Ambassadors

Dr. Agnes Kalibata has since 2014 led AGRA’s efforts in collaboration with public and private partners to ensure a food secure and prosperous Africa through inclusive, sustainable agricultural transformation, improving the productivity and livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. Prior to joining AGRA, Dr. Kalibata was Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) from 2008 to 2014, where she drove programs that moved her country to food security helping to lift more than a million Rwandans out of poverty. She has a distinguished record of accomplishments as an agricultural scientist, policy maker and thought leader. She holds a doctorate in Entomology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is recipient of many prestigious awards including but not limited to the Yara Prize, now the Africa Food Prize, in 2012, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Liège in 2018, an Honorary Doctorate from McGill University in 2019, and the National Academy of Sciences’ Public Welfare Medal in April 2019 for her work to drive Africa’s agricultural transformation through modern sciences and effective policy thereby improving livelihoods of smallholder farmers. She has also served as the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Food Systems Summit and sits on various panels, boards, councils, and commissions including Global Commission on Adaptation, the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, the Global Agriculture & Food Security Program (GAFSP), the Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum, the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions, among others.

M. Ann Tutwiler is a Senior Fellow at Meridian Institute. Her current affiliations include the World Benchmarking Alliance, the Just Rural Transition, the Food Forward Consortium, Climate AI, FoodShot Global, the US Dairy Export Council and CABI. From 2013 to 2019, she led Bioversity International, a research institute focused on using and safeguarding agricultural biodiversity to improve nutrition, enhance resilience and to support genetic resource conservation.  From 2011 to 2013, she was the Deputy Director General for Knowledge at FAO.  Over her 35-year career, she has held senior positions in the US government, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Eridiania Beghin Say Company, and the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council.  She holds degrees from Davidson College and the Kennedy School at Harvard University, and agribusiness management certificates from INSEAD and Purdue University.

A professional nutritionist and food scientist from Ethiopia, Bethlehem Lakew is also the co-creator and founder of two businesses, including BeNu Foods, a start-up biscuit business that strives to develop a nutritious, inexpensive, and locally sourced product for the community. In Ethiopia, she encourages healthy living as the founder and CEO of LeHem Nutrition Counseling, a company that provides nutritional counseling in things related with health and weight management. She also works at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University as a research assistant. She currently represents Ethiopia as a youth leader for the Act4Food Act4Change initiative. Working on a variety of action items, particularly those that address the following: Everyone should be able to afford healthy and nutritious food; Every child should have a healthy and sustainable lunch at school, college, or the nursery; and Value local and indigenous food knowledge. She contributes her free time to many charities. She currently works for a non-profit organization called Nutrition for Education, where she develops instructional materials on maternal nutrition. She spent five years working in Rotaract in a variety of roles, including vice president, director of professional development, and director of community service. Bethlehem earned her MSc in Food Science and Nutrition as well as her bachelor's degree in Food Science and Applied Nutrition with honors from Addis Ababa Science and Technology University.

Felipe is a Brazilian Regenerative Agribusiness Expert and Founder of reNature. A Dutch organization with extensive knowledge & experience in Regenerative Agriculture around the globe. Felipe is Forbes Under30 and TEDx Speaker. Regenerative Agriculture Lead Author at UN Environment for their GEO for Business brief on “The changing role of Business in Transforming Food Systems”, part of the Leadership Team on Action Track 3 at UN Food Systems Summit, Board Member at Climate Bonds Initiative and IPCC Expert Reviewer. Felipe’s ambition is to engage international corporations to make a transition in their agricultural practices using successful regenerative ag showcases that ensures economical viability and farmers' resilience.

Joshua is a climate activist from Uganda and also a Professional Economist & Statistician. He believes in equality, integrity and a sustainable future for all. Joshua describes his sole purpose in life is to have a tangible contribution to the planet and to encourage more youths to have a heart for nature and the future generations. After realizing that climate change affects all of us, and many African countries may not be able to adapt easily to this crisis, he quit my full-time job and devoted all my time to making a tangible contribution towards a better tomorrow for all. Joshua raises awareness about climate change, climate action and stir up conservation on social media to reach as many people as possible. As part of this he has participated in movement building activities with climate leaders in over 21 African countries including leading campaigns against proposed oil blocks in the Congo Rain Forest.

H.E Dr. Yaseen Khayyat is an Experienced Executive with a demonstrated history of peer-acclaimed initiatives in the Public Servant Administration industry. Skilled in Leadership, Risk Assessment, Sustainable Development and Environmental issues. A highly regarded Community and Social Services professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) focused on Environmental Engineering from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, U.K. Dr. Khayyat served as Minister of Environment in Jordan from 2011 to 2012, and 2016 – 2018. He was also a Senator from 2013 to 2016, playing a key role in shaping environmental change in Jordan. Prior to assuming the Minister of Environment portfolio, he was director general of the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) from 2004 to 2011. He has been Chairman of several board of directors and higher committees including, the Jordan Environment Protection Fund, the Green Economy, the Royal Administration for Environmental Protection (Rangers) and others.