About

 I joined CABI’s centre in Switzerland in 2012 as an Integrated Crop Management Advisor. This job entails working with farmers, extension workers, researchers, private industry, government representatives and other plant protection stakeholders to develop and implement sustainable solutions to agricultural problems. At present, I am programme manager for an IPM programme with the private sector which is being implemented in 12 countries around the world.

I am trained as an entomologist, and over the course of my career I have carried out studies and supported capacity building activities for plant health in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Central Asia, Central Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

My research has addressed topics such as herbivore host selection, integrated pest management, insect behavior, chemical ecology, biogeography, and quantitative genetics. I have used my scientific background to aid in the development of technical responses to problems affecting agriculture and the environment.

I also have experience with policy development at the national and international level. I have worked for the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention as well as the US government. Currently, I liaise on policy matters related to ICM with international organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Trade Organisation. I have been involved in the development and implementation of the Masters of Advanced Studies programme on Integrated Crop Management which is jointly organised by CABI, the University of Neuchatel and the Canton of Jura. As a lecturer, I cover policy considerations related to ICM. I have also been an adviser for theses on pesticide policy analysis.