It is my pleasure to introduce Dr. Dieter Josef Schillinger, who will be joining ILRI on 1st September 2016 as Assistant Director General, Biosciences. Dieter’s remit will include leading ILRI’s upstream research in animal and human health (including vaccines and diagnostics development), animal breeding and genetics, and feed resources development.

Dieter Schillinger is a veterinarian with 30 years’ experience in the animal health industry that includes experience in applied animal science, tropical veterinary medicine and the development, licensing, marketing and sales of livestock vaccines.

Dieter Schillinger, a citizen of Germany, studied mechanical engineering in Regensburg, Germany, and veterinary medicine in Munich, Germany, where he graduated as doctor of veterinary medicine (Dr. Med Vet) in 1978. Dieter also holds an MBA from Brunel University, UK.

In his early career, Dieter worked several years as a researcher and lecturer at the livestock clinic of the University of Munich, and during this time, he got the opportunity to conduct research for the GIZ project ‘Chemotherapy of Trypanosomiasis’ in Kabete, Kenya for four years.

In 1985, Dieter moved back to Europe and joined the Animal Health Industry where he held various positions in research, clinical development, marketing, general management, and government affairs. During the period of more than 25 years in the private sector, Dieter was involved in trade associations like Health for Animals and the International Federation for Animal Health Europe (IFAH-Europe) where he chaired the Food Chain Committee for four years. From 2003 to 2012 Dieter was elected as the President of the German animal health industry trade association (BfT). Dieter is also a member of the European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals (EPRUMA) and also a member of the European Platform for Global Animal Health (ETPGAH) and DISCONTOOL, as well as a member of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP)-AGRI Focus Group ‘Reducing antibiotics in pig farming’.

Dieter is also the founding chairperson of the NGO ‘Action Africa Help (AAH)’ and acted as Chair of this not-for-profit humanitarian over 7 years until 2003.

In 2012, Dieter founded a consultancy which advises private sector companies in the area of animal health and welfare, modern vaccine technologies, emerging diseases, zoonoses, animal production and public affairs. Presently he is serving on the scientific advisory board of CIFSRF/IDRC ‘Livestock Vaccines for Developing Farmers’, the EU-funded project Precision Livestock Farming and is a member of the Expert Review Panel of the Livestock Vaccine Innovation Fund (LVIF). From 2009 to 2015 Dieter served on the Board of Trustees of ILRI, where he chaired the Audit Committee from 2011 to 2014.

Dieter was awarded an honorary medal by the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Munich, the Wilhelm-Pfeiffer-Medal by the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Giessen and, in 2012, received an Honorary Doctorate from the Ludwigs-Maximilian University Munich.

Dieter has extensive private sector experience, and in interacting with top business leaders, government officials and food chain stakeholders from different nationalities and cultures.

Please join me in welcoming Dieter to the ILRI fraternity!

Jimmy Smith| Director General