Dr. Holderness, Executive Secretary of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research, began his career working as cocoa pathologist to the Cocoa Board of Papua New Guinea. He was then employed by the intergovernmental technical organization CAB International, working as adviser, then manager, of programmes using science to address constraints to agricultural development.

Director, Plantwise Knowledge Bank. MA (Natural Sciences). Areas of expertise: Information Management, Content Management, Workflows, Business Development, Project Development and Management. Plant genetics, crop protection, Genetically Modified Organisms.

Head of Weed Biological Control Research. Diploma in Horticulture, MSc in Pest Management, PhD. Areas of expertise: Management and development of research projects in weed biological control (scentless chamomile, garlic mustard, houndstongue, hoary cress, dyer?s woad, perennial pepperweed, etc.). Field work in European and overseas countries (PR China, Kazakhstan). Studies on the host specificity of herbivorous insects and the population biology of plants. Supervision of PhD and MSc-students. International consultancy on invasive species management.