Speakers biographies
Hassan Aguenaou
Professeur à l'Université Ibn Tofail, Alliance nationale pour la fortification (Maroc)
Hassan Aguenaou est Professeur de l'Enseignement Supérieur à l’Université Ibn Tofaïl de Kénitra. Il est Spécialiste en Nutrition et Alimentation, lauréat de l’Université Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg et de l’Université Ibn Tofaïl. Il est Directeur de l’Unité de Formation et de Recherche (UFR) Doctorale en Nutrition et Alimentation. Il est Directeur du Laboratoire de Biologie et Santé et il est Coordonnateur de l’Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation associée au CNRST. Il est membre de l’Alliance Nationale pour la Fortification. Il est membre du comité directeur du PLAN-Rabat (Programme de Leadership Africain en Nutrition). Au sein de son groupe de formation, un master international en Nutrition et Alimentation est en cours d’élaboration. Ses recherches, sa formation académique et ses intérêts ainsi que ceux de son groupe portent essentiellement sur la Nutrition et cycle de vie. Actuellement, son groupe à été désigné par le gouvernement marocain pour élaborer le « Programme National de Nutrition Maroc » dont le chef de fil est le Pr Najat MOKHTAR.
Guy-Amédée Ajanohoun
Commissaire de l’UEMOA chargé du Département de l’Entreprise, des Télécommunications et de l’Energie. Il représente le Bénin comme membre la Commission de l’UEMOA
Depuis 2007 Guy-Amédée Ajanohoun est Commissaire de l’UEMOA, Chargé du Département du Développement de l’Entreprise, des Télécommunications et de l’Energie (DDE).
Avant de devenir Commissaire de l’UEMOA, il était Chargé de Mission du Président de la République et Chef de la Cellule Macro Economique de la Présidence du Bénin, Député du Parlement de la CEDEAO et consultant pour le PNUD-Bénin.
Il a obtenu un Doctorat en Sciences Economiques à l’Université Paris X-Nanterre.
Miriam Altman
Executive Director, Centre for Poverty, Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council (South Africa)
Miriam Altman is Executive Director of the Centre for Poverty, Employment & Growth (CPEG) at the Human Sciences Research Council. This Centre develops innovative strategies to put employment centre stage in policy making and implementation. The research covers macro-economy, trade and industry, government employment, youth employment, migration, labour markets, household food security and social policy. “Evidence-based Employment Scenarios” is CPEG’s flagship, drawing together top decision and opinion makers in business, labour, government and academia to identify how the targets of halving unemployment and poverty might be reached. With top leadership from Government and other stakeholders, CPEG has recently initiated a Food and Nutrition Security Roadmap process for South Africa.
Miriam is a leading expert in employment and industrial policy, with 20 years of research and practical experience in economic development issues, and has produced over 80 publications. She has a BA in Economics from McGill University, an M.Phil from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in Economics from the University of Manchester.
Eugène Aka Aouelle
Ministre de la Santé et de l’Hygiène Publique (Côte d’Ivoire)
Jane Badham
Nutrition Expert (South Africa)
Jane Badham hails from South Africa where she is a registered dietitian with a Postgraduate diploma in Hospital Dietetics, a Masters degree in Nutrition (cum laude) and a Diploma in Marketing Management (cum laude). She runs a well known and successful health communication and strategy business – JB Consultancy which focuses on advising the media, food manufacturers, development agencies and NGOs on nutri¬tion issues and trends, food labelling, health platforming of products and food fortification. Jane is well known in the South African media and regularly comments on nutrition matters. She is a member of FLAG (the Food Legislation Advisory Group to the Minister of Health) and is in demand as a motivational speaker and strategy facilitator. Jane has contributed to a number of books and recently co-edited the guidelines for the eradication of nutritional anemia for the organisation Sight and Life. She is also very involved in an exciting project, the African Nutrition Leaders Programme, which aims to develop and network young leaders in the field of nutrition in Africa. Jane is currently bald as she annually shaves her hair as part of a national cancer awareness and fundraising campaign!
Shawn K. Baker
Vice-President, Regional Director for Africa, Helen Keller International
Shawn K. Baker, MPH – Vice President and Regional Director for Africa: Mr. Baker is a proven public health manager with over 20 years’ resident professional experience in sub-Saharan Africa as well as 3 years’ experience in South Asia. He provides leadership in technical direction, advocacy, grant development and human resources supervision. Regional Director for Africa for Helen Keller International (HKI) since 1997, he has overseen the expansion from 4 country programs to 13 country offices and work in 4 non-presence countries, a more than 50-fold increase in program funding for the region. In recognition of the growing importance of the Africa programs, the Regional Director position was promoted to Vice President and since then he has been an active member of HKI’s Senior Management Team. He provides overall management of a culturally diverse team of over 300 in 13 country offices and the regional office. HKI-Africa works to combat micronutrient and protein-energy malnutrition, including providing nutrition care and support to persons living with HIV/AIDS; to control trachoma and onchocerciasis (river blindness) and to treat cataract. HKI has established itself as a regional leader in these program areas. Mr. Baker leads country and regional teams in building solid partnerships with Government ministries, UN agencies and civil society organizations to mainstream and scale-up nutrition and eye health programs. HKI has become a leader in forging effective private sector/public sector alliances to address public health priorities.
Adélaïde Belemsigri
Chargée de la normalisation et de la qualité, UEMOA
Adélaïde Belemsigri est responsable du Secrétariat Régional de la Normalisation, de la Certification et de la Promotion de la Qualité (NORMCERQ), une structure pérenne de promotion de la qualité créée et logée au sein de la Commission de l’UEMOA.
De 2002 à 2005 elle a travaillé pour l'Office National du Commerce Extérieur. Antérieurement pour la FAO, pour l'Association Expertise Commerce Multilatéral et pour le Ministère du Commerce, de l'Industrie et de l'Artisanat.
Adélaïde Belemsigri est titulaire d'un Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies (DEA) en Biochimie et Microbiologie Appliquées de l'Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Martin Bloem
Chief, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Policy, World Food Programme
Dr. Martin W. Bloem is Chief for Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Policy and UNAIDS Global Coordinator, at the United Nations World Food Programme, in Rome, Italy. He holds a medical degree from the University of Utrecht and a doctorate from the University of Maastricht and has joint faculty appointments at both Johns Hopkins University and Tufts University. Martin has had more than two decades of experience in nutrition research and policy. He was the Senior Vice President Chief Medical Officer of Helen Keller International prior to his appointment at the World Food Programme. Martin has devoted his career to improving the effectiveness of public health and nutrition programs through applied research. He has participated in task forces convened by many organizations, including int ernational non-governmental organizations, the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, the United States Agency for International Development, and the World Health Organization.
Rob Davies
Minister of Trade and Industry (South Africa)
Rob Davies is Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of South Africa. Between June 2005 and May 2009 he was Deputy Minister in the same portfolio and has been an ANC Member of the South African Parliament since 1994. He previously chaired the Portfolio Committees of Finance and of Trade and Industry as well as the Sub-Committee of the Constitutional Assembly responsible for the Chapter 13 (Finance) of the Constitution.
Professionally, he has an Honours degree in Economics (from Rhodes University), a Masters in International Relations (from the University of Southampton) and a Doctorate in Political Studies (from the University of Sussex). Between 1979 and 1990, he was attached to the Centre of African Studies, Eduardo Mondlane University, working, until her murder in 1982, under the direction of the late Ruth First. Before entering parliament in 1994, he was Professor and Co-Director of the Centre for Southern African Studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). His research interests during this period focused on issues of Southern African regional cooperation and integration. He undertook policy research both for the ANC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and also became actively engaged with issues of globalisation and international trade.
John Defterios
President, FactBased Communications (FBC) and Award-winning Correspondent and News Anchor
John Defterios is President of FactBased Communications (FBC), a London based developer, producer and distributor of international television programming and strategic communication campaigns. John has more than two decades of broadcast journalism experience as an award-winning anchor, correspondent and special series producer. Along side his executive role, he is currently host and editor of the weekly CNN programme “Marketplace Middle East” and travels to the region for both in-depth interviews and special coverage.
Filippo Dibari
Public Health Nutritionist and Food Technologist, Valid International & Valid Nutrition
Filippo is a Public Health Nutritionist and Food Technologist. He is interested in the treatment of severe, moderate, acute and chronic malnutrition at the community level using ready to use foods (RUTFs, RUSFs). His areas of expertise include: development of RUTF and RUSF, clinical trials to test them (acceptability, effectiveness) and coverage surveys for feeding programs. He is currently involved in a randomized controlled trial to test a novel RUTF specific for wasted Kenyan adults living with HIV and/or TB. Filippo is a PhD candidate at University College of London.
Head of HIV Technical Support, World Food Programme, Regional Bureau for Southern, Eastern and Central Africa
Francesca Erdelmann is a nutritionist with 15 years of professional experience, 11 of which have been working in HIV/AIDS and nutrition for WFP in East and Southern Africa. She currently heads the HIV technical support team in WFP's regional bureau for Southern, Eastern and Central Africa. She holds an MSc degree from Wageningen University, the Netherlands.
Boitshepo (Bibi) Giyose
Senior Food and Nutrition Security Advisor, New Partnership for Africa's Development (South Africa)
Boitshepo Giyose was appointed in July 2005 as Senior Advisor for Food and Nutrition Security to the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before joining NEPAD she worked in Botswana for UNDP/UNAIDS as Regional Project Coordinator for a UN initiative aimed at strengthening the UN HIV response in small African countries. In December 2003, she completed a five and half year assignment as Regional Coordinator of the Food and Nutrition Programme at the Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat for East, Central and Southern Africa (CRHCS-ECSA). Prior to CRHCS-ECSA she worked as a private global nutrition consultant and also served the Government of Botswana in different capacities as a nutritionist. Boitshepo writes a weekly column on food, nutrition and health for a Botswana newspaper. She holds an MS in International Nutrition from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
Quentin Johnson
International Consultant, Food Fortification
Quentin Johnson has over 38 years of new product development, quality assurance, food safety and regulatory affairs experience in the milling and baking sectors of the food industry. For the past 13 years he has provided technical assistance in 79 countries in the development and implementation of food fortification programs with particular reference to wheat flour and maize meal fortification.
Currently he is providing consulting services focusing on staple food fortification through his own business, Quican Inc., to UN Agencies, national donor aid Agencies and international NGOs. Clients include The Flour Fortification Initiative, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Helen Keller International, The Micronutrient Initiative, UNICEF, USAID, World Food Programme, World Health Organization and World Vision Canada. Quentin is also a Coordinator in the Training & Technical Support Group of the Flour Fortification Initiative.
Saad Lhoussaine
National Office of Food Safety (Morocco)
Barbara Macdonald
Director, Performance Measurement & Research Program, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
A Canadian national, Barbara Macdonald joined GAIN in July 2005 as Senior Manager for GAIN’s Performance Measurement and Research Program. In May 2009, she became Director of the Program. Her special areas of interest include linking food and nutrition sector initiatives to enhance health outcomes and evidence-based approaches to improve nutrition program design and implementation.
Prior to joining GAIN, Barbara worked as the technical focal point for international nutrition at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Canadian Ministry responsible for international cooperation. She also worked for Canada’s International Development Research Center (IDRC) where she studied food systems in the Andes Region of South America. During her affiliation with IDRC in the 1990s, Barbara lived in Peru and Ecuador for three years. Barbara regularly publishes scientific papers in international nutrition-focused journals and has also published in the Cochrane Database of systematic reviews. She has received numerous awards including an award from CIDA for implementation of the Agency’s Vitamin A Strategy. Barbara has undergraduate and Master’s degrees in food and nutrition from the University of Manitoba and a PhD in human nutrition from McGill University.
Regina Moench-Pfanner
Director, Nutrition Program, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Regina Moench-Pfanner has spent more than twenty years working in relief assistance and international development. Prior to joining GAIN in 2005, she served as Regional Coordinator for Helen Keller International (HKI) in the Asia Pacific overseeing the development, implementation and quality management of HKI's programs in public health and eye health.
Regina began her career with the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies and worked throughout Africa and Europe. She went on to become Head of Mission for the IFRC in Chad before moving on to provide technical consultancies in food and nutrition programs for a number of international organizations, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and the World Food Programme. Besides Africa and Asia Pacific, her experience also includes work in the Middle East, South America, and Europe. A Fullbright Scholar, Regina holds a Doctorate in International Nutrition from the University of Bonn, Germany, and a Masters of Science from Michigan State University.
Jay Naidoo
Chair, GAIN Board and Chairman, Development Bank of Southern Africa (South Africa)
In 1993, Jay Naidoo was appointed Coordinator of the South African Reconstruction and Development Program and held this portfolio as Minister in the Cabinet of President Mandela. In 1996 he became Minister of Telecommunications, Post and Broadcasting. In his role as Chair of the GAIN Board, Jay is a tireless proponent and visionary for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). In March 2006 he gave evidence before the International Development Committee of the United Kingdom House of Commons. The resulting report described GAIN’s self-sustaining, market-driven programs as a model of success. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee on Information and Communication Technologies set up by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. His work was recently recognized by the award of the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, the French Government’s highest honor.
John Odame-Darkwah
Acting Deputy Chief Executive, Food and Drugs Board (Ghana)
Mr John Odame-Darkwah is the Acting Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Food and Drugs Board. John has an MSc degree in Food Science and Technology from Louisiana State University and a BSc in Food Science/Biochemistry, University of Ghana. Prior to his current position, John worked for Nestle Ghana Ltd as the Quality Assurance Manager and Ghana Standards Board as Head of the Food and Agriculture Department. John has served as food safety expert for several national and international projects including AMEX Int, Inc, and ACP-EU projects in Ghana. He serves on the National Codex Committee of Ghana and is the focal person for Codex Committee on Food Hygiene. John is a member of both the Ghana Institute of Food Science and Technologists and the Ghana Science Association. He has successfully coordinated the GAIN-Ghana project fortifying wheat flour and vegetable oil for the past three years.
Ruth Oniang’o
Editor-in-Chief, African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (Kenya)
Ruth Oniang’o is the founder and editor-in-chief of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development based in Nairobi. Her areas of research and consultation include: household food and nutrition security; women’s health and nutrition; and women’s economic empowerment. She is also founder of the Rural Outreach Program, a non-profit development organization that empowers women through projects strengthening family food security, nutrition and incomes. Ruth was a member of Kenya’s ninth parliament from 2003 to 2007 and served as Shadow Minister for Education and as a member of the Education, Science and Technology Committee. She also campaigned for the Nutrition Act which professionalizes the field of nutrition.
Before becoming a member of the Kenyan Parliament, Ruth was Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology in Nairobi. Her PhD thesis was on weaning food formulations. She has trained many nutritionists and food scientists in Kenya and has made contributions in this field at the continental and global levels through consultations and conferences. Ruth received her BSc (with Distinction) and MSc degrees from Washington State University and her PhD from the University of Nairobi. She is a proud mother of five including a set of identical twins, and a grandmother of four.
Monica Rubombora
Senior Executive, Accenture Health & Public Service Operating Group (South Africa)
Monica is a Senior Executive with Accenture in South Africa. She is specifically involved in Accenture’s Health & Public Sector Operating Group. She joined Accenture in 1999, bringing experience from banking, insurance and technology outsourcing industries.
Monica believes that Accenture South Africa’s Public Sector operating group can do much to help government enhance service delivery and achieve high performance. “In our work in the public sector we think of the human impact of what we do while also being able to measure the economic effect,” she says. Monica and her husband, a medical practitioner, live in Johannesburg with their 17 year old daughter and 13 year old son.
Louise Sserunjogi
Nutrition Coordinator. Child Health and Development Center, University of Makerere (Uganda)
Louise Sserunjogi is currently working with the Geneva based- Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) as a nutrition consultant and Country Advisor for Uganda. She trained as a Dietitian and Nutritionist at various institutions in the United Kingdom that included the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Institute of Child Health, University College London. In Uganda she has worked as a nutritionist/dietitian at the Makerere University Medical School. As a nutrition advisor and consultant Louise has headed several nutrition projects in Uganda and in the East Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) Region. She has also worked as a nutrition consultant/advisor for various national and international agencies and participated in research activities that have influenced mutrition policy formulation in Uganda.
Alison Tumilowicz
Senior Nutrition and HIV Specialist, Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II Project
Alison Tumilowicz is a Senior Nutrition and HIV Specialist with the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II Project (FANTA-2) implemented by AED. In this position, Alison assists USAID/Mozambique and the Government Republic of Mozambique to integrate nutrition into HIV programs. Prior to this position, Alison was a Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with FANTA. Other technical professional experience includes consulting with the World Bank and CARE Guatemala; conducting formative research for an iron supplementation project with the Instituto de Educación Integral para la Salud y El Desarrollo in Guatemala; and evaluating a child nutrition project of the Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement Program in the Philippines. She holds a MPH from U.C. Berkeley and PhD from Cornell University.
Vilma Tyler
Nutrition Specialist, Regional Office for Central Eastern Europe and Common Wealth of Independent States, UNICEF
Vilma Tyler is a Public Health Nutritionist working as a Regional Nutrition Specialist with UNICEF's Regional Office for Central Eastern Europe and Common Wealth of Independent States based in Geneva, Switzerland. In this role, Vilma provides technical support, guidance and policy advice to UNICEF field offices on nutrition programs.
From 2003-2008, she was Program Manager for the Flour Fortification Initiative advocating for flour fortification and working with governments on legislation and standards.
Vilma organized the Second Technical Workshop on Wheat Flour Fortification:
Practical Recommendations for National Application in Atlanta, Georgia in 2008. The workshop resulted in the interim recommendations on wheat and maize flour fortification. She is member of the WHO Nutrition Guidelines Advisory Group and has been involved in food fortification programs since 2001.
Larry Umunna
CEO, LHD Africa Group (South Africa)
Larry Umunna rejoined LHD Africa Group in March 2009 after a two year stint at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), where he served as the first Regional Representative for Africa. From Johannesburg, South Africa, he was responsible for the delivery of GAIN’s overall program in Africa.
Larry has spent over two decades promoting the concepts of food fortification and infant and young child nutrition to the food industry, governments and other stakeholders in the health and nutrition sectors. Prior to joining GAIN, Larry was the Managing Director of the LHD Africa Group and undertook many contracts for private companies and non-governmental organizations involved in nutrition in Africa. He previously worked for Roche Vitamins Limited (now DSM Nutritional Products Limited) in Nigeria and South Africa for many years, where he was responsible for Sales, Marketing and New Market/ Business Development for the organization in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2004, Larry was awarded the Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology. He holds a B.Sc degree in Biochemistry from the University of Benin, Nigeria and an MSc degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Marc Van Ameringen
Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Marc Van Ameringen is Canadian and has spent more than twenty years working in the field of international development. With a background in international political economy, Marc spent most of his career in Africa managing and implementing innovative programs ranging from public sector reform to small enterprise development. He is particularly known for his experience in helping countries manage difficult processes of post conflict reconstruction.
Prior to joining GAIN as Executive Director, Marc was Vice President of the Canadian-based Micronutrient Initiative, which focuses primarily on delivering vitamin A supplementation programs around the world. Before this, he was Special Advisor to the G8 Summit, assisting the G8 in responding to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) initiative. From 1992 to 2002, he was a Director based in Africa for the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), responsible for a number of large donor programs across Africa. Marc played an important role in assisting South Africa and other countries in Southern Africa in their reconstruction and development. Prior to moving to Africa, he held various senior positions in Canada for IDRC and other organizations. He has served as a Board Member and Trustee of many different development organizations and has published a number of books on development in Africa.
