Andreas served as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Director of Nutrition, leading the development and execution of anew strategy, which focused on innovation, multi-sectoral partnerships, maternal, infant and child nutrition, school feeding, and affordable, nutritious food production. Andreas also led the cross-foundation collaboration on nutrition, ensuring that all strategies are coordinated and aligned for maximum impact. Prior to the foundation, Andreas worked as director for Strategic Partnerships for BASF SE Nutrition & Health, a leading manufacturer of nutrients and health ingredients, and has been anactive partner the global nutrition & health community for two decades. Prior to BASF, Andreas spent time working with the UN, for the World Food Program, the German government, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and spoke as keynote speaker on a range of international events, including the UN General Assembly, the WEF, and the African Union. As of February 2023, Andreas serves as Founding Director for his strategy and impact advisory firm Dr. Bluethner & Partner, operating out of Seattle and Frankfurt and focused on health, nutrition and agriculture. Andreas earned a doctorate in international economics and human rights from the University of Mannheim, a business administration apprentice degree from Robert Bosch, Stuttgart, and a public health bachelor’s degree from City College of New York. He served as mentor for social entrepreneurs and impact start-ups worldwide as an Ashoka Globalizer, as founding board member for WFP Innovation Accelerator, board advisor to SPRK (Berlin), a start-up reducing food waste with AI/ML-enabled partnerships, and asfounding board member of Listo, a social business start-up from Guatemala, now serving nutritious food to the undernourished at scale. Andreas extensively published and contributed to academia as a permanent lecturer on food and nutrition security, sustainability, trade, global governance and human rights at the University of Mannheim and European Business School in Wiesbaden for more than a decade and guest speaker at various other universities. He volunteered for the United Nations (UNV), as polling officer for EU elections, and as seasonal USSA-certified children’s race ski roach at Crystal Mountain Alpine Club in Washington State, USA.

Dr Hans Hoogeveen was elected as Independent Chairperson of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in June 2021. FAO Members elected him in July 2023 for a second term of two years. He is the former Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to FAO. Hans Hoogeveen is duly acknowledged as a consummate professional and a man of agriculture in the utmost degree. With unwavering focus on the stimulation and promotion of sustainable agriculture globally, food security and safety, he has served in numerous international functions. He is political advisor to the World Bank and special advisor to the UN Task Force. Board membership includes Yale University Governance, Environment and Market Initiative, and Fellow of Forest Trends, a leading International NGO on innovative natural policy in Washington D.C. As Chairperson of the Seventh Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests Bureau, his leadership resulted in an international instrument deemed a landmark achievement by the UN Secretary General following fifteen years of encumbered international negotiations – a highly noteworthy accomplishment within the forum, which earned Hoogeveen a UN award. He is one of the founding members and current co-Chair of the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA). In addition, he is founder member and current co-Chair of Champions 12.3, an international coalition of eminent commissioners and CEOs of companies, international organizations and NGOs, which focus on a 50% worldwide reduction on food losses and waste by 2030. Having worked in almost all UN capitals, including New York, Nairobi and Geneva, his broad and well-sustained international network is highly regarded. Among his many initiatives is a long list of international events, most of which have been organized by himself. Furthermore, he has experience in a variety of UN bodies other than FAO. He chaired numerous bodies such as in the context of FAO (Chairperson of the Programme Committee for four years), IFAD (Governing Body) and WFP. Early in his career he became well-acquainted with various aspects of the policy field: the Brussels component, political current affairs, and other party negotiations. He came to regard it as the most integral policy domain, impressing upon him its crucial implications for all living entities – humans, animals, plants. Fully dedicated to contributing to a high goal in areas such as Food Security and the elimination of poverty, he feels strongly that activity through joint effort in a multi-lateral field ultimately leads to the achievement of certain pivotal objectives. Hans Hoogeveen has authored a book on Sustainable Development Diplomacy as well as a number of articles on sustainable development and natural resources policies. His academic posts include Professor of Practice in Natural Resource Policy at the Fletcher School of Law, visiting Professor Sustainable Development Diplomacy at Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands, and lead lecturer in European Policy. He holds a degree in Law obtained at Leiden University, the Netherlands, a Master’s degree in Public Management, and a Doctorate from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Boston and Wageningen University, the Netherlands.He hasreceived the following awards: Commander of Gregorius (Holy See), and Commander de l’Orde Grand-Ducal de la Couronne de Chene (Luxembourg).

Franklin Guarisma is a distinguished food safety expert with over 16 years of experience in the consumer goods industry, working with renowned companies such as Pillsbury, Co. and General Mills. As a former Food Safety International Manager and a leader at Global Food Safety International, LLC, Franklin has driven critical food safety initiatives across North and South America. His expertise spans quality management systems, regulatory affairs, sanitation, and continuous improvement, earning him recognition as a World Continuous Improvement Champion for a sanitation project that generated over $1,000,000 in process improvements. Holding multiple prestigious certifications, he is an accredited HACCP System Developer by The Royal Institute of Public Health (UK), a Lead Food Safety Management Systems Auditor (FSSC 22000), and a certified instructor in Preventive Controls for Human Food (FSMA/FDA), Produce Safety (FSMA/FDA), and Seafood HACCP (AFDO). His career has taken him across the globe, auditing food safety practices in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, and the USA. Franklin has received numerous industry awards, including multiple recognitions from General Mills and Food Safety International Network for his contributions to sanitation, regulatory compliance, and training programs. A trusted authority, he continues to shape global food safety standards through education and strategic leadership.