IGC Chairperson for 2024/25
Hamed Oussama Salhi was appointed Chairperson of the IGC in June 2024. He is First Secretary at the Embassy of Algeria in London in charge of Agriculture and Relations with the International Grains Council. He was in charge of several legal and bilateral and multilateral dossiers at the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was previously posted in Spain where he served as Vice Consul. Before joining the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Salhi was Deputy Director at the Algerian Employment Agency ANEM, in charge of training and skills development, and before that, Administrator at the Algerian Ministry of Interior and Local Authorities where he held several positions, including legal affairs and public relations.
Mr Salhi is a graduate of the National School of Administration of Algiers (ENA) and of the Diplomatic and International Relations Institute of Algiers (IDRI), and holds a Master's degree (Magna Cum Laude) in International Public Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Algiers.
Central and Eastern Europe Business Leader, Corteva Agriscience
Andre Negreiros is the Central and Eastern Europe Business Leader at Corteva Agriscience. A seasoned executive, technology enthusiast, and innovation strategist with a wealth of experience in the Ag industry, at Corteva for the last 5 years. With a background in Agronomy Engineering, MBA, and a passion for developing high performance teams, Andre has established himself as a thought leader in Ag crop protection and seeds markets over the last twenty years.
With a Brazilian farmer background and experience in successful multinational Ag companies, Andre has demonstrated his ability to understand farmers needs and to drive business growth through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships. His entrepreneurial journey has been marked by a series of achievements, including developing new markets and portfolios in the Ag Industry. When joined Corteva, Andre was responsible for the newest portfolio of Seed Applied Technologies, creating this segment for the company in EMEA.
In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Andre is an inspiring leader, passionate about mentoring and advising young talents and startups, empowering the next generation of Ag leaders. With his multicultural life experience, he shares his insights and expertise, along with his visionary perspectives on the future of technology opened to other people’s vision and always eager to learn something new.
Session 1: Dialogue
Director General, Agriculture and Food Authority, Kenya
Dr. Bruno Linyiru, OGW holds Doctor of Philosophy (Entrepreneurship) from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) both from University of Nairobi. He is the Director General, (DG) of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA)
Session 1: Dialogue
AMIS Chair, Director General / Directeur général Sector Development and Analysis Directorate / Direction du développement et analyse du secteur Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Agriculture et agro-alimentaire Canada
Donald joined Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2008 and has held various positions related to international trade policy, sectoral policy and sectoral development. Donald currently holds the position of Director General, Sector Development and Analysis. In this capacity he assists the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector in taking advantage of economic opportunities, both domestically and internationally. As such, he engages with a wide range of stakeholders and plays a lead role in providing sector advice for the development of policies, programs and regulations impacting the agriculture and agri-food sector. His current responsibilities include those as Chair of the Agricultural Market Information System for 2024-25, an initiative of the G20.
Donald holds a bachelor degree in agronomy as well as a master degree (sciences) both from Laval University.
Session 1: Dialogue
Senior Director Economic, Development, Trade and Investment Directorate, The Commonwealth Secretariat
Dr. Ruth Kattumuri is a diplomat and an academic. She currently serves as Senior Director of the Economic, Development, Trade and Investment Directorate at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She brings over 25 years of global experience in multidisciplinary evidence-based research, technical assistance, capacity building, and policy influence across a range of sustainable development goals (SDGs). At the Secretariat, she provides strategic and technical leadership to advance inclusive economic resilience with public and private sector private sector engagement; as well as to enable market access and investment for Commonwealth countries toward achieving sustainable and inclusive development.
Dr. Kattumuri is Co-Chair and Founder of the IG Patel Chair and India Observatory and was also Director of the Asia Research Centre at the London School of Economics. She holds a PhD from LSE and is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and also a Cambridge Commonwealth Fellow.
Session 1: Dialogue
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, UK
Daniel Zeichner was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on Monday 8 July. He was elected as the MP for Cambridge in July 2024.
Daniel was previously shadow minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2020 to 2024. Prior to this, he was shadow minister for Transport.
Session 2: IGTC dialogue
President, International Grain Trade Coalition
Pat is the CEO of Grain Trade Australia, which is the leading trade organisation in the Australian grains industry.
Pat has vast industry experience in trading, risk management, policy and government relations, having spent more than 25 years in the grains industry in Australia and USA. He has a diverse experience across the entire value chain, working for trade houses, financial institutions and customer advisory businesses.
He currently serves as President of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC
Session 2: IGTC dialogue
President & CEO of the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA)
Alejandra Castillo is the President & CEO of the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA). A senior executive with over 15 years’ experience in global trade with expertise in trade execution, stakeholder management and trade policy. Alejandra worked at the U.S. Grains Council in D.C., Singapore, and India. Most recently, she opened the Council’s newest office in India, where she served as the Regional Director for South Asia. In that capacity, Alejandra set up the strategy to evaluate and implement the Council’s market development programs in the region which included India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Alejandra also serves as volunteer President of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC). Since 2019, Alejandra has supported the IGTC Working Group on Electronic Trading Documentation. In that role, she served as one of the co-chairs for the Industry Advisory Group (IAG) and the IAG representative for the CPM Focus Group on Sustainable Funding for the IPPC ePhyto Solution Project.
Prior to the Council, Alejandra worked in trade execution with Cargill focused on trade risk management as well as vessel and container logistics for cotton, grains and oilseeds. She also gained experience as an international freight forwarder prior to entering trade execution. Before joining Cargill, she worked as a project manager for the Mayo Clinic and an associate director of admissions for St. Catherine University.
Alejandra is a native of Nicaragua and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in strategic management and organizational leadership, both from St. Catherine University, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Session 2: IGTC dialogue
Director of the Agriculture and Commodities Division, World Trade Organization
Dr. Kessie has been a staff member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since January 1995. He is currently the Director of the Agriculture and Commodities Division and was Head of the WTO Delivery Unit. He has worked in different Divisions, including the Council and Trade Negotiations Committee Division, Development Division and the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation. Between June 2012 and May 2017, Dr. Kessie took leave from the WTO to become the Chief Trade Adviser of the Pacific Island Countries and Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser located in Port Vila, Vanuatu. In this capacity, he provided technical advice on a broad range of trade and investment issues to the Pacific Island countries and supported them in the free trade negotiations (PACER Plus) with Australia and New Zealand.
Dr. Kessie has participated in many international conferences on international trade and written a number of articles on international trade issues. His principal areas of interest are regional integration, agriculture, trade and development and dispute settlement.
Edwini Kessie has a Doctorate Degree in Law from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia and Masters' Degrees in Law from the University of Toronto, Canada and the University of Brussels, Belgium and a Bachelor's Degree in Law from the University of Ghana. He is admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Courts of England & Wales, New South Wales, Australia and Ghana. He has practised Corporate and Commercial Law in Sydney, Australia and International Trade Law and European Community Law in Brussels, Belgium.
Session 3: Regional snapshot Near East Asia
Senior Economist, FAO Investment Centre
Dr. Dmytro Prykhodko is a Senior Economist at the FAO Investment Centre, specializing in supporting investment projects, grain markets and trade in Europe, Central Asia ECA, and the Middle East and North Africa MENA. With over 25 years of experience and a background in agricultural economics, he has worked extensively with USDA, a private sector grain trader and then with FAO’s Investment Centre in major grain producing, exporting and importing countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Egypt and, most recently in Tunisia. He works closely with FAO’s investment partners from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, World Bank and others to lead public-private policy dialogues on specific sector grain sector issues to de-risk investment in grain trade and infrastructure development.
Session 3: Regional snapshot Near East Asia
Founder & CEO, Golden Wheat for Grain Trading
Malak Al Akiely is Founder and Managing Director of Golden Wheat for Grain Trading, Ltd., supply Grains to Jordan with over 18 years of experience in commodity trading with focus on food security, Sustainable Agriculture, and Business Development. Golden Wheat works to meet the regional expanded demand of grains commodities in MENA; Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, & Saudi Arabia.
Malak is Co-Managing Partner in Golden Kayan for Marketing Consulting Co. for Oil, Energy & Renewable Energy, Jordan.
She is a Founding & Board Member of the “Jordan Economic Forum”, a forum consisting of prominent economic figures & parliament members to foster economic growth and moving towards the objectives of sustainable development goals, Green Circular Economy and Jordan`s Economic Modernization Vision.
Partner and Business Development consultant on Oil and Aviation investment projects in East Africa (Nigeria).
Malak holds an MBA in Management Business Administration from the German-Jordanian University.
Session 3: Regional snapshot Near East Asia
Chief Executive Officer, Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries
Mr. Mutlaq earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Concordia University Wisconsin in 1985. The following year, he embarked on his professional journey with Kuwait Bakeries Company.
Throughout his career at Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company, Mr. Mutlaq held leadership roles across multiple departments. He began in the Marketing and Distribution Department, later advancing to the Sales Department, and subsequently the Bakery Department. His exceptional leadership culminated in his appointment as Deputy Managing Director in 2005. In 2013, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, a position he continues to hold to the present day.
In May 2021, Mr. Mutlaq was elected as a Board Member of the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources, a role he has maintained since. Additionally, he has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of The Industrial Bank of Kuwait since 2023, further demonstrating his expertise in governance and strategic oversight.
Between 2010 and 2019, Mr. Mutlaq played a pivotal role in the leadership of Kuwait Supply Company. He served as a Member of the Board of Directors from 2010 to 2012, before being appointed Chairman from 2012 to 2019.
His extensive experience in chairing and participating in the boards of directors of government entities underscores his significant contributions to both the public and private sectors.
Session 3: Regional snapshot Near East Asia
Chief Commercial Leader North Africa/Middle East, Corteva Agriscience
Commercial Unit Leader Middle East and North Africa, Chef Executive Officer, corteva Egypt Seeds Co. , Chef Executive Officer, Crop Life Egypt and Board Member, Crop Life Africa and middle East, Belgium.
Results-driven Chief Executive Officer and Regional business Leader with over 20 years’ experience in multinational organizations in Sales, Marketing, and Commercial Management within Agriculture, Agrochemicals and Biotechnology industries in Africa and Middle East markets, Strong people leadership with Customer centric mindset.
Session 2: IGTC dialogue
Session 4: Soyabean workshop
Managing Director, U.S. Soybean Export Council
Rosalind (Roz) Leeck is the Managing Director for the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) as well as the Regional Director for Northeast Asia. She oversees strategic program development and implementation including trade and market access issues; membership and industry relations; and communications and marketing efforts. As the Regional Director for Northeast Asia, she is responsible for Korea and Japan.
Roz has more than 10 years of experience in the grain trade field with previous positions at Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Demeter L.P. She has also worked for Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC), Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
Roz is involved in numerous industry activities and is currently serving as Secretary of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC) and Chair of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feeds, Oilseeds, and Planting Seeds. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Trustees at Millikin University.
Originally from southern Illinois, Roz remains a partner in her family’s grain and livestock farm. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, a Master of Business Administration from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Session 4: Soyabean workshop
EVP, Global Sector Strategist-Grain & Oilseeds/Farm Inputs, Rabobank
Nicholson has more than forty years of experience in cash grain markets, hedging, commodity/ingredient procurement, commodity risk management and commodity analysis. A native of Iowa, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Farm Operations and Agricultural Education and a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, both from Iowa State University.
Nicholson joined Rabo AgriFinance in 2014 and was the Senior Grains and Oilseeds analyst for North America until being appointed Global Sector Strategist in 2022.
Prior to joining Rabo AgriFinance, Nicholson was Category Manager and Chief Economist with International Food Products, a trader and distributor of food ingredients. Responsibilities included procurement and trading of vegetable oils, corn sweeteners, starches and grain products, along with consulting assignments.
From 2001 to 2007, he was a Senior Economist with Doane Agricultural Services in St. Louis as the oilseed analyst.
Nicholson also has nearly fifteen years of experience in the food and beverage industry. He has served as Senior Buyer at The Earthgrains Company, now part of Bimbo Bakeries USA, in St. Louis. From 1988 to 1997, he was the Senior Commodity Analyst in the Global Procurement and Trading Company at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. While at Coca-Cola, he was involved in the creation of the first commodity risk management and governance policy framework for the company.
Session 4: Soyabean workshop
Chairman of the External Contracts Committee, Associação Nacional dos Exportadores Cereais of Brazil (ANEC)
Born in Brazil, Marcos Amorim has called São Paulo home for 50 of his 54 years. A passionate linguist and cultural enthusiast, he masterfully navigates Portuguese, French, and English, and is proficient in Spanish. Marcos built a distinguished 31-year career at Cargill, dedicating his expertise entirely to the agricultural sector, with a significant focus on Trading Execution. Upon his departure in 2017, he held the country leadership role for a team exceeding 70 individuals, overseeing the import and export of vital feed, food, and other commodities.
After a two-year sabbatical, Marcos brought his extensive experience to ANEC, the Brazilian National Association of Grain Exporters. He now serves as the head of the External Contracts Committee, where he has been a key contributor for many years.
Session 6: Logistics and Ports Efficiency in Global Grain Trade
Technical Officer, Climate Change and Clean Air Section, International Maritime Organization
Aideé Saucedo Dávila is a Technical Officer at the UN International Maritime Organization where she focuses on global regulations for shipping decarbonization and their potential impacts on States.
Session 6: Logistics and Ports Efficiency in Global Grain Trade
Chief Operating Officer, DP World Logistics, GCC
Raveen Guliani was appointed Chief Operating Officer Logistics for DP World GCC in August 2023, overseeing trade and logistics in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
Previously, Raveen was Vice President Trade Development & Logistics of DP World UAE with responsibility for logistics operations at Jebel Ali Port and the flagship free zone of Jafza.
Since joining DP World in 2010, Raveen has held a number of senior leadership roles, heading up the Trade & Business Intelligence, Business Development, and Marketing & Communications functions.
Raveen has more than 20 years of management and leadership experience across the logistics, shipping and maritime sectors, with proven expertise in developing trade and enabling efficient supply chain solutions.
Prior to joining DP World, Raveen was the Regional Sales Manager at Dubai Maritime City, with responsibility for sales and business development in Asia Pacific. He has also held several commercial and operational roles with Maersk across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Raveen holds an Executive MBA from the IE Business School in Madrid and a Postgraduate Certificate in Business from the University of Wales. He also holds a Diploma in Port Management from Lloyds Maritime Academy and a graduate degree in Engineering.
Session 6: Logistics and Ports Efficiency in Global Grain Trade
President, Ukrainian Grain Association
Nikolay Gorbachov has more than 30 years of experience in the agricultural market of Ukraine. In February 2017, he was elected as the President of the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) and was re-elected for his second and third terms as President in 2021 and 2025. He was previously Vice-President of UGA for 12 years and has co-chaired the Grains and Oilseeds Committee of the European Business Association (EBA). He also holds the position of Director in the trading company in Ukraine.
Closing remarks
CropLife International breakfast:
Yield Gaps and policy drivers that exacerbate them
President and CEO, CropLife International
Emily Rees is the President and CEO of CropLife International, a role she has held since March 2023. As global advocate of the plant science industry, CropLife International champions innovative technologies that enable farmers to sustainably increase productivity while managing the critical challenges facing our climate and the environment. Spearheading the association’s three pillars of ambition to bring workable solutions to increase food security, tackle climate change and protect biodiversity, Emily leads the organization in its regulatory and policy-driven dialogues. Through advancing science-based approaches to regulation, and fair and equitable global trading rules, Emily helps bring together diverse partners with cutting-edge research and development to effect positive change.
Emily joined CropLife International with an extensive pedigree in EU affairs and economic diplomacy. Prior to joining CropLife International, she held posts as a Senior Fellow at the European Centre for International Political Economy, and Managing Director of Trade Strategies, a consultancy specialized in international trade policy.
A specialist in EU-Latin American relations, she is fluent in English, French and Portuguese.
CropLife International breakfast:
Yield Gaps and policy drivers that exacerbate them
Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech University and Executive Editor, Global Agricultural Productivity Report
Tom Thompson is Associate Dean in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Virginia Tech, Director of CALS Global, and Professor of Agronomy. Thompson earned BS, MS, and PhD degrees in agronomy and soil science and has served as a professor and administrator at three U.S. universities. His research and extension activities have focused on climate-smart agriculture adoption in both developed and developing countries. Thompson has published 70 refereed journal articles and book chapters and garnered more than $98 million in extramural competitive funding and philanthropic support, including an $80M award from the United States Department of Agriculture to create the “Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture”. Thompson is also Executive Editor of the Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report). The annual GAP Report is a global thought leader in agricultural productivity growth and engages audiences around the world.
CropLife International breakfast:
Yield Gaps and policy drivers that exacerbate them
Trade Market Access Manager, Grain Trade Australia
Rosemary is the principal of Bowman Richards & Associates (BR+A), a consulting firm specialising in providing strategic support to the agribusiness, food and technology sectors. Rosemary is a passionate senior executive, communicator and industry advocate. Her experience in project management, trade policy and strategic development extends across all facets of agri and food businesses and covers work with public and private companies, industry organisations and government.
Rosemary undertakes a range of strategic planning, market analysis and trade policy activities for the grains and food industry and has led work on non-tariff trade measures for both sectors. She also has extensive experience across innovation and sustainability including frameworks, impact evaluation and advocacy.
Rosemary assists Grain Trade Australia (GTA) on trade and market access matters. She represents GTA on the International Grain Trade Coalition policy groups covering biotechnology and innovation. She has undertaken projects for GTA and the Australian Government as part of APEC and ASEAN activities in particular in relation to non-tariff measures and MRLs, and value chain case studies, including participation in APEC meetings.
Rosemary is Chair of the Australian Oilseeds Federation, Chair of Sustainable Grain Australia, and a director of Sugar Research Australia.
Session 4: Wheat workshop: Production outlook and market prospects in 2025/26
Meteorologist, Aura Commodities LTD
Isabelle Tranter is a meteorologist at Aura Commodities, a data platform specialising in the early identification of weather-related risks to global crop production. With over five years of experience in the field and a BSc in Meteorology and Climate Science from the University of Leeds, Isabelle applies her expertise in meteorology to assess and forecast how weather patterns influence agricultural supply—a critical driver in commodity markets.
Session 4: Wheat workshop: Production outlook and market prospects in 2025/26
Vice President and Head - Procurement & Supply Chain and Member of Agri Business Management Committee, ITC Limited
Mr. Khalid Khan is a strategic commercial executive with over 19 years of experience at ITC Limited. Currently, he serves as the Vice President and Head - Procurement & Supply Chain and is a member of the Agri Business Management Committee. Known for delivering breakthrough top and bottom-line performance, Khalid is recognized as a catalyst for growth, driving business turnarounds, rapid scaling, integration, and reinvention to achieve elevated performance and return on investment.
Khalid champions an inclusive, empowered, accountable, and customer-centric culture with a relentless focus on excellence and marketplace wins. He excels at forging synergistic relationships and business partnerships, resulting in mutual success. His application of rigorous analytics ensures resource optimization and cost-effectiveness for large-scale operations.
He has been instrumental in setting up procurement and supply chain for ITC’s Aashirvaad brand of staples - India’s largest selling Whole wheat flour brand, commanding a market share of more than 72%.
He holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, A.M.U., Aligarh and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Marketing from the prestigious Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi.
He is also a member of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - National Trade Policy Council.
Khalid Khan's strategic vision and leadership continue to drive ITC Limited's success, making him a key figure in the company's ongoing achievements.
Session 4: Wheat workshop: Production outlook and market prospects in 2025/26
CEO, Founder & Senior Broker, Agricore, Bulgaria
Petar Dimitrov is Founder and Senior Broker of Agricore, the first independent commodity brokerage company in Bulgaria, GAFTA member and recognized worldwide as ? first class counterparty. Besides its leading position as a commodity brokerage house, Agricore has also developed the most reputable and successful online market information media for farmers and traders in Bulgaria – agroportal.bg and in Romania – agriportal.ro.
He is the founder of Grain Academy and EuroGrainExchange annual events. With his extensive experience and knowledge of the Balkans and Black Sea grains and oilseeds markets he will bring extra value to the IGC Grains Conference
Session 4: Wheat workshop: Production outlook and market prospects in 2025/26
Head of Agri Commodities Market Research, Rabobank
Carlos Mera heads Rabobank’s Agri Commodity Market Research team (ACMR) out of London. He joined Rabobank in 2015, having spent over seven years at a large physical commodity trading house. Carlos has visited over a thousand farms in several countries and is an experienced crop forecaster.
Carlos supervises Rabobank’s global S/D estimates of several agri commodities, forecasts prices and carries specific research projects like crop and stock surveys. Carlos’ research assists Rabobank’s extensive commodity client base, that extends from farmers and cooperatives to traders, food processors and supermarkets. He and his team support Rabobank rural, trade and large corporate lending, commodity sales and trading, M&A and stock finance, among other relevant services for the food & agri industry.
BSc Economics from University of Buenos Aires; MSc Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
SESSION 5: Pulses workshop
Session 5: Digitization in the grains value chain
Managing Director & Chief Agriculture Economist, HnyB Tech Incubations Pvt. Ltd.
Deepak Pareek is a visionary in the agriculture trade and policy domain, renowned for his unparalleled expertise as a serial entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder. With a rich tapestry of 25 years of diverse experience spanning 34 countries. His accolades speak volumes about his impact and dedication. Honored as one of the Top 10 Agropreneurs of 2019 by Future Agro Challenge, Greece, and recognized as a Technology Pioneer in 2018 by the World Economic Forum, Switzerland, Deepak’s contributions are globally acknowledged. His advisory roles with various private, public, and multilateral organizations have driven significant advancements in agriculture and technology.
SESSION 5: Pulses workshop
Board Member, Global Pulses Confederation
Hailing from over a century of family history in pulses across various continents, Milan has three decades of experience at the nexus of food security, sustainability and international trade. With a keen awareness of the challenges facing global food and farming supply chains, Milan has been a director of the EU lobby for agri-produce traders, CELCAA, President of a global commodity trade association, the IGPA, and twice a Council member of GAFTA, where he is also an arbitrator. In 2016 he participated in the UN Steering Committee for the International Year of Pulses, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and remains committed to delivering on the promise of that project.
Session 2: Sustainability
Global Head Climate Change & Sustainability Solutions, SGS
Francesca Cerchia is the Global Head of Climate Solutions with SGS. In her role she is responsible for the global development and management of services that promote and support the transition to greener, smarter, and safer industries & societies. She leads SGS work on GHG emissions and energy transition. Francesca holds an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management (USA), an MA in Economics from the College of Europe (Belgium) and a BA in Political Science from the Università degli Studi di Roma, La Sapienza. She is fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and French.
Session 2: Sustainability
Adviser, panterra
Graeme is a seasoned public affairs and communications professional with over 20 years of experience in government relations, diplomacy, sustainability, food, and agriculture. He has led public affairs for trade associations and major multinationals, and has a proven track record of influencing policy at UK, EU, and global levels.
Session 2: Sustainability
International Strategic Partnership Developer, XNatura
Martina Costantino is in charge of creating Strategic Partnerships in XNatura, the 3Bee division dedicated to biodiversity, nature, and climate monitoring.
Martina’s technical expertise has been further strengthened by her Master’s degree in Strategies Against Climate Change from Cambridge, equipping her with the skills to design and implement science-based solutions for environmental resilience.
Throughout her career, she has been invited as a speaker at international events, sharing her knowledge on biodiversity and nature conservation. She was selected to speak at the World Living Soils Forum, co-organized by LVMH and ChangeNOW, where she emphasized the importance of monitoring biodiversity health to develop concrete regeneration actions. Additionally, at Smart City Expo 2024 in Barcelona, she highlighted the urgent need to prioritize biodiversity conservation in urban environments, stating that "we talk so much about technology for cities, but we should care more about preserving biodiversity in the cities we suppose to live in."
Her passion for the natural world is deeply rooted in first-hand experiences. During her career, she had the unique opportunity to work in the Maldives, an environment that deepened her love for marine ecosystems. Her time there fueled her commitment to coral restoration projects, traveling extensively to engage in conservation efforts. Those 10 months in the Maldives were a turning point—she realized just how much we are losing and why it's worth protecting what remains of our planet’s biodiversity.
Martina has also contributed to shaping biodiversity policies at the international level. She participated in a session at the Spanish Chamber of Deputies in Madrid, addressing the impact of renewable energy on biodiversity, advocating for solutions that balance sustainability and conservation.
With an International, technical background and a passion-driven approach, Martina is committed to leveraging science, technology, and advocacy to create a more resilient and biodiverse future."
Session 2: Sustainability
EMEA Agricultural Affairs Manager, Bayer
Christian works at Bayer as EMEA Agricultural Affairs manager with focus on Integrated Crop Management, Sustainable Food Systems, EU Taxonomy and Sustainable Finance. He also contributes to WBCSD’s work on nature-positive production and supervised sustainability field trials on two of Bayer’s German ForwardFarms.
He joined the German Foreign Office in 2001, studying administrative law and international private law. After graduation with a diploma in foreign affairs, he extended his knowledge by studying Biology at the Philipps-University in Marburg with a focus on biodiversity management, botany and nature conservation (B.Sc.) and gained practical experiences during internships at the local nature conservation authority and the UNEP joined secretariats of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS).
He subsequently studied at the Technical University in Munich (M.Sc.) and the ENS Lyon/France with an interest in microbiology, soil sciences and the protection of soils. He later received his doctoral degree from the University of Bielefeld for the investigation of microalgae for biofuel production. Afterwards he worked with Dr. Knoell Consult as expert for metabolism studies and as global regulatory project manager.
He then joined Bayer’s environmental safety department in 2017, taking up the work in the expert function focusing on the ecotoxicology of non-target terrestrial plants. From 2019 to 2021 he took the role of a global policy advocacy manager, and since 2021 works in the EMEA Agricultural Affairs team focusing on EU and global agricultural and environmental policies.
Session 3: Regional snapshot: The African Union
Regional Food Trade Adviser, Africa Programmes and Expertise Department, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Watipaso Mkandawire is a Senior Expert – Private Sector Development at the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Currently Watipaso is working as the Regional Food Market Adviser in the Africa Economic Development Group at FCDO.
Trained as an Economist, he previously worked in that capacity in Malawi for the Government and later for the World Bank. As a PSD and International Development Expert, he has held various positions in national, regional and international organisations including at the Africa Development Bank, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and as CEO of the Malawi Investment Promotion Agency.
Currently, Watipaso is the Lead Adviser of the £35 million Africa Food Trade and Resilience programme being implemented by AGRA. The programme is supporting sub-Saharan African countries to sustainably meet their future food, and agriculture demands and contribute to global demands. The programme supports interventions that contribute towards predictability of government interventions in regional food markets and strengthening value chain coordination in food sub-sector.
Session 3: Regional snapshot: The African Union
Phytosanitary Affairs Manager, International Seed Federation (ISF)
Dr. Rose Souza Richards has been the Phytosanitary Affairs Manager (prev. Seed Health Manager) at ISF since March 2020. In this role, she liaises with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and coordinates industry-wide responses to World Trade Organization (WTO) notifications on national phytosanitary regulations. She oversees key ISF initiatives such as the Systems Approach, the Regulated Pest List Initiative, and the International Seed Health Initiative.
Dr. Souza Richards holds a BSc in Agronomic Engineering from the State University of Bahia, Brazil, an MSc in Plant Pathology from the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, a second MSc in Plant Diversity from the University of Reading, UK, and a PhD in Plant Molecular Virology from the University of Nottingham, UK.
In addition to her role at ISF, Dr. Souza Richards is the Chair of the ePhyto Industry Advisory Group (IAG). She collaborates with the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) and the WTO to enhance global phytosanitary measures and facilitate international trade in seeds. Her extensive experience includes roles at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in New Zealand and Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in England demonstrating her expertise in plant health and regulatory affairs.
Session 3: Regional snapshot: The African Union
President and CEO, U.S. Wheat Associates
Vince Peterson joined U.S. Wheat Associates, Inc. (USW) in 1985 and was appointed by the USW Board of Directors to his current position as President and CEO in July, 2017. Peterson had served since 2004 as USW’s Vice President of Overseas where he was responsible for the operations of all 15 foreign offices staffed by 65 employees which conduct wheat export market development activities in more than 100 countries.
His four decades of service to USW include nearly eleven years residing in Rotterdam, The Netherlands where he directed USW’s operations in Europe, the Former Soviet Union and Israel; and, three years residing in Cairo, Egypt managing export market development programs in the Middle East and East Africa. Peterson also served as USW's Vice President of Marketing in Washington, DC from 1988 to 1993.
As an executive and export grain merchandiser with Garnac Grain (Andre & Company of Lausanne, Switzerland) and a domestic grain procurement manager and merchandiser with General Mills (USA) before joining USW, Vince brought a dozen years of practical trade and commercial experience to USW. Additionally, his past industry leadership positions include having been elected President and Member of the Board of Directors of both the Portland Merchants Exchange and the Pacific Grain Export Association.
Peterson has presented testimony as an expert witness before Congress, USTR/USDA and the U.S. International Trade Commission and served on the CFTC investigative subcommittee for cash and futures market convergence. Peterson has served since 2017 as a member of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee to the USDA Secretary of Agriculture and the USTR Trade Ambassador.
Peterson’s major bachelor degree studies were in Industrial (Business) Administration (Finance) and Economics at Iowa State University.
USW’s mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and provide value to their customers.” USW activities in more than 100 countries are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 19 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service. USW maintains 16 offices strategically located around the world to help wheat buyers, millers, bakers, wheat food processors and government officials understand the quality, value and reliability of all six classes of U.S. wheat.
Session 3: Regional snapshot: The African Union
Session 4: Wheat workshop: Production outlook and market prospects in 2025/26
Lead Agricultural Commodities Analyst, Kpler
Ishan has led Kpler’s agricultural practice since October 2023. Based in England, he has over 12 years of experience with global grains markets research and trading. Ishan is building an understanding of agricultural markets and trade within Kpler, to add to and support its dry bulk data offering. He is also building analytical tools and balance sheets for major ags like wheat, corn, soybeans and barley, with focus on developing all the support required for trade decision-making by Kpler clients. Ishan has worked as Head of Research at Invivo and as Trader at Olam International. He founded Integrated Research Dubai and was a consultant for major trading houses across the globe, before joining Kpler.
Session 1: Maize workshop
Vice President of Corporate Affairs, POET
Doug Berven joined POET in March 2003 and has served the organization in several key roles since then. In his current role as Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Berven promotes the corporate objectives of POET, the importance of agriculture, and the benefits of biofuels domestically and internationally.
Berven currently sits on the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Executive Committee and Board, the Fuels Institute Advisory Board, is a Senior Advisor to Solutions From the Land, is the Executive Director of the South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, is team leader on the U.S. Grains Council Ethanol Advisory Team and serves on several other industry associated work groups, committees and associations. He has also served on several of POET’s plant Boards of Directors. Berven also manages strategic corporate relations for POET, promotes state, national and international policy objectives for the industry, and is a recognized authority on biofuels, renewable energy and agriculture.
Prior to joining POET, Berven held various roles in banking, real estate development and medical consulting. Berven received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he currently resides with his wife and two children.
Session 1: Maize workshop
Director General, ePURE - European renewable ethanol
David Carpintero joined ePURE as Director General in June 2022. Previously he worked as Director General for a Brussels-based food trade association and has a long international experience with a multinational in the agricultural sector with postings in Europe and America. He started his career as a management consultant with Kearney. David earned an MBA at IESE Business School and a Master’s in Agronomic Engineering at Polytechnic University of Madrid.
Session 1: Maize workshop
Associate Director, Head of Analysis, CZ Advise
Stephen has worked in the energy, food and agriculture markets for almost 20 years. He is one of the world’s foremost sugar and ethanol analysts, helping many of the world’s largest household name food and beverage companies manage their physical supply and futures price risks. He also works with major agribusiness, banks, finance providers and funds manage their exposure to these markets. He is also a regular speaker at global conferences on energy, food security and decarbonisation.
He joined CZ in 2008 and leads the analysis team. The team deliver leading-edge insights into the commodities CZ handles across the agriproduct, food, ingredients packaging and energy sectors. This analysis is published on CZ’s client-focused platform, but also supports CZ’s physical trading and corporate finance businesses. Stephen also supports CZADVISE’s consulting team as they deliver strategic advice to customers in the food, agriculture and bio-energy sectors.
Before joining CZ, Stephen worked in the downstream oil industry, promoting the interests of the UK’s crude oil refineries at a national government and EU-wide level. He worked on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the sector, primarily through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, and also on ensuring the country held a sustainable level of oil product emergency stocks. He holds an MSci in Chemistry from Imperial College London.
SESSION 5: Digitization in the grains value chain
Commodities Products and Business Development Manager, EURONEXT
Alexandre Bobylov has more than 15 years of experience in the commodities space with knowledge of derivatives, investment, finance, and financial markets. He joined Euronext, the pan-European leading market infrastructure in September 2022 as Commodities Products and Business Development Manager to further develop the Euronext MATIF franchise.
Prior to joining Euronext Alexandre gained experience of physical and derivatives commodities markets working at S&P Global Platts, Linhope Commodities and CME Group in London and Agritel in Paris.
Early in his career, Alexandre worked in commodities structured finance at Société Générale and BNP Paribas Corporate and Investment Banking.
Alexandre Bobylov graduated from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris with a Master degree in Finance and Strategy.
SESSION 5: Digitization in the grains value chain
Head of Technical Analysis & Senior Markets Analyst, ADM Investor Services International Limited
Eddie started in the markets in 1980 and has worked on trading desks in Bullion, Energy, Agricultural, Softs, Metals Futures & Options. In the late 1980’s he added FX, Equities and Fixed Income to his abilities and by 1990 he’d managed desks in all of these. He joined Esprit Brokers (precursor to ADMISI) in 1991 to develop FX business & started the 24 Hour FX Desk. By 2018, after 27 successful years as Head of FX he moved over to a new role as Head of Technical Analysis and Senior Markets Analyst. Eddie is Chairman of The Society of Technical Analysts in the UK (the ‘STA’). He’s also a Member of ACI-UK (the FX dealers association) and most recently became a Director of the International Federation of Technical Analysts (‘IFTA’), the oversight body for all Technical Analysis Societies in the World. Eddie publishes ‘Eddie’s Crayons…’ Technical Analysis reviews on FX and commodity futures markets. He regularly speaks at conferences and on TV & radio. ADM Investor Services International Limited (ADMISI) is a full service brokerage company with a 100+ year history in London & international markets. ADMISI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland (UK) Limited & indirectly a wholly-owned subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company of the U.S.
SESSION 5: Digitization in the grains value chain
Policy Director, FAIRR
Dr. Helena Wright is Policy Director at the FAIRR Initiative, the $70 trillion investor network that raises awareness of material risks and opportunities in intensive animal agriculture and the global food sector. Helena’s work focuses on engaging with governments, regulators, industry bodies and investors to promote greater understanding and build increased engagement around sustainable policies and business practices.
Prior to FAIRR, her previous experience includes working as a Vice President at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), working at think tank E3G on sustainable finance, as well as working as a climate finance negotiator for the UK Government. She has previously worked on renewable energy and green business advice as well as working for the United Nations on green growth. She has written multiple book chapters and articles on environmental issues and was a contributory author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Helena holds a PhD from Imperial College London focused on climate finance, and a BA from University of Cambridge.
SESSION 5: Pulses workshop
SESSION 5: Digitization in the grains value chain
President, India Middle East Agri Alliance (IMEAA)
Sudhakar Tomar, President of the India Middle East Agri Alliance (IMEAA) & Bharat Subcontinent Agri Foundation, is an agri-commodities and food systems entrepreneur with three decades of experience. IMEAA, a multilateral agri-industry venture builder and funding initiative, is mandated to promote agricultural trade, startups, and investments in South Asia and the Middle East. The objectives are to increase farmers' income and secure food and nutrition security. Championing the issues of Food & Nutrition security, Climate Smart regenerative Agri Crops and Sustainable AgriFoodFarmTech Startups, Sudhakar Tomar was involved in the advocacy of the UN-declared International Year of Pulses in 2016. An advisor to various governments, he is a globally recognized keynote speaker and has been listed among Forbes Top 100 Indian Leaders in the Arab World from 2016 to 2020. He has received numerous accolades, including the GPC President’s Award (2024), the Global Agriculture Award (2019) from the Indian Council of Food & Agriculture, Business Leader of the Year (2016) from the Government of Dubai and the Outstanding Contribution Award (2017) from the Government of India
SESSION 5: Pulses workshop
Senior Market Analyst and Markets Manager, Areté – The Agri-food Intelligence Company
Economist, Ph.D. in Law and Economics at University of Rotterdam, Hamburg and Bologna, expert in quantitative analysis, applied statistics and economics, econometrics. Since 2016 his main fields of activity include conducting market analysis and price forecasting for agricultural and agribusiness commodities aiming at providing agro-industrial markets operators with tools for understanding markets in a dynamic perspective (past, present and future trends) and for risk management in raw materials purchase and in product placement on relevant markets.
SESSION 6: Ports efficiency and connectivity
Global Account Manager- Shipping, Global Spatial Technology Solutions (GSTS)
Ed joined GSTS in 2025 as part of the newly formed shipping commercial team, focussing on the deployment of GSTS’ SaaS solution OCIANA to the wider shipping industry. OCIANA is designed to optimise the collaboration with between ship and shore stakeholders, through environmental, operational and situation efficiency.
Ed has over 15 years of maritime shipping experience, mainly focussed in the commercial and operation’s arena. He is also a qualified Deck Officer, having qualified from Warsash Maritime Academy in 2012, working onboard General Cargo vessels before moving shoreside to Gibraltar, working for the Gibunco Group.
Previously to joining GSTS, Ed relocated back to the UK in 2015, working in the commercial department for VesselsValue, the world’s first automated vessel valuation platform. He has worked with some of the largest shipping companies predominantly in the dry bulk and container space, as well as charterers, finance and governmental organisations.
Based on the Isle of Wight, Ed holds a degree in Marine Operations from Southampton Solent University.
