Environmental Risk Assessment Workshop: Non-Target Organism Testing

Day 2

Tuesday | June 24, 2025 | 08:00 – 20:00

Day 3

Wednesday | June 25, 2025 | 08:00 – 17:00

Day 4

Thursday | June 26, 2025 | 08:00 – 19:00

Day 5

Friday | June 27, 2025 | 08:00 – 16:30

Harit Bal, Ph.D.

Bayer Crop Science

Dr. Harit Bal is a Senior Research Entomologist in Regulatory Sciences at Bayer Crop Science in Chesterfield, MO, a role she has held since 2018. Harit received Ph.D. in Entomology from the Ohio State University and did post-doctoral research at Ohio State University and Michigan State University. In her current role, she is responsible for developing and implementing global ecological risk assessment strategies for biotechnology-derived crop products to enable successful product launches and defense. Harit serves as a Study Director for field non-target arthropod studies in the U.S. and provides technical support on these studies globally. She also monitors laboratory studies for non-target arthropod assessment of biotechnology-derived insect control products to support the ecological risk assessment of these products. With over 20 years of experience in field entomological research, she specializes in IPM, biological control, soil ecology and health, and ecological risk assessment of biotech crops.

Terry J. Beeler

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Terry joined the Danforth community in June 2022 to lead and coordinate the expansion of field-based experiments for the Principal Investigators of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.  Prior to joining Danforth, Terry had previously managed the Bayer Crop Science North America Field Testing Organization in Marshall, MO for 8 years.

Aster Beyene, Ph.D.

Bayer Crop Science

Dr. Aster Beyene currently works as a Global Regulatory Affairs Manager at the Bayer Crop Science Regulatory Organization in Chesterfield, Missouri, USA. In this position, she ensures timely regulatory authorizations in import and cultivation global markets to enable commercialization of biotech crop products and serves as the Africa Regulatory Liaison to improve access of biotech crops to smallholder farmers. Prior to her current role, she worked in the Regulatory Product Characterization Center where she conducted safety assessment studies to support Global Regulatory submissions. She also worked as a Product Stewardship Life Cycle Manager in the Regulatory Stewardship and Policy Team. She served as a lead and a board member of Cross-Cultural Champions Together in Bayer to promote cross-cultural awareness and create a more inclusive/globally fit workplace.

Dr. Aster Beyene earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Immunology from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. She continued as a post-doc in Hepatitis C Virus research at Washington University in Saint Louis, USA. She also has an M.S. in Biology from Karolinska Institute, and a B.S. in Biomedical Laboratory Science from Stockholm University’s College of Health Science.

Chris Brown, Ph.D.

Bayer Crop Science

Dr. Chris Brown has been involved in ecological risk assessments (ERAs) for non-target arthropods and genetically modified crops at Bayer Crop Science (previously Monsanto) since 2001. He first became interested in the topic due to the monarch butterfly/Bt corn pollen situation in 1999 and has since been implementing the principles that he learned from that experience to conduct non-target arthropod lab and field studies. Chris is also active in the area of insect conservation through involvement in a long-term project surveying tiger beetles in Missouri and leading a St. Louis entomology group. He obtained an M.A. in biology from Washington University and a Ph.D. in ecology and environmental science with a focus on entomology and risk assessment from Montana State University.

Stephanie Carter

Agriculture & Food Systems Institute

Stephanie manages the day-to-day operations at AFSI’s headquarters in Washington, DC, serving as the main point of contact for financial and contractual matters and ensuring that budgets and critical deadlines are met. She also plans, coordinates, and executes in-person meetings and related activities associated with AFSI’s international programmatic work. Stephanie has over 30 years of experience with the organization, having joined the team as Administrative Coordinator for the Risk Science Institute (RSI) in October 1986.

After RSI became part of the Research Foundation, Stephanie was promoted to Senior Program and Conference Manager in 2000, and she has been involved in the development, planning, and management of international conferences, workshops, and training programs ever since. She also managed the TAKE 10! Program and did teacher training and school outreach to help promote physical activity and health in elementary schools. After the Research Foundation became the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute in 2020, Stephanie’s role was expanded to Manager of Operations and Logistics. She was promoted to Senior Manager in 2023.

Josh Fischer, Ph.D.

Corteva Agriscience

Josh is an Environmental Risk Assessment Strategy Lead in the Ecotoxicology function at Corteva Agriscience. He is responsible for conducting pre-commercial environmental risk assessments of biotechnology-derived products as well as directing ecotoxicology research objectives, endangered species assessment strategy, outreach activities, and external collaborations. His current work focuses on ecological modeling, modernized approaches to endangered species assessments, and development of novel testing programs for GM traits. Prior to joining Corteva, Josh has spent the last 16 years in various roles within the Ag-Biotech industry focusing on fate and effects assessments for GM crops. He received a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Richard Hellmich, Ph.D.

Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit, USDA–ARS (former)

Richard Hellmich retired in 2022 after 43 years of research experience in entomology. He was a Lead Scientist and Research Entomologist at the USDA–ARS, Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit in Ames, Iowa. Dr. Hellmich focused his research on European corn borer ecology and genetics, insect resistance management, non-target effects of genetically engineered maize, and habitat restoration for monarch butterflies. Prior to his work in Ames, he studied Africanized honey bees at the USDA–ARS Honey Bee Laboratory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Dr. Hellmich was honored as Scientist of the Year for the Agricultural Research Service, Midwest Area
in 2002 and was elected Fellow of the Entomological Society of America in 2020.

Karen Hokanson, Ph.D.

Agriculture & Food Systems Institute

Karen joined the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI) as a Senior Scientific Program Manager in October 2023. She contributes to the development and implementation of AFSI’s current and future applied research and capacity building programs. She is responsible for developing strategies and budgets for these programs, identifying associated personnel requirements, and is accountable for ensuring the program/project meets its stated objectives. She also serves as liaison between AFSI management and staff, implementing partners, and other applicable parties. She is the main point person for AFSI’s USDA-funded capacity building activities related to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Prior to joining AFSI, Karen was a Senior Research Specialist in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the University of Minnesota (UMN) for 22 years, where she worked mainly on projects related to biotechnology regulation and biosafety, with a focus on risk assessment. After spending her early career at USDA-APHIS as a biotechnologist, most of her career has been devoted to capacity building for the regulation of biotechnology in developing countries in Africa and Asia. She has worked over the years on projects to develop national biosafety frameworks and implement the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and as a biosafety advisor on various crop improvement projects.

Chitvan Khajuria, Ph.D.

Bayer Crop Science

Dr. Chitvan Khajuria is a scientific leader in the Regulatory Risk Assessment Hub at Bayer, where he oversees lab testing of target and non-target organisms to support ecological risk assessments of Bayer’s insect control traits. Prior to this role, Chitvan spent a decade in Plant Biotechnology at Bayer, holding various positions and leading teams focused on insect efficacy testing and early de-risking of modes of action (MOAs). He also spearheaded initiatives to develop and characterize insect-resistant colonies, aiming to enhance the understanding of resistance mechanisms and support the advancement of effective insect control technologies. Additionally, Chitvan also served as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he led research into the potential applications of RNA interference (RNAi) in insects, with a particular focus on parental RNAi. Chitvan holds a Ph.D. in Entomology from Kansas State University, USA, and an M.S. in Entomology from Punjab Agricultural University, India.

Kristine LeRoy

Corteva Agriscience

Kristine LeRoy received a B.S. in biochemistry from Iowa State University (ISU). While attending ISU, she worked for the USDA-ARS Corn Insect Research Unit, which cemented her interest in agronomic pests and control. She joined Corteva Agriscience in June 2009 as a member of the Ecotoxicology and Safety Assessment Laboratory in Regulatory Science. Her initial responsibilities ranged from bioassay development and study execution with pest species and non-target organisms, as well as overall lab duties. She is currently leading the Ecotoxicology and Safety Assessment Laboratory, a talented and diverse team focused on characterizing the environmental safety of genetically modified crops.

Donald MacKenzie, Ph.D.

Institute for International Crop Improvement (IICI), Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Dr. Donald MacKenzie is the Executive Director of the Institute for International Crop Improvement (IICI) at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. He manages the IICI’s programs and partnerships dedicated to delivering precision genetics technologies to meet the most significant food and nutritional security challenges faced by smallholder farmers. Don’s extensive experience in plant product development and global regulatory processes aligns with the Institute’s commitment to collaborate with international and local partner organizations to deliver crops with improved disease and pest resistance, yield, and nutritional content to places where people are in most need. Dr. MacKenzie’s lab works on the development of plant transformation systems for legume crops, such as cowpea and chickpea, with a focus on introducing novel insect resistance traits.

Dr. MacKenzie received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of British Columbia and began his research career with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and was one of the first researchers in Canada to transform potato for virus resistance. Since then, Don served in various leadership roles in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada, and in Dupont Pioneer, where he was the regulatory and government affairs leader for Canada and the global regulatory lead for the company’s canola program.

Don joined the Danforth Center from the International Rice Research Institute after serving as the regulatory and stewardship leader of the Golden Rice project, securing food safety approvals in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the United States, and propagation approval in the Philippines. During his time at the Danforth Center, Don has played a critical role in achieving the deregulation of virus resistant cassava for Africa (VIRCA) in Kenya and of pod borer resistant (PBR) cowpea in Nigeria and Ghana.

Kim Morrell

Bayer Crop Science

Kim Morrell is a Crop Field Entomologist at Bayer, testing the efficacy of next-generation insect control traits against pest insects in field trials throughout North and South America.  In her 10-year career at Bayer, she has held multiple positions in entomology, starting in field testing and insect rearing at Bayer’s Union City, TN insectary; then transitioning into controlled environment testing of new lead traits in Chesterfield, MO, before moving into her current role. She’s particularly passionate about understanding and responding to changes in the global pest landscape, sourcing and developing resistant and field-relevant insects for testing, and identifying effective and innovative ways to pressure test next-generation traits to help deliver effective traits for farmers.

Andrew Roberts, Ph.D.

Agriculture & Food Systems Institute

Dr. Andrew Roberts joined the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI) in December 2009 as the Deputy Director of the Center for Environmental Risk Assessment (CERA), where he developed tools and materials for use in training and capacity building related to the problem formulation approach to environmental risk assessment and served as the coordinator for CERA’s capacity building projects under the USAID-funded South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP) and the World Bank-funded Partnership for Biosafety Risk Assessment and Regulation, in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam. He also provided technical support for capacity building work in Brazil, India, Japan, Chile, and South Africa. In January 2015, he became the director of CERA, as well as the Center for Safety Assessment of Food and Feed (CSAFF), which worked on food and feed safety assessment for foods derived from genetically engineered plants. The two centers were later consolidated under the Research Foundation, for which he became Deputy Executive Director in January 2017. When the organization became the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute in 2020, his title shifted to Vice President – Biotechnology, and he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer later that year.

Prior to joining AFSI, Dr. Roberts worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in several different capacities, all related to the regulation of agricultural biotechnology. He began his career at USDA as an AAAS Risk Policy Fellow in the Office of Science of Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS), the group responsible for regulating genetically engineered plants at USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service. After spending a year in the New Technologies office of the Foreign Agricultural Service serving as the lead for USDA’s efforts related to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, he returned to BRS to serve in the International Affairs branch where he remained until joining AFSI.

Jörg Romeis, Ph.D.

Agroscope

Jörg Romeis is the head of the Biosafety Group at Agroscope in Zurich, Switzerland. Agroscope is the Swiss center of excellence for agricultural research and is affiliated with the Federal Office for Agriculture. He has an M.Sc. in biology and has been trained as an applied entomologist with a focus on biological control and multi-trophic interactions. He has more than 20 years of experience in non-target risk assessment of transgenic crops and the design and execution of non-target laboratory studies in particular. Besides research projects to investigate non-target impacts of selected transgenic plants and insecticidal compounds, he has also been actively involved in developing testing protocols and guidelines for non-target risk assessment. In 2023, he became the president of the International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR), which aims to promote scientifically sound research that supports biosafety assessment.

Alex Soohoo-Hui

Bayer Crop Science

Alex Soohoo-Hui graduated from Louisiana State University in 2020 with a M.S. in entomology and now manages transgenic leaf tissue experiments on lepidopteran pests at Bayer Crop Science. He also has extensive experience in identifying agricultural non-target organisms at Bayer, with a particular focus on parasitic wasps.

Layla Tarar

Agriculture & Food Systems Institute

Layla Tarar creates, implements, and oversees AFSI’s communication and digital learning strategies and is continuously working to improve the distribution and impact of the institute’s scientific program outputs. Working closely with her colleagues, she develops and executes a cohesive outreach strategy using video, print, and online methods, including but not limited to the organization’s website, newsletter, and social media platform. She is also responsible for developing, managing, and advancing AFSI’s e-learning program, as well as working with scientific and operations staff to plan and conduct online trainings, workshops, and webinars.

Layla joined the AFSI team in August 2017 as a Communications Associate. She was promoted to Communications Manager in September 2018 and was heavily involved in the organization’s renaming and rebranding. Her role was expanded to Manager of Communications & Digital Learning after the organization became the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute in 2020.

Hilde Tuhafeni Amputu

National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), Namibia

Hilde Tuhafeni Amputu is a regulatory professional in the Biotechnology Division at the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) in Namibia. She holds an honors degree in microbiology and chemistry and has a strong track record in regulatory affairs, particularly in the implementation of Namibia’s Biosafety Act of 2006 and the development of national policy frameworks, including the Namibia Sustainable Bioeconomy Strategy 2024–2028.

Hilde brings expertise in biosafety inspections, GMO application handling, risk assessment audits, and decision-making processes. Her work is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of biotechnology, biosafety, biodiversity, and environmental management. She is driven by a commitment to impactful regulation and is passionate about advancing responsible innovation in biotechnology.

Rhoda Atiapa Asiedu

National Biosafety Authority, Ghana

Rhoda Atiapa Asiedu is a Biosafety Officer at the National Biosafety Authority in Ghana, where she contributes to policy development, inspections, and compliance monitoring in the regulation of modern biotechnology. Her work focuses on ensuring the safety of human and animal health as well as the environment. She holds a Master of Philosophy in environmental resources management and is driven by a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.

Rhoda is particularly interested in the role of non-target organisms in creating sustainable systems and believes that understanding their interactions is essential to the responsible use of innovative biotechnologies. Guided by the mantra, “If the last tree dies, the last man dies,” she brings a values-based approach to her work. In her free time, Rhoda enjoys reading, singing, dancing, writing poetry, drawing, and playing games with her family.

Mutibo Chijikwa

AUDA-NEPAD, South Africa

Mutibo Chijikwa is a Senior Programme Officer for Biosafety at the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), where she supports the design and implementation of biosafety regulatory frameworks that promote the safe application of biotechnology across African Union Member States. She brings over a decade of experience in biosafety regulation and policy development.

Before joining AUDA-NEPAD, Mutibo served as a biosafety regulator in Zambia, where she oversaw research and field trials involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Her responsibilities included inspecting confined field trials, monitoring compliance, and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards to protect human health and the environment.

With a background in entomology and research in integrated pest management (IPM) in cotton, she brings both technical and regulatory expertise to her role. Mutibo has a particular interest in advancing non-target organism risk assessment to support the development of robust, science-based biosafety systems across the continent.

James Yaw Kwabena

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI), Ghana

James Yaw Kwabena is a Principal Technical Officer in the Entomology Section at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) in Ghana. His interest in crop science was sparked in 2009 after witnessing a severe armyworm infestation in the Volta Region, which motivated him to better understand pest-crop interactions and develop sustainable pest management solutions.

James began his career at Ohawu Agricultural College, where he focused on insect behavior and ecology. At CSIR-SARI, he has contributed to several major projects, including the Fall Armyworm Control Programme, the Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea initiative, and the NextGen Cowpea Project. His work is centered on promoting food security through integrated pest management and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.

Outside of his professional life, James is a devoted husband and father of three. He enjoys watching football and wildlife documentaries and regularly participates in workshops and training programs to further his expertise in agricultural research and pest control.

Rita Isabel Muando Grachane

National Directorate of Agricultural Health and Biosafety, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mozambique

Rita Isabel Muando Grachane is an agricultural engineer with extensive experience in the seed sector, currently serving at the National Directorate of Agricultural Health and Biosafety within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Mozambique. She graduated with a degree in agricultural engineering from Eduardo Mondlane University in 2004.

Her career in the seed sector began in 2006, working as a seed focal point in multiplication programs focused on the family farming sector. She later joined the National Seed Authority as a seed analyst and inspector, specializing in seed quality control and certification. Rita is a co-author of Mozambique’s primary regulatory instruments for seed regulation and the protection of new plant varieties.

For the past five years, she has led the Variety Registration and Control unit, where she reviews applications for variety registration, conducts Distinction, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) tests, and oversees Cultural Value and Use (VCU) trials—including those involving genetically modified maize varieties. She is also responsible for regulating seed import and export activities.

Rita has participated in regional training programs on regulatory frameworks for testing, commercial release, and post-release monitoring of genetically modified organisms, including recent workshops in Lusaka, Zambia, and Abuja, Nigeria.

Panduleni Nghitila

National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), Namibia

Panduleni Nghitila serves as an Inspector for Biosafety at the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) in Namibia. In this role, he is responsible for enforcing the Biosafety Act, 2006 (Act No. 7 of 2006), which regulates activities involving the research, development, production, marketing, transport, application, and other uses of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and related products.

His core responsibilities include reviewing and approving GMO permits for market placement, field trials, contained use in registered facilities, and environmental release. In addition to regulatory enforcement, Mr. Nghitila is actively involved in the development of national policies and regulations governing the use of biotechnology. He also conducts nationwide awareness campaigns and field inspections to ensure biosafety compliance across the country.

Hannah Serwaa Nuamah

Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana

Hannah Serwaa Nuamah recently defended her Ph.D. thesis in entomology at the University of Ghana and is expected to graduate soon. She serves as Deputy Director at the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana. Her responsibilities include seed certification and regulation, pest surveillance and monitoring, pest risk analysis, and the rearing and release of natural enemies. She is also a Master Trainer in Integrated Pest Management.

Hannah is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the National Biosafety Authority, where she assists in validating applicant documents related to confined field trials, importation, and environmental release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). She has contributed to the development of several CABI Plantwise factsheets tailored for farmers, agricultural extension agents, and other stakeholders. Additionally, she is a member of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Focus Group on Climate Change and Phytosanitary Measures. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, reading, and listening to music, and is a proud mother of two daughters.

Oluwagbeminiyi Olajitan Popoola, J.D.

National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Nigeria

Oluwagbeminiyi Olajitan Popoola is a seasoned legal practitioner and public administrator with over 20 years of experience in corporate law, international business law, regulatory compliance, agricultural financing, and the legal dimensions of biotechnology and biosafety. She currently serves as Deputy General Manager (Legal) at the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), where she provides strategic legal oversight to ensure that all agricultural financing and development initiatives comply with national and international legal frameworks. Her responsibilities span legal and regulatory compliance, contract and risk management, dispute resolution, policy development, and advisory support for public-private partnerships.

Popoola has played a pivotal role in shaping biosafety regulations in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region, contributing to the drafting of the Nigeria Biosafety Act (2015) and its subsequent amendments to incorporate emerging technologies. She has represented the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) in international negotiations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol, and Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) agreements. Her expertise has guided the development of legal frameworks governing biotechnology, intellectual property rights, and environmental sustainability.

Throughout her career, she has led and contributed to high-impact initiatives, including the drafting of the Plant Variety Protection Bill and advocacy for Nigeria’s accession to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). She has provided contractual and legal advisory services for climate-smart and insect-resistant biotech products and successfully managed the legal components of major donor-funded projects, including the $304 million Global Fund Grant Cycle 6.

Popoola has also been instrumental in training and capacity-building efforts, organizing national workshops for scientists, legal professionals, and policymakers. Her professional development includes certifications in biosafety regulation (AUDA-NEPAD), intellectual property (WIPO), environmental risk assessment, mediation and conflict resolution, and agricultural financing. She previously held leadership roles at the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NABRDA).

Regina Osei-Bonsu

National Biosafety Authority, Ghana

Regina Osei-Bonsu is an environmentalist and biosafety regulator at the National Biosafety Authority in Ghana. She holds an M.Phil. in nuclear and environmental protection and a B.Sc. in earth science from the University of Ghana, where she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in nuclear and environmental protection. Her work focuses on ensuring biosafety compliance and advancing sustainable practices in agricultural biotechnology to promote food safety and security.

In addition to her scientific training, Regina is studying communication at the University of Gold Coast, with the goal of bridging the gap between scientific innovation and public understanding. She has received professional training in agricultural biotechnology, biosafety, and food safety, which further strengthens her contributions to the sector. Outside of her professional life, Regina enjoys listening to music, dancing, and playing tennis.

Maribel M. Querijero

Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Department of Agriculture, Philippines

Maribel M. Querijero is the Chief Agriculturist and Division Chief of the Pesticide Regulations Division at the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) under the Philippines Department of Agriculture. In this role, she leads national regulatory efforts on pesticide registration and licensing, including oversight of Plant-Incorporated Pesticides (PIPs) and the authorization of pesticide handlers.

Ms. Querijero is also a member of the Department of Agriculture Biosafety Committee, where she plays a key role in conducting science-based risk assessments for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture.

With a strong background in research and regulatory science, she is deeply committed to advancing human and environmental safety by promoting sustainable farming practices and responsible biotechnology governance.

Katherine E. Soriano

Biodiversity Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippines

Katherine E. Soriano is a Senior Ecosystems Management Specialist at the Wildlife Resources Division of the Biodiversity Management Bureau under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Philippines. Her work focuses on developing policies, plans, and programs for the conservation and management of wildlife resources and supporting the country’s compliance with biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements.

She also serves as one of DENR’s representatives to its Biosafety Committee, where she contributes to the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified organism (GMO) applications and participates in drafting and reviewing biosafety guidelines for genetically modified crops and animals. Ms. Soriano holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the same field with a specialization in wildlife ecology.

Prior to joining the DENR, she served as a member of the technical secretariat for the Department of Science and Technology Biosafety Committee, which oversees regulatory compliance for GMO projects under contained use, and for the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines—the country’s lead biosafety policy-making body.

Sabtharishi Subramanian, Ph.D.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India

Dr. Sabtharishi Subramanian is a Principal Scientist and Professor in the Division of Entomology at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, India. With over 30 years of experience in research, teaching, and extension, he specializes in insect physiology and molecular entomology. He earned his Ph.D. from IARI and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

Dr. S. Subramanian has made significant contributions to the molecular characterization of insecticide and fumigant resistance in insects, including the discovery of a novel gene linked to phosphine resistance in four storage pest species. His work also includes gut microbiome studies of economically important insect pests and the development of pest management strategies. He has submitted over 2,000 GenBank accessions related to insects and gut microbial isolates.

His current research focuses on genome-wide analysis of odorant-binding and chemosensory proteins in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, the chemical ecology of whiteflies for the development of novel pest lures, and the gut microbiome of insects of economic importance. He has authored over 120 research papers, edited three books, contributed 15 book chapters, and presented at more than 100 seminars and conferences.

Dr. S. Subramanian is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society (London), the Entomological Society of India, the National Environmental Science Academy, and the Plant Protection Association of India. He also serves as a Research Advisor to the Nanyang Academy of Science, Singapore.

Thiruvengadam Venkatesan, Ph.D.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, India

Dr. T. Venkatesan is the Head and Principal Scientist of the Division of Genomic Resources at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources in Bangalore, India. He is a distinguished scientist with over 30 years of research experience in the biological control of crop pests. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed research publications and has successfully commercialized several biocontrol-based technologies for pest management.

His work has received national and international recognition, including election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi, and the Royal Entomological Society, London. He has received research funding from both domestic and international agencies and has been invited to speak at major international conferences.

Currently, Dr. T. Venkatesan is leading research on RNA interference (RNAi) and genome editing for controlling economically significant insect pests. He is also organizing a series of brainstorming sessions and satellite symposia focused on insect genomics and its potential in pest management, particularly in the development of dsRNA-based spray-induced gene silencing technologies for commercial application in India.

In addition to his research contributions, he has mentored numerous Ph.D. and M.Sc. students as well as DST-INSPIRE and postdoctoral fellows. He is currently serving as the Vice President of the Society for Biocontrol Advancement (SBA) in Bengaluru.

Vu Thi Thu Hien, Ph.D.

Plant Production and Protection Department (PPPD), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), Viet Nam

Dr. Vu Thi Thu Hien is a Senior Researcher in the Division of Science and Technology at the Plant Production and Protection Department (PPPD), part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) in Viet Nam. Her work focuses on the scientific and technological management of plant production and protection in the country.

She began her career as a researcher at the Agricultural Genetics Institute (AGI) in Viet Nam, where she worked from 1996 to 2004. She pursued her graduate studies in Japan, earning both her master’s and Ph.D. degrees in agrobioscience from Kobe University, with a focus on biological and environmental science in the Plant Genetics Laboratory. From 2010 to 2012, she worked in the Department of Molecular Biology at AGI, and from 2013 to 2014, she was based at the Biological Resources and Post-Harvest Division of the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). Since 2017, she has held her current position at PPPD, contributing to science and technology policy and program management in the plant protection sector.

Leeford Oko Wristberg

National Biosafety Authority, Ghana

Leeford Oko Wristberg is an environmental scientist and biosafety expert with a solid foundation in biotechnology and regulatory compliance. He currently serves as a Biosafety Officer at the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) of Ghana, where he is involved in policy development, facility inspections, and public education on biosafety-related issues.

Leeford holds a B.Sc. in agricultural biotechnology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and is currently pursuing an M.Sc. in environmental science. His professional experience spans biosafety risk assessment, compliance monitoring, and GMO research, with active contributions to national regulatory frameworks and international collaborations.

He has received specialized training in biosafety, food safety, and biotechnology from institutions such as Michigan State University and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). Committed to scientific innovation and environmental sustainability, Leeford is engaged in advancing biosafety governance through active regulatory work and capacity-building efforts.