Management Committee

ALESSANDRA FURTADO

Title: Director of Programs

Citizenship: Brazil

Location: Montpellier, France

Profile Summary: Alessandra Furtado is an International Development executive with over 25 years of experience in International Development and Research for Development in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Alessandra was appointed as Director of Programs in April 2023 to lead CIP in strengthening the focus and coherence of our program portfolio and improve project design, implementation, partnerships, and learning across the organization, achieving measurable results and maximizing Value-for-Money in line with CIP’s strategy.

Prior to this appointment, Alessandra led the Project Management Unit overseeing and consolidating best practice in project management. Before CIP she served as Assistant Director for Resources and Development at Leonard Cheshire Disability in London and other management positions in the University of Brighton, The Nature Conservancy, the European Commission and USAID. Alessandra holds a Masters with Distinction in International Development Management from the University of Westminster, UK.

Languages: Portuguese (native), English and Spanish (fluent)

HANNELE LINDQVIST-KREUZE

Title: Head of Crop Improvement

Citizenship: Finland

Location: Lima, Peru

Profile Summary: Hannele Lindqvist-Kreuze leads the potato and sweetpotato breeding programs at CIP as of January 2020. Her objective is to drive increased genetic gains of both potato and sweetpotato through the adoption of novel breeding approaches and modernization of the breeding program. The breeding products generated need to respond to customer needs to increase the adoption and dissemination of improved varieties.

Lindqvist-Kreuze has more than 15 years of experience in potato genomics, molecular breeding and pathology at CIP. She is originally from Finland and received her MSc in Agronomy (Plant Pathology) from the University of Helsinki and her PhD in Molecular Plant Pathology from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Languages: Finnish, English, Spanish

HUGO CAMPOS

Title: Deputy Director General, Science and Innovation

Citizenship: Chile

Location: Lima, Peru

Profile Summary: Hugo Campos is Interim Deputy Director General for Research and Development at the International Potato Center. He has 25+ years of international experience working in several Latin-American countries, Sub Saharan Africa, US and UK. Most of his professional career has focused on molecular breeding – the intersection between plant breeding and biotechnology – with an explicit goal of delivering superior varieties and increase the efficacy and efficiency of plant breeding programs, and in developing commercially relevant drought tolerant varieties. He is experienced in diverse crop species such as sugarcane, maize, soybeans, canola, potato, sweetpotato and wheat. He is an advanced practitioner of topics such as innovation and entrepreneurship from a private standpoint. In addition to playing a direct role leading plant breeding international teams, Hugo has written/edited four books to date, which overall have been sold/downloaded in excess of 300,000 times, and is in the process of publishing his fifth book. He is a Chilean national and holds a PhD from the John Innes Centre, UK, an MBA from Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile, and a Professional Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from Standord University (USA).

Languages: Spanish, English

JAN KREUZE

Title: Head of Regenerative Agriculture

Citizenship: Sweden

Location: Lima, Peru

Profile Summary: Jan Kreuze, an Swedish national, has been leading the crop protection team, and particularly the virology area, where he develops most of his work. Since joining the International Potato Center in 2003, he has led different projects and activities globally to ensure the delivery of donor commitments and continuity of funding stream.

Languages: Spanish, English, Swedish

JIANMIN XIE

Region: China

Title: Director of CCCAP

Citizenship: Chinese

Location: Yanqing, Beijing, China

Profile Summary: Jianmin Xie is the Director of the CIP-China Center for Asia and the Pacific (CCCAP). His duties include leading the development and implementation of the CCCAP research and innovation strategy, in line with the CIP and One CGIAR strategies; overseeing CCCAP fundraising in accordance with its business plans, trends, and needs; leading CIP’s operations in China, and ensuring CCCAP and CIP staff deliver impactful research there.

A citizen of China, Mr. Xie has more than 30 years of experience in agriculture and rural development, planning and international cooperation. Before joining CIP, in October 2022, he worked as Counsel Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ Department of International Cooperation, in Beijing. Prior to that, Mr. Xie worked as Deputy Representative and Counsellor of the Permanent Representation of China to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, based in Rome. He holds a master’s and post graduate studies in Economics from the School of Economics, China Renmin University, in Beijing

JOYCE MARU

Region: Africa

Title: Regional Director for Africa

Citizenship: Kenyan

Location: Nairobi

Profile Summary: Joyce provides leadership across Africa, Asia and Latin America, to expand the current portfolio through new initiatives engaging CIP scientists in all related disciplines, linkages with related CGIAR research programs, and key research and development partners globally.

Prior to her appointment, Joyce has served as a Senior Program Coordinator since 2018 at CIP leading design and implementation of CIP’s projects such as the FCDO funded Development and Delivery of Biofortified Crops at Scale (DDBIO), Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation (TAAT) and USAID Accelerated Delivery Initiative (ADI-I). She also works as a Work Package Lead for the CGIAR initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS) and is also contributing to the Resilient Cities Initiative and the Regional Integrated Initiative for Eastern and Southern Africa (Ukama Ustawi). Previously, she worked as a Capacity Development and Communication Specialist with CIP’s Building Nutritious Food Baskets (BNFB) project (2016-2018). Prior to joining CIP, Joyce worked at ILRI as a Capacity Development Specialist and as a Learning and Development Advisor at the National Health Service in the United Kingdom.

Joyce holds a PhD in Doctor of Business Administration (Leadership and Organizational Change), with a research interest in team leadership for collaborative partnerships in research. She also holds a Masters in business administration from Teesside University (UK), She also holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Huddersfield University (UK), a Bachelors degree in education, alongside other professional training in Leadership and Management, Facilitation and Presentation skills among others.

KRISTINA RÖING DE NOWINA

Title: Director of Resource Mobilization

Citizenship: Canada; Sweden

Location: Lima, Peru

Profile Summary: Dr. Kristina Röing de Nowina is the Director of Resource Mobilization at the International Potato Center (CIP) where she is responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising strategy that builds and manages a portfolio of relationships with prospective donors and investors. Working closely with programmatic leaders, Kristina facilitates the creation of structures and practices for ambitious targets in support of annual program country and regional needs in alignment with CIP and the CGIAR strategies. She also ensures close relationships with private and public sectors and new partnerships with innovative financing mechanisms for the organization.

Prior to joining CIP, Kristina gained extensive experience in resource mobilization in different international agricultural research organizations. Kristina served as the Deputy Director, Funder and External Engagement at the CGIAR System Organization from 2019 until 2023, as well as Team Leader for Resource Development and Partnerships at the Center for International Forestry Research, and Head of Project Development and Administration at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

Kristina holds a PhD in Soil Biology and a MSc in Agriculture from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. She also holds an MBA from the United States International University in Kenya.

MUKANI MOYO

Title: Head of Urban Food Systems

Citizenship: Zimbabwe

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Profile Summary: Dr. Mukani Moyo is a seasoned food scientist with extensive expertise in food chemistry, food quality and safety, food processing, packaging, storage, and sensory science. A national of Zimbabwe, Dr. Moyo has contributed significantly to food science and innovation across the private sector, academia, and government research institutions.

Dr. Moyo was appointed as Head of Urban Food Systems in December 2024. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of a cutting-edge research program aligned with the Urban Food Systems Science Goal of the CIP2030 Strategy.

Prior to this appointment, she distinguished herself as a leader in the field of food science, advancing research and building impactful partnerships. She holds a PhD and a Master’s degree from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Midlands State University, Zimbabwe.

Language: English

RIA BALBOS JORDAN

Title: Head, People & Culture

Citizenship: Trinidad & Tobago

Location: Lima, Peru

Profile Summary: Ria Balbos Jordan has more than 25 years of experience in Human Resources Management in international organizations, Ria has led and supported various initiatives in areas such as leadership development, talent optimization, process improvement, and change management. Prior to this appointment, Ria served as Deputy Director, HR at the Caribbean Development Bank and Diversity Equity and Inclusion Advisor at the Inter-American Development Bank. Ria holds an International Master’s in Business Administration, an is also a certified DEI Professional, a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR), a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and a Coaching for Engagement and Performance (CEP) practitioner.

Languages: English (native), Spanish, French

SIMON HECK

Title: Director General

Citizenship: Germany

Location: Lima, Peru

Profile Summary: Simon Heck is Senior Director, CGIAR, and was appointed Director General of the International Potato Institute (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.

Languages: English, French, German

TANIA ZUNIGA

Title: Director of Operations and Finance

Citizenship: Peru

Location: Lima, Peru

Profile Summary: Tania has more than 15 years of progressive hands-on experience in finance, strategy, and operations management within purpose-driven global organizations. Specializes in scaling organizations, by building breakthroughs together, designing, and implementing initiatives that drive organizations towards their aspiration. A strong believer in promoting a culture of innovation to create value for our customers and competitive differentiation, by rethinking how organizations can create a positive impact on our society.

Languages: English, Spanish

VANIA AZEVEDO

Title: Leader of Biodiversity for the Future Global Program and Director of CIP Genebank

Citizenship: Brazil

Location: Lima, Peru

Profile Summary: As leader of the Biodiversity for the Future Global Program and director of the CIP Genebank, Vania Azevedo is responsible for the acquisition, conservation, characterization, and distribution of samples of the world’s largest in vitro collections of potato, sweetpotato, and Andean Root and Tuber Crops (ARTC), for the benefit of humanity. She ensures’ that the genebank team adheres to world-class standards and that the genebank complies with CIP and CGIAR’s mission, and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. She also collaborates with other organizations and genebanks across the globe in areas that include conservation, research, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.

A Brazilian national, Vania joined CIP in 2021, after working as the Genebank Head at the CGIAR International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in Hyderbad, India. From ICRISAT headquarters, she coordinated activities in India, Zimbabwe and Niger. Prior to that, she worked for the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa, in the Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Unit, in Brasilia. Among her varied responsibilities there, she coordinated a system of more than 140 Genebanks across Brazil and represented Brazil at the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture at FAO. Vania holds a Ph.d. in Molecular Biology and two bachelor’s degrees in biology and business administration from the University of Brasilia.

Languages: Portuguese (mother language), English, Spanish

VIVIAN POLAR

Title: Leader, Social and Nutritional Sciences

Citizenship: Peru

Location: Lima, Peru

Profile Summary: Vivian Polar brings over 15 years of experience working directly with farmers and indigenous groups in rural communities, in agricultural technology innovation, adaptation to climate change, and food security. She has skills in project design, monitoring and evaluation and gender analysis in developing countries. Polar previously worked as a technical manager of PROINPA Foundation for the Altiplano Regional Office and also as a consultant for several well-known institutions such as the International Potato Center, Swiss Contact, World Bank, Samaritan’s Purse, and Bioversity International. She holds a PhD. in Finance and Management from the School of Oriental and African Studies – University of London, UK.

Languages: English, Spanish