date).
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/e850dbf1-70b9-4eb7-87aa-4e8f74ffd639.jpg","name":"Mr. Fernando Ortega Klose, Forage Plant Breeder, Chilean Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), Carillanca regional center, Chile","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225365,"bio":"
David Bubeck
Dr. Dave Bubeck is a Research Director for Seed Product Development (SPD) for Corteva Agriscience. In his current role, Dave serves the plant breeding organization through the effort of a Seed Product Commercialization team, oversees the global germplasm intellectual property protection, and provides a connection point for SPD with regulatory/compliance/stewardship. Dave is a recent Past President of the National Association of Plant Breeders, serves as Research Chair of the Seed Science Foundation, and is on the Board of Directors for the Living History Farms.
Dave joined Pioneer Hi-Bred, now Corteva Agriscience, in February 1998 as a Research Coordinator in Corn Breeding and became a Research Director in 2000. He conducted a corn breeding program and subsequently lead various parts of the North America and Southern Europe corn breeding programs until fall of 2013. Since then, he had several responsibilities, including Corn Platform Product Program Director and leading Global Trait Integration, Global Plant Pathology, and Global Parent Characterization.
Dave earned his Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy and his Master of Science degree in plant breeding and cytogenetics from Iowa State University. He received his Ph.D. in plant breeding and crop science at North Carolina State University.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/cb2dc372-111f-4aff-b237-726e24afb5cc.jpg","name":"Mr. Dave Bubeck, Research Director, Corteva, United States of America","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225366,"bio":null,"birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/77abb325-a9e9-4327-961c-bf682522aa33.jpg","name":"Moderator: Ms. Kitisri Sukhapinda, Patent Attorney, Office of Policy and Affairs (OPIA), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), United States of America","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225367,"bio":"
Anthony Parker
Anthony Parker is the Commissioner of the Plant Breeders' Rights Office for Canada, and is head of Canada’s delegation to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). Prior to working at the PBR Office, Anthony worked for many years at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada`s corn breeding program and has a Master’s degree in plant breeding and genetics. Anthony is presently finishing a Master of Laws degree at Osgoode Hall, York University.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/8a539ac1-f72c-4aa3-b35b-f74fcdb300d9.jpg","name":"Mr. Anthony Parker, Commissioner, Plant Breeders' Rights Office, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Canada","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225368,"bio":"
Hans Adu-Daapah
Prof. Hans Adu-Dapaah obtained his PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics from University of Ibadan, in 1989. He joined the CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CRI) in 1993, became Chief Research Scientist in 2006. He has developed and released thirty-two improved crop varieties. He has over 220 publications to his credit. He has mentored 35 young scientists, supervised 45 PhD/M.Phil students, from local and foreign universities. He was the Director of CSIR-CRI (2008-2014). Currently he is the Vice President of CSIR-Graduate School. He is a Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics. He was a member of the delegation that deposited Ghana’s instrument of accession to UPOV Convention in 2021. He is a Fellow of Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a proud recipient of over 15 carrier Awards including National Best Scientist(Presidential) Gold Award at First Ghana Science Congress in August 2011.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/8eecdcd6-d8c5-477c-93d3-f88c05e209a3.jpg","name":"Mr. Hans Adu-Dapaah, Expert, Crops Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Institute (CSIR), Ghana","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225369,"bio":"
Yasunori EBIHARA
Mr. Yasunori Ebihara was assigned to Director, PVP Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan on June 28, 2022.
Mr. Yasunori graduated from the Tohoku University with a master’s degree in Agricultural Science.
He has worked for the MAFF since 2000, mainly in charge of a policy for the domestic major crop production. He was deputy director for international affair, PVP Office of MAFF of Japan from 2008 to 2011. He has been involved with the East Asia Plant Variety Protection Forum since its early days and contributed to the cooperation activities in the Asian region that continue to this day.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/d386b378-8aa9-42df-a990-16032a36281b.jpg","name":"Mr. Yasunori Ebihara, Director of Plant Variety Office, Intellectual Property Division, Export and International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225370,"bio":"
Simon Mucheru Maina
Mr. Simon Mucheru Maina is the Head, Seed Certification and Plant Variety Protection Department at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). He holds a BSc and M.Phil in Plant Genetics from Moi University. He has extensive experience in plant variety protection and seed quality assurance. He has undergone extensive training in plant variety protection, seed certification and seed policy in Japan, United States and The Netherlands. He has offered leadership as a seed system and plant variety protection expert in development of regional seed systems under COMESA, ARIPO and EAC. In particular, he chaired the ARIPO Technical Committee on Plant Variety Protection that oversaw the development and adoption of Regulations under the Arusha Protocol for the protection on new Varieties of Plants from 2015 to 2019. He also led the Kenyan team of experts that participated in the development of the draft East Africa Seeds and Plant Varieties Bill. He has spearheaded capacity building of local and regional seed practitioners.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/0d5099e8-83f8-402e-9522-15b65be9d996.jpeg","name":"Mr. Simon Mucheru Maina, Head, Seed Certification and Plant Variety Protection, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225371,"bio":"
Francesco MATTINA
Francesco Mattina, an Italian national, was appointed as President of the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) by the Council of the European Union in December 2021 and officially started his presidential duties on 1st February 2022.
Educated as a lawyer with a degree in law from the University of Parma, Italy, he holds specialisations in European Union Law, from the European College of Parma, Italy, and in Intellectual Property Law, from the University of Alicante, Spain.
Francesco Mattina joined the CPVO in 2013 after a first experience in the EU public sector as a senior legal advisor in industrial property at the European Union Intellectual Property Agency (EUIPO). Since 2013, Francesco Mattina held various management positions at the CPVO. From 2013 to 2017, he was the Head of the Legal Unit. From 2017 until his current appointment, Francesco Mattina was Vice-President of the CPVO. In this role, he deputised for the President while keeping oversight of all legal matters of the Office.
Before joining the EU public sector, he managed contentious disputes in all major areas of intellectual property as an attorney-at-law admitted to practice before Italian national courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union. He served as partner in several national and international law firms based in Italy.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/4f8c78bb-75be-4804-b9c4-9e7c5cb427b6.jpg","name":"Mr. Francesco Mattina, President, Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225372,"bio":"
Nathan Wajsman
Born in Wrocław, Poland and a dual Polish/Danish national, Nathan Wajsman was educated at the University of Aarhus in Denmark and later undertook graduate studies in the USA, earning a PhD in Economics from the University of Florida and an MBA from Temple University in Philadelphia.
Dr. Wajsman was named Chief Economist of the EUIPO in May 2011. He has been with the agency since 2007, previously working in Finance and Quality Management.
Prior to joining the EUIPO, he spent 20 years working in the private sector. A stint as a forecasting analyst at an electric utility in Florida was followed by a career in telecommunications and finance industries in the USA and several European countries, including positions with AT&T in the USA and Belgium, Swiss Reinsurance Company in Zurich, and Claranet Benelux, a managed hosting and internet service provider in the Netherlands.
","birthdate":"","country":null,"email":"","photourl":"https://c.connectedviews.com/assets/eb812376-0b44-4aee-a7a5-7ef0f99cfa3c.jpg","name":"Mr. Nathan Wajsman, Chief Economist of the European Intelletual Property Office (EUIPO)","jobs":"","urls":""},{"id":225405,"bio":"
Greg REBETZKE
Dr. Greg Rebetzke is a research scientist implementing physiological and quantitative genetic understanding to fast-rack delivery of elite wheat germplasm containing traits for improved adaptation to droughted and changing climates.
Dr. Rebetzke graduated from the University of Queensland with B.App.Sc. (Hons) and M.Ag.Sc. degrees, and then completed a PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding from North Carolina State University.
Since 1995 Dr Rebetzke has led translational research in the genetic understanding and delivery of physiological factors limiting wheat performance under drought and climate change for breeding globally. His research has a strong statistical underpinning allowing for a long-term, focused commitment to delivering new and genetically complex traits for independent validation and adoption by industry. His novel traits for improved water productivity and/or broader resilience to climate change are under intense selection in all Australian and many overseas breeding programs with the high quality of some germplasm directly producing commercial varieties.
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