BIOGRAFIASDOS PALESTRANTES

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ALLTECH.COM/SYMPOSIUM

30° Simpósio Internacional Anual da AlltechMaio 18–21, 2014

Lexington, Kentucky, EUA

AlltechLA | @AlltechBR

Nick Adams Global Sales Director, Mycotoxin Management, Alltech Scheduled Session: Crop Science

Nick Adams is the global sales director of Alltech’s mycotoxin management sector. Adams has been with Alltech for over 15 years, starting in the U.K. and then spending eight years in California. He earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science at the University of Reading in the U.K. where he majored in ruminant nutrition, and is a graduate of the Alltech Advanced Management Program, offered at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Dublin, Ireland. Adams joined the feed industry in 1996 with a position at Hanford Feeds Ltd. as a ruminant feed specialist in southwest England. After three years with Hanford Feeds, he accepted a position with Alltech. His role for the past eight years has been focused on supporting the mycotoxin management side of Alltech’s business. He hails from England, although he spent many of his early years growing up in Germany.

Tim Arthur Global Director of MIS, AlltechScheduled Session: Business and Technology

Tim Arthur joined Alltech as global director of MIS in 1995. He is charged with developing Alltech’s IT strategy for its offices worldwide. Arthur started his career in large mainframe systems working for Jerrico (Long John Silver’s) and Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company as a systems analyst. He later moved to the PC environment in the early 1980s taking on large-scale remote and communication projects for Kentucky Central Life. Years later, he created a computer software company, Accounting Alternatives, Inc., and assumed the position of president and CEO. Arthur later merged the company with Data Solutions, and held the position of executive vice president, servicing the financial and production industries with networking support and ERP/MRP solutions such as Exact’s Macola. Arthur attended the University of Kentucky, and completed an Executive Master of Business Administration at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Dublin, Ireland. Arthur serves on the board of advisors for the DEMO Innovation Conference, IDG’s Computerworld magazine, CIO Magazine of the CIO Executive Council, and the 2014 Customer Board of Advisors Convergence International Conference. He and his team received the “Customer Excellent Award” from Microsoft in 2014, and they were the runner-ups for the Microsoft Business Visionary CIO of the Year Award in both 2013 and 2014.

Julie Borlaug Larson. Ph.D. Associate Director for External Relations Norman E. Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture Scheduled Session: Africa

Julie Borlaug Larson, Ph.D., is the granddaughter of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug and the associate director of external affairs at the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M. Since the passing of her grandfather, Larson has worked to continue his legacy through developing agricultural partnerships between public, private and philanthropic groups to further the Borlaug legacy and expand upon his mission to feed the world’s hungry. Larson received her

bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M in international studies and political science in 1997, and her master’s in non-profit management from the University of Dallas in 2004. She has spent her career in the non-profit sector, and has worked for organizations such as the Salvation Army and the American Cancer Society. Larson will accept Alltech’s 2014 Medal of Excellence Award on behalf of her grandfather.

Steven Borst Alltech Crop Science Compliance Manager Scheduled Session: Crop Science

Steven Borst is the compliance manager for Alltech Crop Science and is responsible for global product registration. Borst received his doctorate from Louisiana State University through the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences. He earned a bachelor’s degree in turf grass science from Pennsylvania State University, and a master’s degree in plant sciences from the University of Tennessee. Earlier in his career, Borst worked as a research associate at Louisiana State University.

Steve Bourne Vice President, Alltech Scheduled Session: The Algae Opportunity

Steve Bourne is a vice president at Alltech. Bourne graduated from the University of Nottingham in 1985 with a bachelor’s in animal nutrition, focusing on nutrition and production. He obtained a Master of Philosophy from the University of Nottingham in 1996, studying the role of enzymes in animal nutrition. Upon graduating, he spent six years working as the company nutritionist for Cranswick Group PLC, where he was responsible for diet formulation, research and technical support. Bourne joined Alltech in July 1990 to establish business in the Asia-Pacific region, and was based in Thailand. In 1994, he moved back to the U.K., and took on the responsibility of both the European and Asia-Pacific markets, while also leading and launching the mycotoxin management program. Since then, Bourne has had numerous roles furthering the growth and development of Alltech internationally as part of the company’s acquisition group, and today, he chairs Alltech’s reputation and risk management group, the mycotoxin management program, algae initiatives and the on-farm program.

Patrick Charlton Vice President Europe, Alltech Scheduled Session: Crop Science

Patrick Charlton is the vice president of Alltech’s European region. He graduated from the University of Nottingham in 1987, and later joined one of the U.K.’s leading premix manufacturers as a nutritionist, advising on all species. In 1991, he garnered a position with Alltech U.K., and soon became technical manager in 1995. Three years later, he moved to Cape Town, South Africa, to become technical director for Alltech’s Africa and Middle East regions, working with customers in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Iran, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Zimbabwe. Charlton was later appointed general manager of Alltech Canada from 2000 to 2005, working with customers, consultants and researchers across Canada; then in 2005, he was promoted to global Bioplex® manager responsible for all activities relating to the Bioplex® series of organic minerals. Most recently, Charlton was named European vice president, managing Alltech’s largest region of 34 European offices. He currently lives in the U.K., where he earned a master’s in fermentation and distilling from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh in 2006. Charlton is a member of Alltech’s board of directors, the Institute of Biology and the Institute of Food Science and Technology.

William Close, Ph.D. Private Consultant and LecturerScheduled Session: Farm of Tomorrow

William Close, Ph.D, is a private consultant and lecturer from the U.K. He received his Bachelor of Science in 1967 and a doctoral degree in 1970 from Queen’s University, Belfast. He was employed as a research scientist at the AFRC Institutes of Food Research at Babraham, Cambridge and Shinfield, Reading. In 1991, he established his own private, independent consulting business, offering technical advice to the pig industry on all aspects of pig nutrition and production. As a result, he has traveled extensively throughout the world and is familiar with pig production in many countries. Close’s research has been published extensively in the areas of pig nutrition, metabolism, physiology and production. Moreover, he has been invited to speak at major conferences throughout Europe, America, Australia, Asia and Africa. Close is a part-time lecturer at King’s College London and the University of Reading.

Dr. Christél Coetzee Technical Director, ADVIT Animal Nutrition Scheduled Session: Africa

Dr. Christél Coetzee is the technical director of ADVIT Animal Nutrition. She holds a doctoral degree in animal science from the University of Pretoria. After three years as a consulting nutritionist at Spesfeed South Africa, Dr. Coetzee joined BASF Animal Nutrition, South Africa in 2001. There she gained experience in operations management, logistics, quality system implementation and quality systems auditing. She provided technical support to the vitamin industry, focused on animal nutrition and honed her skills in business development, sales, key accounts and product management. Following the management buyout of BASF Animal Nutrition, South Africa, she was appointed technical director of ADVIT Animal Nutrition in 2007. Dr. Coetzee is currently the chairman of the AFMA Technical Committee.

Dr. Stephen Collett Clinical Associate Professor at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC), University of Georgia Scheduled Session: The $4 Billion Coccidiosis Problem and Antibiotic-Free Production Breakfast

As a clinician at the PRDC in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, Dr. Collett is primarily responsible for teaching clinical medicine to students pursuing master’s degrees in avian medicine, and providing veterinary service to the poultry industry in the state of Georgia. He received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture at the University of Natal Pietermaritzburg, along with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Master of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He earned his master’s degree and diplomat status with the American College of Poultry Veterinarians after spending 10 years in private practice, specializing in poultry. In the past, Dr. Collett has served as head veterinarian with Rainbow Chicken Farms in South Africa, as well as director of Alltech, North American poultry division, before joining the University of Georgia in 2004.

Aidan Connolly Vice President Corporate Accounts, AlltechScheduled Sessions: Farm of Tomorrow, Africa

Aidan Connolly is vice president of corporate accounts for Alltech, and is based in Washington, D.C. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from University College Dublin (UCD) and a master’s in international marketing from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. He has been with Alltech for 22 years, originating in Ireland, and then moving to France, Brazil, and the United States. From 2002 to 2008, Connolly held the position of vice president of Europe. In his current position, Connolly is responsible for corporate account strategy within Alltech. His expertise is in the field of branding, agriculture and international marketing. Connolly is an adjunct professor of marketing at UCD. He is also a board member of IFIF, IAMA, the National Chicken Council, the National Turkey Federation, and a former board member of FEFANA.

JAMES R. COMER Commissioner of Agriculture, Kentucky Scheduled Session: Crop ScienceMonroe County Kentucky native, James R. Comer, was a Kentucky state representative for over 10 years. He is a life-long farmer, a graduate of Western Kentucky University and served as the president of the Kentucky FFA from 1990 to 1991. In November 2011, Kentuckians elected Comer to be their commissioner of agriculture. Since his swearing in, Commissioner Comer has fulfilled his promise to visit all 120 Kentucky counties his first year in office; flushed out government waste saving tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars; and made the Department of Agriculture transparent by displaying its entire expenditure report on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website. Commissioner Comer has gained national attention through his innovative initiatives to enhance rural economic development through agriculture.

Evans Darko Breeder Manager, Wilmar Poultry Company/Ag ForteScheduled Session: Africa

Evans Darko, breeder manager for the eastern division of Wilmar Poultry Company, also known as Ag Forte, is a native of Ghana, West Africa. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Ghana, Legon. After fulfilling his national service obligations, he moved to Ontario, Canada to further his education at the University of Guelph. He graduated from the university in 1990 with a master’s in animal science. He was hired by Cuddy Farms International right out of school, and worked at both their Strathroy, Ontario and Aurora, MO locations from 1989 to 1998. In July, 1998, he returned to Ghana for family reasons. Then, in 2002, he accepted a position with Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation’s turkey division as a senior field technician. In July 2004, Ag Forte acquired Pilgrim’s turkey division, and he has been there ever since. He lives and works in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Karl Dawson, Ph.D. Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Research, AlltechScheduled Sessions: Opening Plenary, Farm of Tomorrow, Life Science

Karl Dawson, Ph.D., is the vice president and chief scientific officer of research for Alltech. In his position, he directs activities at the company’s biosciences centers around the world, including Alltech’s Nutrigenomics and Applied Animal Nutrition Center, where he is co-director. He oversees administration and scientific programs in the research department, and also facilitates external contract research, which includes programs for 50 graduate students around the world. Dawson is also an adjunct professor of nutritional microbiology. Prior to joining Alltech in 1999, he was employed by the University of Kentucky for 21 years where he served as director of the nutritional microbiology laboratory in the department of animal sciences, the research coordinator for the department of animal sciences and a chair of the agricultural biotechnology coordinating committee. He also worked for two years as a microbiologist at the National Animal Disease Laboratory in Iowa. He holds a bachelor’s in bacteriology from Utah State University, a master’s in microbiology from the University of Wyoming, and a doctoral degree in bacteriology from Iowa State University.

Paul groenewegen Technical Manager, Alltech Canada

Scheduled Session:

Paul Groenewegen is the technical manager of Alltech Canada, providing support to the Canadian sales team and conducting research and registration responsibilities in Canada. Prior to Alltech, Groenewegen was employed by a major feed supplier in Ontario for 15 years as a swine specialist, responsible for sales to more than one thousand sow farrow-to-finish operations in Ontario. Greoenewegen has also provided consultative services to clients in Venezuela, the U.S. and across Canada. He attended the University of Guelph where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, majoring in animal and poultry science. He then earned a master’s in nutritional physiology.

Dinah Hanson Agribusiness Project Manager, Association of African Business SchoolsScheduled Session: Africa

Dinah Hanson joined the Association of African Business Schools in 2011 where she has led the development process of the Agribusiness Consortium of African Business Schools, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which will develop and deliver agribusiness management training programs tailored to the needs of the African context. She has worked in the field of development since 2006, starting with TechnoServe Ghana, and was a member of the inaugural faculty of the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa. Hanson holds a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Pretoria, South Africa where she was a DANIDA Emerging Leaders Scholar and is a member of the inaugural class of the London School of Economics Programme for African Leadership.

David hunt Managing Director, Comex McKinnon Scheduled Session: Crop Science

David Hunt is the managing director of Comex McKinnon, an agricultural supply chain management company. Hunt also sits on the advisory board of Singularity University, an institute based in NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California. Singularity University was founded by Peter Diamandis and Ray Kurzweil and is dedicated to educating people about the impact that advancing technologies can have on the world.

Robin Johnston Fermentrics, Richie Seed and Feed, Inc. Scheduled Session: Farm of Tomorrow

A graduate of the University of Liverpool and Pennsylvania State University, Robin Johnston is an associate at Fermentrics and Richie Seed and Feed, Inc. in Ontario, Canada. His background is in computer science and artificial intelligence, however, throughout his working career he has been involved in agriculture, allowing him to blend the two disciplines. His background in artificial intelligence not only provides him with insight into new methods of developing data for agricultural producers, but also allows him to put them into practice on his own agricultural operation. Currently, Johnston is involved in the development of autonomous technologies that focus on the live interpretation of data for use in the dairy industry. Johnston was previously the head of research and development for Fermentrics, responsible for the development and implementation of analytical software and hardware in gas fermentation; and he was also the head of research and development for MilkMaven, where he developed and implemented analytical techniques and hardware for the dairy industry. His interests are in farming (cash crop and dairy), machine learning (genetic algorithms, pattern recognition), and hardware and sensor development for the agricultural industry.

Jean kennedy, Ph.D. EU Regulatory Affairs Manager, Alltech Scheduled Session: Farm of Tomorrow

Jean Kennedy, Ph.D., began working in Alltech’s EU Regulatory Affairs Department in 2010. In 2005, she was awarded a doctorate for her thesis on food safety and consumer protection from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland. In 2007, she was awarded a Newman Fellowship for post-doctoral research of outstanding academic excellence from University College Dublin (UCD) where she continues to be an adjunct research fellow. Kennedy’s previous employers include the European Food Information Council, Michigan State University and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

Marc Larousse Vice President of Business Development, Alltech Scheduled Session: Business and Technology

Marc Larousse, vice president of business development at Alltech, began his career with the company in 1993 as director of Alltech France. From 1997 to 2000, he was the director of Alltech’s regional office in Curitiba, Brazil and in 2002, he became director of Latin America, implementing corporate sales and marketing strategy within the region. Larousse served as vice president of Europe from 2008 to 2011. He was later nominated for the global position he upholds now, managing partnerships and merger acquisition strategies. Larousse completed his education at the National Veterinary School of Maisons-Alfort in Paris, France. He pursued his studies further by completing a Master of Business Administration at HEC Paris in 1993.

defa li, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Animal Science and Technology at China Agricultural University; Director of Ministry of Agriculture Feed Industry Centre; Expert in Feed and Animal Nutrition and Ph.D. Program SupervisorScheduled Session: Farm of Tomorrow

Professor Defa Li, Ph.D., is an esteemed academician and dean of the College of Animal Science and Technology at China Agricultural University, mainly involved in theory research and application technology development for the high-efficiency utilization of feed resources. He tested the nutritional value of some of the most popular feedstuffs for pigs to create the first dynamic database of available nutrients for feed sources, as well as the first pig nutrient requirement models in China. He has published 205 peer-reviewed papers and is a two-time recipient of the National Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Moreover, he has trained 143 postgraduate and postdoctoral students -- two of which were granted the “Top 100 National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation” recognition. Li achieved his Bachelor of Science from Beijing Agricultural University in China where he majored in animal science; then, earned his Ph.D. in animal nutrition and feed science at Kansas State University. In 1990, he attended Beijing Agricultural University, and three years later, he became professor and vice dean of the College of Animal Science and Technology at China Agricultural University. In April 2004, he was appointed dean of the College of Animal Science and Technology. In 2013, he became affiliated with the China Academy of Engineering. He’s also served as the vice president of the World Association of Animal Production, vice president of the Chinese Animal Science and Veterinary Association, vice president of the China Feed Industry Association, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, and was an associate editor of the Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Science.

Lopez lomong Humanitarian Award WinnerScheduled Session: Opening Plenary

One of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Lomong was separated from his family at age six when he was kidnapped by soldiers during a Sunday morning Mass in his native country. He escaped from the children’s prison three weeks later, taking refuge in a camp in Kenya, before coming to the United States when he was 16 years old and becoming a U.S. citizen in 2007. Lomong is a two-time Olympian in track and field and was the flag bearer for the United States during the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony. Lomong’s autobiography, Running for My Life, was published in 2012. He is the founder of 4 South Sudan, a philanthropic partnership with World Vision that is seeking to provide clean water, education, health care and nutrition to the people of South Sudan. Lomong is Alltech’s 2014 Humanitarian Award winner.

Dr. Aoife Lyons Clinical Psychologist , Alltech Scheduled Session: Business and TechnologyDr. Aoife Lyons received her doctorate in clinical psychology from DePaul University in Chicago, IL in 2001. After successfully running her own private practice clinic in Chicago for over 10 years, she returned to Ireland in 2012 to direct the Alltech Career Development Program. She also consults on hiring practices in business, team-building and multicultural communication. Dr. Lyons uses her specialized knowledge of human behavior and psychology to advise on effective business practices. Dr. Lyons is an adjunct professor at both the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Dublin, Ireland, and Dublin City University. Her academic qualifications include a bachelor’s in biology and psychology from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s in women’s studies from UCD, a master’s and doctorate from DePaul University and a post-doctoral fellowship from Northwestern University.

Mark lyons, Ph.D. Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Alltech Scheduled Sessions: Business and Technology, Africa, Closing PlenaryMark Lyons, Ph.D., is vice president of corporate affairs at Alltech. He obtained his undergraduate degree in political science and environmental science in 1999 from the University of Chicago. He then completed a master’s in brewing and distilling in 2001, followed by a doctoral degree in the area of solid state fermentation (SSF) at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. In 2007, he successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis, graduating in June 2008. His thesis was graded ‘excellent’ and was nominated for a Heriot-Watt award. Since 2011, Lyons has been concentrating on key international accounts and industry groups, as well as core company initiatives. He relocated to China in early 2012 as part of the company’s focus on the Asia-Pacific region, which generates approximately 35 percent of the world’s feed tonnage. Living in Beijing and travelling throughout China, Lyons is focused on the company’s “China Now” initiative to deepen its support of the industry through research, education, and strategic initiatives in the world’s most populous nation. Lyons is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French and German and previously served as international projects director, overseeing developments and operations at Alltech’s SSF plant in Serdan, Mexico, and its flagship yeast production facility in São Pedro, Brazil. Under his leadership as director of North America from 2009 to 2011, Alltech expanded its presence with the opening of new offices and a growing presence in all agricultural sectors. Lyons has served as a board member of the American Feed Industry Association and is active in many industry groups such as the International Poultry Council, National Turkey Federation, National Chicken Council and the National Pork Producers Council. He is also a committee member of China Toxicology Association. He was named one of the top 50 Irish businessmen in the BRIC countries and one of the top “40 Under 40” leaders in agriculture by Vance Publishing Corporation.

damien McLoughlin, Ph.D. Dean of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Scheduled sessions: Africa, Business & TechnologyDamien McLoughlin, Ph.D., is dean of the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Dublin, Ireland, and in 2004, was a visiting professor in marketing at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. He has been recognized with teaching awards from both the Smurfit and Quinn Schools of Business. He is also a member of the 4.5 Club for Teaching Excellence at Cornell. McLoughlin’s research, teaching and consulting interests are in the areas of strategic marketing, market making and business-to-business marketing. His work has been published in leading international journals, such as the Journal of Business Research, Industrial Marketing Management and the European Journal of Marketing. He is a member of the editorial board of many leading marketing journals, including Industrial Marketing Management. Professionally, he has worked with leading international companies such as Alltech, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard.

Charles Moore Consulting Nutritionist, Charles Moore ConsultingScheduled Session: AfricaCharles Moore is a consulting nutritionist, specializing in ruminants. A registered professional animal scientist, he is a graduate of Stellenbosch University with bachelor’s degrees in animal science and agronomy. He works mainly with large dairy and cow-calf producers in Southern Africa, helping them maximize the use of home grown feeds for optimal production. He is involved in his fifth generation family farming operation, running a 25,000 acre livestock ranch. Moore also holds a professional hunting guide licence, and in his off-time he guides international clients in some of Africa’s remote wilderness areas.

Richard Murphy, Ph.D. Research Director, Alltech’s European Biosciences Centre Scheduled Session: Crop ScienceRichard Murphy, Ph.D, is the research director at Alltech’s European Bioscience Centre in Dunboyne, Ireland. He received a bachelor’s in biochemistry in 1994 from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Subsequently, he received a research scholarship from Alltech and earned his doctorate in the department of biochemistry at NUI, Galway in 1999. His current research activities are diverse and include peptide bio-marker detection, molecular fingerprinting of microbial populations and nutrigenomics, with an emphasis on transcriptional control and regulation of protein production.

Ronan power, Ph.D. Vice President of Life Sciences, Alltech Scheduled Session: Life ScienceRonan Power, Ph.D., is vice president of life sciences for Alltech, based at the Center for Nutrigenomic Research in Nicholasville, Kentucky. He earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the National University of Ireland. Subsequently, he completed his post-doctoral training in cell biology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he studied structure-function relationships of avian steroid receptors and cross-talk between membrane receptors and nuclear steroid hormone receptors. His work resulted in a number of patents, and he has been published widely in journals such as Science, the Journal of Biological Chemistry and Gene Expression. Power joined Alltech in 1991 as director of research for Europe and was initially based on the campus of National University of Ireland, Galway, where he was an adjunct professor in the department of biochemistry. During this time, he also directed Alltech’s regulatory affairs division in Europe. In 1998, he relocated to Alltech’s European Biosciences Center in Dunboyne, Ireland and maintained an active graduate student program. Since 2002, he has been based at Alltech’s North American Biosciences Center where he initially worked as director of internal research. He has a broad range of research interests related to the application of Alltech’s products in both animal and human health and is particularly interested in studying the mode of action of nutrients at a molecular level. Based on the work of his group, in 2010, Alltech decided to launch a separate division devoted to human health. This has led to the initiation of the first set of human clinical trials for the company, to study the effect of AT-001 in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Jandré prinsloo Sales Manager, Alltech Crop ScienceScheduled Session: AfricaJandré Prinsloo a sales manager for Alltech Crop Science. He hails from Pretoria, South Africa, and completed a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of science in horticulture at the University of Stellenbosch. While completing his thesis, Prinsloo started work at Hortec, a fruit quality and fruit maturity management laboratory. Prinsloo was responsible for maturity indexing of stone fruit and citrus. In 2003, he joined ImproCrop, now known as Alltech Crop Science, which has developed natural solutions to solve the agronomic challenges faced by producers.

nick smit Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Alltech Scheduled Session: AfricaNick Smit is the vice president for Africa and the Middle East at Alltech. He grew up on a dairy and crop farm on the west coast of South Africa, and attended Stellenbosch University in South Africa where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. Smit then went on to work for Ralston Purina in Canada, where he also attended the University of Guelph. He joined Alltech in 1991 to head up Alltech Canada, while at the same time taking on a lead role developing Alltech’s ethanol division in North America. In 2000, Smit returned to South Africa where he became managing director for Alltech Africa and the Middle East. In 2005, he was recalled to Alltech’s headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky to take on the role of director for North America in addition to his role in Africa and the Middle East. At the end of 2007, Smit returned to South Africa to resume his duties as vice president for Alltech Africa and Middle East at the Alltech office in Stellenbosch.

Jules taylor-pickard Solutions Deployment Team Manager, Alltech EuropeScheduled Sessions: Farm of Tomorrow, The Algae OpportunityJules Taylor-Pickard, a nutritionist, obtained her Ph.D. specializing in piglet gut health, physiology and immunity. Taylor-Pickard is currently the Solutions Deployment Team manager for Alltech Europe. Within this role, she directs the European commercial research strategy, provides technical support to the sales force, and initiates, supports and interprets multi-species research activities -- specializing in providing natural solutions to optimise animal performance and efficiency. Previous roles held at Alltech include global Mycosorb® manager and pig technical manager for Europe. Previously, she worked with pharmaceutical applications in the monogastric sector.

john thornton Regional Director, Alltech EuropeScheduled Session: Farm of TomorrowJohn Thornton graduated with a master’s degree in animal science from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, and a diploma in advanced business management from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Dublin, Ireland. For the past 13 years, Thornton has developed worked in the South African and European animal production industries. His experience includes animal nutrition and the management of numerous Alltech divisions within the western and eastern European markets.

Becky Timmons Global Director of Applications Research and Quality, Alltech Scheduled Sessions: The Algae Opportunity, Closing PlenaryBecky Timmons is the global director of applications research and quality for Alltech. She holds degrees in chemistry and biology from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland. Moreover, she completed an advanced business studies program. Before she joined Alltech, Timmons carried out research for a flavor company in the beverage alcohol sector. At Alltech, she has held a number of positions both in the quality area as well as new product development including director of fermentation and director of flavor development for Alltech’s brewing and distilling division. As global director of applications research and quality, she is responsible for the quality and traceability of all Alltech products. Timmons ensures that all Alltech products meet the high standards demanded by the company, not only for the final products that Alltech produces, but also for ensuring that raw materials going into the products from supplier companies have been vetted before use. Alltech has offices in 85 countries and 41 production facilities scattered around the world, all of which must meet very stringent quality and traceability requirements.

Dr. Michal toborek Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vice-Chair for Research, University of Miami Scheduled Session: Life ScienceDr. Michal Toborek received his doctorate from the Silesian School of Medicine in Poland and completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Kentucky in the areas of nutrition and cell biology. Specific interests in Dr. Toborek’s laboratory involve studies on the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and how different pathological conditions can lead to the disruption and/or dysfunction of the BBB. He published over 170 publications in this field, and is the editor of a recent book, Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration. Dr. Toborek has received several national and international awards for his research, such as the Excellence in Research Award from the American Heart Association, the Anafred N. Halpern Award from the American College of Nutrition, the International Alexander von Homboldt Research Award, and the 2014 Wybran Award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the Society of Immune Pharmacology (SNIP) in recognition of the very best scientific contributions that have resulted in the preservation and expansion of the field of neurolmmune pharmacology.

Robbie walker General Manager for Alltech Crop Science Scheduled Session: Crop ScienceRobbie Walker has been with Alltech for over 10 years, starting as sales manager in Ireland then regional director of Italy and the Balkans. Today he is the general manager for Alltech Crop Science. Prior to obtaining a position at Alltech, he owned and managed his own hydroponic greenhouse business in South Africa producing mostly tomatoes and flowers for the export market. Walker studied horticulture at the University of Natal in South Africa and completed his post-graduate studies in business management.

Dr. Patrick Wall Professor of Public Health at University College Dublin, Ireland Scheduled Session: Farm of Tomorrow, The Algae OpportunityDr. Patrick Wall is a professor of public health at University College Dublin’s (UCD) School of Public Health and Population Sciences. His teaching and research interests include foodborne diseases, lifestyle-related diseases and health-damaging consumer behavior. He is a co-director of UCD’s Centre for Behaviour and Health, and is also co-founder of the university’s Centre for Food Safety. Dr. Wall was on the committee advising the Beijing Food Safety Administration on food safety arrangements for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is currently the chairperson of the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency advisory group. He received degrees in veterinary medicine at UCD, human medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland; and earned master’s degrees in infectious disease from the University of London, and business administration from the UCD Michael Smurfit Business School.

Dr. Eugenia wang Gheens Foundation Inc. Chair in Aging Research, University of Louisville Scheduled Session: Life ScienceDr. Eugenia Wang is a professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Louisville (U of L). Dr. Wang is an internationally-known specialist on how genetics affect aging. She is also director of the Gheens Center on Aging, established in the U of L School of Medicine with a $2.5 million gift from the Gheens Foundation. Dr. Wang’s research focuses on investigating the genetic mechanisms that may cause predisposition to infectious diseases, through the study of the genetic factors controlling how people respond to environmental exposures and the molecular mechanisms of wound healing, including response to microgravity and radiation. Her work has applications for understanding the molecular mechanisms that control the aging process and age-dependent diseases. Dr. Wang’s research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, and she is a co-investigator on the $22 million grant from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases that will establish U of L’s Center for Predictive Medicine. Dr. Wang received her bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University, her master’s degree from Northern Michigan University and her doctorate from Case Western Reserve. She completed post-doctoral training at Rockefeller University, led the Bloomfield Center for Research on Aging and taught at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Professor Fu Wenge Chairman and CEO, Beijing Hope Meihao Investment Management Limited Managing Partner; China Opportunity Capital LLC; Professor and Dean of MBA Education Center of China Agriculture University Scheduled Session: AfricaFu Wenge is one of the most influential figures in corporate strategies, business management, and investment in food and agriculture businesses in China. He is the chairman and CEO of Beijing Hope Meihao Investment Management Limited, focusing on investment and M&A businesses in the Chinese domestic food and agriculture industry. He is also the managing partner of China Opportunity Capital LLC, a New York based boutique advisory firm for cross-boarder investment and M&A businesses in the food and agriculture industry. Wenge is currently a professor and dean of the MBA Education Center at China Agricultural University. He is a leading scholar in the industry, and his books are highly respected. He has been invited to speak at many industry conferences and top universities worldwide. From 2005 to 2012, Wenge served the CEO of West Hope Group, one of the four subgroups of the Hope Group, which ranks as the largest Chinese private enterprise. Today, the Hope Group is a conglomerate with over 1,000 subsidiaries, and the company produces over $25 billion in annual revenue. Since his inauguration in 2005, Wenge has led West Hope Group to diversify it from a traditional agribusiness to many other industries including real estate, retail, education, energy/chemical, and travel.

Philip j. wilkinson OBE, Executive Director 2 Sisters Food Group

Scheduled Sessions: Farm of Tomorrow, The Algae Opportunity After studying agriculture at Askham Bryan in York, England, Wilkinson chose to pursue a career in the dairy industry. Starting as a management trainee at the Milk Marketing Board of England and Wales, he progressed through a range of senior roles within the industry, culminating to that of commercial director of Arla Foods, PLC. Meanwhile, he furthered his studies in agribusiness at Harvard Business School. Throughout his career, Wilkinson has held several industry positions including chair of the Dairy Council and National Dairy Farm Assured, Ltd. He was honored with an Order of the British Empire for services to the dairy industry in 2003. Upon leaving the dairy sector, Wilkinson became managing director of Grampian Country Food Group’s integrated chicken business and more recently joined 2 Sisters Food Group, a privately-owned chicken business supplying a range of products across all industry sectors. He is a director of the Red Tractor Poultry Sector Board and the British Poultry Council. Wilkinson is a non-executive director of Paramount 2, a privately-owned seafood company, a member of the Worshipful Company of Poulters and a freeman of the city of London .

Dr. Alex Yiannikouris Global Mycosorb® and Analytical Research Director Scheduled Session: Life ScienceIn his current position as global Mycosorb® and analytical research director, Alex Yiannikouris leads a research team and coordinates research projects worldwide. He has an active role in research and development activities, including the development of new products and the implementation of analytical strategies in the field of mass spectrometry. He provides technical support for commercial and regulatory departments worldwide, and has given lectures in more than 50 different countries. Yiannikouris received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in cellular biology, microbiology and parasitology, as well as a master’s degree in human nutrition and food science from Blaise-Pascal University in Clermont-Ferrand, France. He earned his doctorate in biochemistry in 2004 from Blaise-Pascal University, co-supported by Alltech, as well as the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA), Clermont-Ferrand, and the ANRT (France). He was a post-doctoral fellow as an Alltech research scientist in the laboratories of analytical chemistry at the National Council of Scientific Research (CNRS) in Pau, France before joining the Center for Animal Nutrigenomics and Applied Animal Nutrition at Alltech’s headquarters in 2007. In his current position, he focuses on implementing new research strategies to evaluate compound bioactivity and the development of multi-disciplinary strategies.

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