Board of Trustees

Professor Helen Hambly Odame (Canada) is currently the Chair of CIP Board of Trustees. She works in the Ontario Agricultural College of the University of Guelph, where she is a Professor in the Capacity Development and Extension program.

Broadly defined, her research traverses information, knowledge and communication in agricultural and rural innovation systems, supporting innovation among farmers and other stakeholders. Dr Hambly currently leads Canada’s largest research project focused on agricultural and rural broadband infrastructure, Regional and Rural Broadband, and is a member of research teams addressing climate-smart soils, digital agriculture and rural resilience.

Dr Hambly has worked for more than 30 years experience in international agricultural research, communication and capacity development. Prior to joining the University of Guelph, she has worked at the CGIAR, World Bank, United Nations and the International Development Research Centre. Between 2012 and 2018, Dr Hambly also served as the Chair of the Independent Steering Committee of the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas.

Hambly has also served as vice president at Farm Radio International and Journalists for Human Rights. She is widely recognized for her longstanding training activities and gender analysis for smallholder agriculture with research networks and projects in Peru, Nepal, India and Ghana. International projects in which she participated include: Mobilizing Knowledge for Sustainable Agriculture in Sri Lanka with the University of Alberta; and rural communication and farmer field school assessments with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Dr Hambly holds a PhD in Environmental Studies from York University, Canada.

Dr. Julio Alegre (Peru) is a Principal Research Professor at the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) in the soil science department where he teaches a range of technical and undergraduate courses, and advises graduate students undertaking research. Over the last 40 years, Dr. Alegre has conducted research and training around the world on soil and agroforestry systems, including for the International Potato Center and the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF).

Having started out at the university as a program manager for joint research and capacity building venture between the university and the government of Belgium, Dr. Alegre continues to coordinate research with the Flemish Belgian Universities on soil and agroforestry projects in Peru. He has also served on the boards of directors of a number of public institutions and high-level committees and lectured at the Universidad Autonoma de Chapingo in Mexico and the University of Florida. He also served as the president of soil science societies in Peru and Latin America for many years.

Dr. Alegre began his career at North Carolina State University where he worked as a senior scientist in a tropical soils project in Yurimaguas, Peru. In 1993, he joined the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) as the coordinator of its Ecosystem Process and Management System. Over the next 10 years, Alegre managed numerous ICRAF research and development initiatives in Latin America before returning to UNALM – his alma mater – as a research professor.

Dr. Alegre holds a PhD in Soil Science from North Carolina State University, and a masters in Soil and Water Conservation and bachelors in Agronomy from UNALM. He has published over 180 academic articles in peer reviewed publications.

Mr. Jorge Juan Ganoza Roncal (Peru) is the Head of the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA), where he oversees national efforts to manage innovation and agrobiodiversity for farmers through the development of sustainable technologies. Before his appointment as Head of INIA, Mr. Ganoza held the position of General Manager.

Before being appointed Head of INIA in March 2022, Mr. Ganoza was the Institute’s General Manager. From July 2018 to January 2020, he was General Manager of the National Water Authority, where he previously served as a director or administrator of various units or projects between 2009 and 2018. Prior to joining the National Water Authority, he served as the Regional Manager of Social Development in the Regional Government of Pasco, Peru. He has participated in the design and management of projects focused on water management, agriculture or forestry, in close relationship with resource user organizations. He has also participated in the development and execution of feasibility studies or strategic plans for investment in public or private projects.

Mr. Ganoza has experience in the development and management of courses and workshops and has been a professor at the National University of Trujillo and the Daniel Alcides Carrion National University in Cerro de Pasco. In addition to his degree in agronomy studies from the National University of Cajamarca, Peru, Mr. Ganoza has a Master’s in Public Management from the César Vallejo-Trujillo University, Peru, and a Master’s in Cooperation for the Development in Rural Areas from the University of Padua, Italy.

Dr. Yaye Kene Gassama (Senegal) is a distinguished Professor of Plant Biotechnology at the University Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal, with over 35 years of experience in research, training, and policy advocacy. A specialist in biotechnology and biosafety, Dr. Gassama has played a pivotal role in advancing plant biotechnology in Africa, mentoring over 750 Master’s and doctoral students from eight countries across the continent. Her extensive research has focused on optimizing tissue culture techniques for the regeneration of arid tropics species and the genetic transformation of crops such as Hibiscus sabdariffa and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), as well as selecting rice lines tolerant to salinity.

Dr. Gassama has served in numerous high-level advisory and leadership roles, including Chair of the African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET) and Vice Chair of the National Academy of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal (ANSTS). She has also been a key player in shaping science and technology policies at both national and continental levels. Her efforts have significantly contributed to formulating biotechnology regulations in Senegal, harmonizing biosafety frameworks in West and Central Africa, and developing policy briefs on cutting-edge technologies for the African Union.

Beyond her research and policy work, Dr. Gassama advocates for gender equity in science, technology, and innovation. She has dedicated much of her career to mentoring women scientists and promoting girls’ education in science and mathematics through her involvement with the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE). Dr. Gassama’s commitment to socializing science and empowering communities is evident in her initiatives to establish research centers and urban agriculture projects in Senegal, which have trained thousands of women and youth in innovative technologies.

Dr. Gassama’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the prestigious Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Lion by the President of Senegal and the Cauri d’Or for scientific excellence. Her work inspires a new generation of African scientists and innovators, driving progress toward sustainable agricultural development and technological advancement across the continent.

Dr. Sandra Cristina Kothe Milach (United States of America) is a CIP Board of Trustees member, known for her commitment to modernizing seed-breeding programs that enhance agricultural productivity for farmers and consumers alike. She is passionate about collaboration and leads multidisciplinary teams focused on creating sustainable food solutions. Her extensive experience in international agricultural research and development is underscored by her active participation in initiatives funded by major organizations such as USAID, the Brazilian Government, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

Currently serving as a board member and consultant for various organizations, Sandra provides executive leadership that drives crop improvement and food security innovation. Her leadership roles include being a board member of the Soybean Innovation Lab, where she works to boost soybean production in Africa, and contributing to CGIAR’s research on climate change adaptation. Sandra has also played a pivotal role in the CIP SweetGains project, which aims to modernize sweet potato breeding programs in Africa, and the FFAR Crops of the Future initiative, where she successfully mobilized significant investments from multinational seed companies.

Sandra’s professional journey includes notable positions at Corteva Agriscience and DuPont Pioneer, where she led global breeding technologies and developed predictive breeding systems. Her academic background includes a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics, and she has received numerous awards for her contributions to agricultural science. As a strong advocate for public-private partnerships, Sandra continues to empower agricultural research systems and promote high standards of core values in her work, ensuring that advancements in seed technology benefit communities worldwide.

Flor Romero is the Secretary for the Board of Directors at the International Potato Center (CIP) headquartered in Lima. She has more than twenty years of expertise in management for international development organizations. She is a highly organized and efficient team leader with a comprehensive understanding of administration.  As board secretary, Flor reports to the Board Chair and supports the Board’s leadership, the Director General, and staff in ensuring the effective execution of the Board’s responsibilities.

Simon Heck (Germany) is Senior Director, CGIAR, and was appointed Director General of the International Potato Center (CIP) in February 2023.

Prior to this appointment, he led CIP’s research and development projects portfolio designed to intensify, diversify and strengthen the resilience of agri-food systems with sweetpotato-related technologies. He is responsible for setting priorities that respond to changing country, regional and global demands and that contribute to CI) and CGIAR long-term strategic objectives and goals.

He joined CIP in 2012 as Deputy Program Manager for Sweetpotato in Africa where he led the regional Scaling-Up Sweetpotato through Agriculture and Nutrition (SUSTAIN) project in 2013 and the Sweetpotato Program in 2014. He previously worked with the WorldFish Center, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).

An anthropologist by training, Simon has extensive experience leading research and development projects in agriculture, aquatic resources and environmental management. He has been chair of the Agro-Enterprise Learning Alliance for Eastern and Southern Africa and has contributed to policy and strategy development in several regional and national institutions in Africa. His disciplinary expertise is in social science and he has contributed to CGIAR research on resilience of social and ecological systems, food security, social development indicators, land tenure, and innovation systems. He has a PhD in Social Anthropology from Boston University.

Dr. Celso Moretti: Driving Innovation and Sustainability Across Global Food Systems

With a career spanning over three decades, Dr. Celso Moretti is a leader who has redefined the landscape of food, land, and water systems globally. From his tenure as President of Embrapa, Brazil’s premier agricultural research organization, Dr. Moretti spearheaded initiatives that quadrupled public-private partnerships in just three years, managing 43 research centers while pioneering the organization’s adoption of ERP/SAP systems. Under his leadership, innovation and sustainability became cornerstones of progress.

Recognized internationally for his contributions, Dr. Moretti received the prestigious “Norman Borlaug Award for Sustainability” in 2021 and was celebrated as one of Brazil’s top 100 agribusiness leaders in 2023. His expertise has taken him to over 40 countries across six continents, where he has inspired audiences as a keynote speaker, consultant, and partner in cutting-edge R&D projects.

Dr. Moretti’s influence extends beyond Brazil, serving as a board member of renowned global institutions, including the International Center of Biosaline Agriculture (UAE), the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition (UK), and the OpenAg Foundation (Switzerland). His story is one of relentless pursuit of excellence and a commitment to shaping a sustainable future.

Dhesigen Naidoo: Championing Climate Resilience and Social Change

Dhesigen Naidoo’s journey involves science, leadership, and an unyielding drive for social impact. As a Climate Adaptation Advisor to the South African Presidential Climate Commission, Naidoo works at the forefront of climate policy and resilience strategies. His leadership extends across the African continent as Head of the African Climate Risk and Human Security Project at the Institute for Security Studies, where he bridges the gap between climate science and human security.

Naidoo’s passion for water as a fundamental human right has propelled him to leadership roles, including serving as President of the global NGO Human Right 2 Water and as a board member of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Previously, as CEO of South Africa’s Water Research Commission, he spent a decade driving transformative water and sanitation innovations.

Beyond his professional achievements, Naidoo’s influence is far-reaching, serving on advisory panels from the UAE to Singapore, and guiding research through the University of Stellenbosch School of Climate Studies. Beginning his career as a medical scientist in a children’s hospital, he has remained deeply connected to human well-being, a focus he attributes to his family, who inspire his humility and dedication.