Olusegun Obasanjo served as President of Nigeria from May 1999 to May 2007, the culmination of a life spent on the front line of African politics.

In 2008 he was appointed by the United Nations as a special envoy for Africa and has since overseen democratic elections on behalf of the African Union.

H.E. President Obasanjo is also a passionate advocate of Africa´s agricultural development and is himself a farmer. As President, he launched ´Operation Feed the Nation´ and has been a prominent advocate for agribusiness in Nigeria and across Africa.

He is especially committed to creating new opportunities in agriculture for youth, an aim he pursues through the Feed Africa Initiative launched by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation.

As President of AGRA, Dr. Kalibata leads the organization’s efforts with public and private partners to ensure a food secure and prosperous Africa through rapid, sustainable agricultural growth, improving the productivity and livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers.

Prior to joining AGRA in September 2014, Dr. Kalibata was Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI). In this role, she was widely considered to be one of the most successful Agriculture Ministers in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Kalibata has held several other leadership positions, including Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Rwanda. She also worked for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Uganda, and various other agricultural development organizations.  She sits on various boards including the International Fertilizer Development Corporation (IFDC), Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, the Strategic Advisory Council of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH).

Dr. Kalibata has a distinguished track record as an agricultural scientist, policy maker and thought leader. She holds a doctorate in entomology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

SIMON CARTER is Director of IDRC’s Regional Office for Sub-Saharan Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya, leading research programming in the region. When he joined IDRC in 1998, he oversaw work in agriculture and the environment in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2006, he led Climate Change Adaptation in Africa, a joint initiative with the UK’s Department for International Development. He has also worked as a researcher in Latin America and Africa, studying agrarian and environmental change. Simon Carter holds a PhD in geography from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

As Director of IDRC’s Agriculture and Environment program, Dominique Charron oversees research that seeks innovative, evidence-based solutions to help people face the world’s toughest development and environmental challenges: poor agricultural productivity; food insecurity and malnutrition; chronic and infectious diseases; and, risks to lives and livelihoods from a changing climate. In this role, she pursues IDRC’s tradition of research excellence, the active involvement of stakeholders in the research process, including affected communities, and the integration of research outcomes into policy decisions that help improve the lives of all members of society.

Dr Charron joined IDRC in 2006 as Program Leader of the Ecosystems and Human Health program. Previously, Dr Charron developed and managed research programs on climate change and infectious diseases at the Public Health Agency of Canada. She has conducted research in Canada, including in the Arctic, and in the Caribbean. Dr Charron has taught epidemiology and ecosystem health at the graduate and undergraduate levels at several Canadian universities.  She holds a PhD in epidemiology and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Guelph.

Antony Chapoto, PhD. Dr. Chapoto joined the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI) in July 2014 as the Research Director from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) where he was a Research Fellow under the Development Strategy and Governance Division based in Accra, Ghana with IFPRI’s Ghana Strategy Support Program.

Prior to IFPRI, Dr. Chapoto was an Assistant Professor for 5 years and 1 year as an Associate
Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University stationed in Zambia under the Food Security Research Project in Lusaka, as the USAID Chief of Party and Research Coordinator. His research interests focus on agricultural development issues in Africa, including agricultural technology and productivity, smallholder farm commercialization, home-grown medium and large-scale farmers and food markets and policy.

Dr. Chapoto has a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University and a Masters in Agricultural Economics from the University of Zimbabwe.

Dr. Rob Smith is Senior Vice President and General Manager, Europe, Africa and Middle East. In this role, Dr. Smith is responsible for reinforcing AGCO’s leading market position in Europe and further expanding the company’s manufacturing footprint in Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle East. In particular, he leads AGCO’s efforts in developing the markets of Russia and Africa where AGCO sees significant growth potential in the agricultural equipment sector. Dr. Smith and his team are also responsible for improving AGCO’s distribution coverage and local assembly presence to leverage this immense growth potential.

Dr. Smith has extensive international management experience and most recently was the Vice President & General Manager of the global Engine Components Division for TRW Automotive – one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers. He also was the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TRW Automotive GmbH. Prior to this, Dr. Smith served as Vice President of the Global Automotive Division at Tyco Electronics, and Vice President & General Manager of the Aftermarket Parts and Material Repair and Overhaul business at Bombardier Transportation. Prior to 2001 he worked in various operations and supply chain roles in the global automotive industry with LucasVarity PLC, Lucas Industries PLC and BMW. Rob began his career as a Combat Engineer Officer in the United States Army.

Dr. Smith earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University followed by an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin Graduate School of Business. He received German Diplom-Kaufmann and Doctoral degrees in International Operations Management from the WHU – Graduate School of Management in Koblenz, Germany. Dr. Smith is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in Germany and represents AGCO as Vice President in the AmCham Germany Executive Committee.

Judith Rodin is president of The Rockefeller Foundation, one of the world’s leading philanthropic organizations. She was previously president of the University of Pennsylvania, and provost of Yale University. Since joining the Foundation in 2005, Dr. Rodin has recalibrated its focus to meet the challenges of the 21st century and today the Foundation supports and shapes innovations to expand opportunity worldwide and build greater resilience by helping people, communities and institutions prepare for, withstand and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses. The Foundation accomplishes these goals through work that advances health, revalues ecosystems, secures livelihoods, and transforms cities.

A widely recognized international leader in academia, science, and development issues, Dr. Rodin has actively participated in influential global forums, including the World Economic Forum, the Council on Foreign Relations, Clinton Global Initiative, and the United Nations General Assembly. Dr. Rodin is also a member of the African Development Bank’s High Level Panel and a Board member of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (co-created by The Rockefeller Foundation). In November 2012, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo named Dr. Rodin to co-chair the NYS 2100 Commission on long-term resilience following Superstorm Sandy.

Dr. Rodin serves as a member of the board for several leading corporations and nonprofits, including Citigroup, Laureate Education, Inc., Comcast, and the White House Council for Community Solutions. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and earned her Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University.

Dr. Shenggen Fan (樊胜根) has been director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) since 2009.

Dr Fan joined IFPRI in 1995 as a research fellow, conducting extensive research on pro-poor development strategies in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He led IFPRI’s program on public investment before becoming the director of the Institute’s Development Strategy and Governance Division in 2005.

He now serves as the Vice-Chairman of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Food and Nutrition Security, after serving as Chairman of the Council from 2012 to 2014.

In 2014, Dr. Fan received the Hunger Hero Award from the World Food Programme in recognition of his commitment to and leadership in fighting hunger worldwide.

Dr Fan received a PhD in applied economics from the University of Minnesota and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Nanjing Agricultural University in China.

Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki of the Republic of Niger is the Chief Executive Officer of the Secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

A former Prime Minister of Niger, from 1997 to 2000, Dr. Mayaki has a Masters Degree from the National School of Public Administration (Enap), Quebec, Canada and a PhD in Administrative Sciences from University of Paris I, France.

He worked as a Professor of Public Administration in Niger and Venezuela. Between 1996 and 1997 he was successively appointed Minister in charge of the African Integration and Cooperation and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In August 2000, he set up the Analysis Centre for Public Policy.

From 2000 to 2004, Dr Mayaki was a guest Professor at the University of Paris XI, where he lectured on international relations and organizations; he also led research at the Research Centre on Europe and the Contemporary World within that University.

In 2004, he served as Executive Director of the Platform in support of Rural Development in West and Central Africa, the Rural Hub, based in Dakar, Senegal, from where he was appointed NEPAD Chief Executive Officer in January 2009.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is the President of the African Development Bank. He previously served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Until his appointment as Minister in 2010, he was Vice President of Policy and Partnerships for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).He is an Agricultural development expert with 24 years of experience in developing and managing successful agricultural programs across Africa. He graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Ife, Nigeria (1981). He obtained his PhD degree in Agricultural Economics in 1988 from Purdue University, USA, where he won the Outstanding PhD Thesis for his research work

Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace is the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union. Prior to assuming this portfolio, H.E Tumusiime held various senior positions in the Government of the Republic of Uganda, including Commissioner for Agriculture Planning and Commissioner for Women and Development. She is a holder a Bachelors’ Degree in Agricultural Economics, a Masters Degree in Economics, Planning and Managing Rural Development, and a Diploma in Women and Development.

Her expertise and experience as well as commitment have won her a number of key positions on regional and international organizations, such as membership of the High-level Advisory Panel of UNISDR, Advisory Board of Expo 2015 dedicated to the Theme: Feeding the Planet, Energy For Life, Governing Board of the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC), Chair of the African Fertiliser Financing Mechanism (AFFM), Chair of the ALive Platform for livestock development in Africa, among others.

She continues to serve the African Union and its Member States with vigour and dedication.

Ertharin Cousin began her tenure as the twelfth Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme on 5 April 2012. Ms Cousin brings more than twenty-five years of national and international non-profit, government, and corporate leadership experience focusing on hunger, food, and resilience strategies. Cousin guides the World Food Programme in meeting urgent food needs while championing longer-term solutions to food insecurity and hunger.

As the leader of the world’s largest humanitarian organization with approximately 11,367 staff serving over 80 million beneficiaries in 82 countries across the world, she is an exceptional advocate for improving the lives of hungry people worldwide, and travels extensively to raise awareness of food insecurity and chronic malnutrition.

In 2009, Ertharin Cousin was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, and head of the U.S. Mission to the U.N. Agencies in Rome. During her nearly three years as the chief U.S. diplomatic voice for famine relief and hunger solutions, Cousin helped guide U.S. and international policy around some of the most devastating and life-threatening situations in the world. She advocated for aid strategies that integrate a transition from relief to development, including following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and for country-led sustainable agriculture programmes, particularly in the aftermath of the 2010 flooding in Pakistan and in response to the 2011 drought in the Horn of Africa.

As the U.S. Representative in Rome, she played a significant role in advocating for improved collaboration between, and promoting gender parity and mainstreaming in the operations of the three Rome-based food and agriculture agencies – the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agriculture Development and the World Food Programme.  During her tenure, she actively participated in reforming the Committee on World Food Security, enlarging the multi-stakeholder platform and helping to introduce a results-based framework. In 2011, she also assumed the presidency of the International Development Law Organization’s Assembly of Parties.

Cousin worked in the Administration of U.S. President Bill Clinton for four years, including serving as White House Liaison to the State Department, and received a White House appointment to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development.

Cousin  served as  Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Feeding America (then known as America’s Second Harvest), the largest domestic hunger organization in the United States.  She led the organization’s response to Hurricane Katrina, an effort that resulted in the distribution of various relief supplies, including food, to those in need across the Gulf Coast region of the United States.

Cousin has significant background in the retail food sector, leading government communications and community affairs for two large U.S. grocery chains, Albertsons Foods and Jewell Foods. While working for Albertsons, she served as President and Chair of the company’s corporate foundation, managing the organization’s philanthropic activities.

Cousin is a native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Georgia School of Law. She is a published author and accomplished speaker on food insecurity and chronic malnutrition. She is based in Rome, Italy.

Mr. Holsether  has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Yara since September 2015.

Before becoming President and CEO of Yara, Mr. Holsether held the position as President and CEO of Sapa AS. Prior to this he was EVP M&A Orkla 2010-2011, Business Area President Sapa Asia & Middle East 2010, CFO Sapa AB 2007-2010, CFO Orkla Specialty Materials 2006-2007, CFO Elkem ASA 2005-2006, CFO Elkem ASA North American Division 2003-2005, and various positions within the Elkem group including Vice President Group Control, Group Controller, Group Financial Analyst 1997-2003.

Holsether holds a BSc degree in Finance & Management from the University of Utah, USA.

Mr. Masiyiwa is from Zimbabwe and is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Econet Wireless International, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also a Trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation. In 2002, Mr. Masiyiwa was named to the Time Magazine List of Most Influential People, and in March 2014, he was selected to Fortune Magazine’s list of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.” He is one of Africa’s most influential figures, and a champion for the power of technology to improve the lives of millions of Africa’s smallholders.

Gayle E. Smith was sworn into office as the seventeenth Administrator of USAID on December 2, 2015. As a long-time leader in President Obama’s Administration, she has helped shape and guide America’s international development policy for the past seven years, including by elevating development as a vital component of the national security agenda.

As Administrator of USAID, Smith oversees a dedicated team of nearly 10,000 professionals working to end extreme poverty, foster sustained and inclusive economic growth, and promote resilient, democratic societies all over the world. She is committed to sustaining USAID’s work to lift up the world’s most vulnerable people through promoting innovative partnerships, emphasizing science and technology, engaging with and strengthening local leadership, and maintaining a relentless focus on evaluating, measuring, and delivering results.

Most recently, Administrator Smith served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy at the National Security Council (NSC), where she helped manage the U.S. Government’s responses to more than 15 major humanitarian crises and worked to strengthen democratic institutions around the world. She has been a driving force behind Presidential initiatives that are advancing USAID’s mission, including Feed the Future and Power Africa.

Administrator Smith was previously a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, Co- Founder of the ENOUGH Project, and Co-Founder of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network. During the Clinton Administration, she served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the NSC, and as Senior Advisor to the Administrator and Chief of Staff of USAID.

Prior to her U.S. Government service, she worked as a journalist in Africa for over 20 years, where she covered military, economic, and political affairs for the BBC, Associated Press, Reuters, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, Toronto Globe & Mail, London Observer, and Financial Times. She won the World Journalism Award from the World Affairs Council and the World Hunger Year Award in 1991, and in 1999 she won the National Security Council’s Samuel Nelson Drew Award for Distinguished Contribution in Pursuit of Global Peace.

Administrator Smith is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has served on the boards of Oxfam America, the Africa America Institute, ASSET, USA for Africa, and the National Security Network. She has also consulted for a range of NGOs, foundations, and governmental organizations including UNICEF, the World Bank, Dutch Interchurch Aid, Norwegian Church Relief, and the Canadian Council for International Cooperation.

She also served on the policy and advisory boards of DATA, the Acumen Fund, and the Global Fairness Initiative, and was the Working Group Chair on Global Poverty for the Clinton Global Initiative from 2005 to 2007.

She received a B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Thomas Jayne is University Foundation Professor of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. He has mentored dozens of young African
professionals and played a major role in building MSU’s partnerships with African research
institutes, directing several grants from the Gates Foundation focusing on building sustainable
research capacity in Africa.He currently serves on the advisory boards of several initiatives
dedicated to building institutional capacity in sub-Saharan Africa, including the Regional
Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes in Eastern and Southern Africa, and was
recently appointed as Co-Director of Michigan State University’s Alliance for African Partnership to build long-term inter-disciplinary research partnerships between MSU and African research and policy organisations.
Over the past decade, Jayne has received six distinguished research
excellence awards from various professional and academic organizations, including the 2009
Outstanding Article Award in Agricultural Economics.