As the year draws to a close and we look forward to 2013, it is also time for us to welcome our two new Deputy Directors-General (DDGs) to ILRI.  You will recall that we had, some months ago, an intensive recruitment and interview process which led to the selection of two Deputy Directors-General.

Suzanne Bertrand, DDG-BiosciencesSuzanne, a Canadian national, joins us from New Zealand and brings a rich background of science and management spanning government, academia and the private sector. Suzanne’s career began in plant molecular biology, and expanded to include work in China and North Africa, managing a dairy breeding enterprise, delivering science based solutions for genomics, reproductive health, animal evaluation and commercialization and as director of International Linkages for the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology in New Zealand. Suzanne will be leaving her post as Chief Executive Officer of NZBIO, an NGO representing the interests and supporting growth of the bioscience sector in New Zealand to join ILRI.

John McIntire, DDG-Integrated Sciences John is from the USA where he trained as an Agricultural Economist and subsequently worked on cropping systems and crop livestock systems, notably in sub-Saharan Africa, including with ILRI’s predecessor ILCA, as well as ICRISAT and IFPRI. Subsequently John worked for the World Bank for 20 years, serving in national and regional roles focused on agricultural development in Mexico, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Tanzania as well as being the World Bank’s Director for Agricultural, Environmental and Social development in the Africa Region.

New DDGs in office in Nairobi in early January

John officially joined ILRI on 17th December 2012 and will be in office in Nairobi on 2nd January 2013. Suzanne starts on 7th January 2013. Of course, it will take some time for Suzanne and John to get to know ILRI and the rapidly changing CGIAR as a whole, and get settled in their new roles. It is important that they get to know quickly, not only ILRI’s research activities but also all of you. This is not a trivial task in an organization that is as complex and is so widely spread across the world. So please engage then and do all you can to help them in this process.   Let me express my thanks to both for their willingness to take on the challenges, and openness to respond to the opportunities as we enter what I am sure will be an exciting and stimulating period for us all.  A very warm welcome to the ILRI family!