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Tim Worledge
Editorial Director
Fastmarkets
A former director at S&P Global Platts, Tim led the agriculture reporting team that was instrumental in the development of the Black Sea swaps market and has been at the forefront of price reporting for 10 years. He was also responsible for Platts’ benchmark biofuels assessments, including global ethanol benchmarks. Before moving into agriculture, Tim was an oil market pricing expert focusing on the European refined product markets.
Masha Belikova
Editor
Masha is a grain market reporter specialising on corn and wheat coverage for the Black Sea region working for Fastmarkets Agricensus, an independent agency providing insightful news and robust pricing information in a range of commodity markets. Masha joined the grain industry in 2013 starting as a grain analyst in Ukraine based freight reporting agency International Seaborne Market (ISM). Started work from CIS countries, she developed the world grain coverage for the company.
Mehdi Zerzeri
Shareholder and Board Member
Les Grands Moulins de Tunis
US college educated with a BA and MBA in Finance and strategy in technology from Boston University class 00' I head a group of companies with a wide array of diversified activities, among them are: Milling, cereals, banking, financial services and finally technology. A third generation miller with 25 years experience as an owner, shareholder and CEO. Our company operates 2 flour mills, one has been in continuous operation since 1934 and the other started in 1996. We also operate grain storage facilities located near seaport terminals and connected to both, major highways and railroads. We also own and manage grain elevator facilities in farming regions, buying local grain, storing and reselling local crop. I’m also an agent/intermediary for major global grain traders for the government grain tenders and private sector grain buyers.
Luiz Carlos dos Santos Jr
Associate Director
SA Commodities
Luiz is the founder of SA Commodities, a private and independent Brazilian company serving the global agribusiness operators worldwide. The company provides a range of services, including trading, on grains, oilseeds and sugar, food industry, Agri-market research, investment consulting, individual business plans and projects. The company was founded 27 years ago, and primarily focuses on developing services based on commercial support, strategic consultancy and projects for shipping agencies, port operators and supervision companies operating throughout the Brazilian coast. As an associate director, and head of commercial department, Luiz held senior broking and research roles within a few of the leading multinational trading companies and commenced as a broker 15 years ago, due to a partnership with a Swiss Company between 2007 and 2011, broking around 1.6 million tons of sugar per year.
Sudhakar Tomar
President
India Middle East Agri Alliance (IMEAA)
President of the India Middle East Agri Alliance (IMEAA), is an agri-commodities and food systems entrepreneur with three decades of experience. IMEAA, a multilateral agri-industry venture builder and funding initiative, is mandated to promote agricultural trade, startups, and investments in South Asia and the Middle East. The objectives are to increase farmers' income and secure food and nutrition security. Championing the issues of Climate Smart regenerative Agri Crops such as Pulses and Sustainable AgriFoodFarmTech Startups, Sudhakar Tomar was involved in the advocacy of the UN-declared International Year of Pulses in 2016. An advisor to various governments, he is a globally recognized keynote speaker and has been listed among Forbes Top 100 Indian Leaders in the Arab World from 2016 to 2020. He has received numerous accolades, including the GPC President’s Award (2024), the Global Agriculture Award (2019) from the Indian Council of Food & Agriculture, Business Leader of the Year (2016) from the Government of Dubai, the Outstanding Contribution Award (2017) from the Government of India, Visionary Leadership of the Year (2018) from Republic TV, the Arabian Business CEO of 2016 Award for CSR, and the Globeoil Award for CSR & Championing Farmers' Rights (2019).
Anis Alam
Chief, Grain Procurement
ARASCO
Strong background of Purchase, Import & Export, Business Process, Management, Supply Chain Management Good knowledge of raw materials, production process, quality control, costs Attended various Seminars, Workshops, Short-term Interim Courses on Purchase Management, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Import-Export, Quality Control Management etc., organized by reputed and world class Training Institutions including IIR Middle East, Dubai, UAE, UK, USA and European Countries, Far East. Successfully delivered several Lectures on International Seminars/Conferences on Purchasing, Shipping, Logistic, Supply Chain Management and Negotiation skills etc., Working as “Vice President” in Arabian Agricultural Services Company (ARASCO) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia joined on 01 January 1986.
Natalja Skuratovic
Senior Account Executive
EarthDaily Agro
Trading grains for 10 years at Glencore Rotterdam where she was responsible for EU markets and later for North Africa and Middle East, followed by 8 years for one of the largest grain and oilseeds importers in the Middle East. Upon return in Europe and the receipt of Master’s Degree in International Business Management, Natalja is now working as a Senior Account Executive for EarthDaily Agro, formerly known as GeoSys, using satellite imaging to provide advanced analytics to mitigate risk and increase efficiencies, leading for more sustainable outcomes for the agribusinesses.
Nouran Ezzeldin
Founder and CEO
Granos Oros for Global Agri business Solutions and Export
Nouran Ezzeldin, Founder and CEO of Granos Oros for Global Agri Business Solutions and Export based in Egypt, brings over many years of extensive experience in grain trading and animal feed industries. Her profound expertise has significantly influenced business development as a consultant specializing in the Middle East and Gulf regions. She is recognized for her strategic insights and leadership in fostering sustainable growth and expanding market presence within the agricultural sector.
Dave Whitcomb
Head of Research
Peak Trading Research
Dave Whitcomb, CFA, is Head of Research for Peak Trading Research, a quantitative commodity trading and research company in Geneva, Switzerland. Before founding Peak Trading Research in 2018, he was Head of Agriculture Trading at Koch Supply and Trading in Geneva. He also brings over 12 years of experience from Cargill, where he held various roles including pension fund analyst, foreign exchange trader, macroeconomic analyst, and agriculture portfolio manager. Dave is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder, Member of the CFA Society of Geneva, and has a BA in Economics and BA in Philosophy from Grinnell College. Dave is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and recently became a Swiss citizen after living in Geneva for 12 years.
Marc Myllerup
Head of Corn
Copenhagen Merchants
Marc Myllerup is working as head of corn in Copenhagen Merchants, with a specialized focus on corn flows to Europe, the Middle East, and recent expansions into China and Saudi Arabia. Beginning his career facilitating grain trades to Scandinavia, the ARAG region, and the UK from the Baltic Sea, Marc has since developed a notable expertise in global grain and freight market dynamics. Holding a double master's degree in Risk Management and International Business, Marc is particularly passionate about the burgeoning role of the Middle Eastern market in global trade. Marc combines in-depth knowledge and strategic insight to drive forward the international commodity trade.
Alexander Karavaytsev
Senior Economist
International Grains Council
Alexander Karavaytsev is an Economist at the International Grains Council (IGC), an intergovernmental commodity body based in London. He has served in this roles since January 2016. While Alexander is involved in most of the organisation’s activities, his major focus has been on the global maize market. He also leads the IGC work on ocean freight of grains and oilseeds. Prior to joining the IGC, Alexander spent a decade in consulting (PricewaterhouseCoopers) and investment banking (Macquarie Renaissance Infrastructure Fund) spheres in Moscow, as well as trade-related diplomatic service in London. Alexander holds a master’s degree in Economics from the Lomonosov Moscow State University.
Diana Sarungbam
Market Analyst
Diana joined the International Grains Council (IGC) as a Market Analyst in September 2016. She is mainly involved in the work on pulses for developing market information/outlook. Her other specialisation includes the sorghum and oats market. Before joining the IGC, she worked in the food sector, in both public and private organisations. .
June Arnold
Head of Policy
GAFTA
June Arnold is Head of Policy at Gafta, the International Grain and Feed Trade Association and is based in Geneva. For the last 12 years, June has been responsible for international trade policy at Gafta and her work focuses on global agricultural policies, market access and trade. She is Chair of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC) MRL working group, is an active member of the IAFN coalition on Codex enhancement and completed a two-year term as the private sector representative to the Committee on World Food Security, Bureau and Advisory Group at FAO. She has been Board member of Celcaa, the European Liaison Committee for Agricultural and Agri-Food Trade and represents Gafta on the Global Pulse Confederation Market Access and MRL committees. June has over 20 years’ experience in EU and International public affairs gained from working with the EU and major business led organisations. Following her graduation with MA in European Integration: Economics, Law and Politics, June started her career in the European Commission with the Task Force for Accession Negotiations, she held a position on the Estonian negotiating team responsible for the agricultural chapters during the accession negotiations for the 10 candidate countries. During her seven years in Brussels, she gained experience by working in different European organisations, representing the soft drinks industry, cereal trading and first processing sectors.
Voytek Chelkowski
Managing Partner
Seamind Blue Ocean
Voytek is a change consultant and serves as the Managing Partner at Seamind Blue Ocean, a Swiss based maritime consultancy firm. Seamind Blue Ocean helps shipping and cargo clients navigate change and volatility in freight markets and, working with stakeholders across the maritime transport value chain, actively participates in the efforts leading to sustainable transformation of the shipping business. Voytek is also an executive coach at the the IMD’s program on ‘Leading Sustainable Business Transformation’, and a co-founder of The Mind Alliance: an international network of consultants assisting organizations and individuals in navigating change. Before embarking on a career in change management, Voytek spent 25 years in various roles in the maritime industry which included managing ocean freight portfolios and providing strategic advice on vessel acquisition and joint ventures. Voytek was also the founder of Seamind Technologies, a Silicon Valley maritime IT start-up, and Seamind Singapore, a maritime consultancy and shipbroking firm, where he served as the Managing Director for 17 years. Voytek holds an Executive Master’s degree in Consulting and Coaching for Change from INSEAD, an MSc in International Transport Management from the State University of New York, and an MSc in Ocean Navigation from the Maritime University of Szczecin. He is also a graduate of IMD’s program on ‘Leading Sustainable Business Transformation’ and INSEAD’s “Blue Ocean Strategy’ course. Voytek is also a President of Propeller Club Geneva.
Filipe Pohlmann Gonzaga
Managing Director
Bryce SA
Filipe is the managing director of Bryce SA, a Swiss-based commodities trading firm focusing on Ukrainian grain origination. He also owns GreenEmissions, a Swedish-based carbon trading platform. Previously, he was in trade finance as the Vice President for the American and European continents at a Nasdaq-listed multinational at the time, leading business development and trade finance structuring on behalf of clients in the region, with a special focus on the CIS region. For his education, he holds a bachelor's degree in business, a master's in environmental sciences, and is currently working towards a doctorate in business. He speaks Portuguese, English and French fluently, with working knowledge of Spanish and German, also learning Korean and Russian.
Sunchitsa Savovich
Serbia Grains Association
Agriculture economist with 18 years of professional experience in Serbian grains and oilseeds sector. Focused on data management and developing accurate analysis as a key to successful grains and oilseeds production and trading operations. Coauthored a number of studies related to Serbia's grains and oilseeds sectors for the UN FAO and the EBRD since 2017. Besides the leading position as the association of grains and oilseeds producers, traders and processors, mineral fertilizers producers, exporters & quality control companies, Serbia Grains Association has developed the most reputable and reliable grain market information report in Serbia and Balkans region, Serbia Grains Weekly report, where she contributes as the editor.
Christina Serebryakova
CEO
ASAP Agri
Christina Serebryakova is Broker and Head of Analytical Department at Atria Brokers (www.atriabrokers.com), full service commodity and freight brokerage firm providing market guidance, 24/7 customer support and innovative trading solutions. Christina has over 10 years’ experience in the agriculture. Prior to joining Atria, Christina was Grains and Oilseeds analyst at Wilmar Ukraine and Head of Foreign Trade department at APK-Inform. She has been a regular speaker in industry conferences.
Karolis Šimas
Director/President
Agrokoncerno grūdai, UAB/LITHUANIAN GRAIN PROCESSORS AND TRADERS ASSOCIATION
Karolis Šimas is the President of the Lithuanian Grain Processors and Traders Association and the CEO of Agrokoncerno Grūdai, UAB. The Lithuanian Grain Processors and Traders Association, founded in 1992 by twenty grain processing companies, has grown to include 33 members. Over its 28-year history, the Association has expanded to welcome malt producers, grain wholesalers, and companies involved in grain processing, feed manufacturing, and grain and feed raw material trading. Several member companies are foreign equity firms operating in Lithuania, engaging in both production and wholesale activities.
Evangelos L. Efstathiou
Burmester & Vogel
Evangelos Efstathiou is CEO of Burmester & Vogel (“B&V”) and Managing Director of Skysail Advisors. Prior to these roles Evan held executive positions at Marsoft, Veson Nautical, SpecTec and Chinsay. As the Founder of Skysail in 2016, Evan quickly became known for his expertise in bulk maritime transportation and digital technology. He regularly consults shipowners, commodity traders, industry associations, and private equity investors on digitalization strategy, M&A, and industry trends. Evan leads Skysail’s joint venture with AMA Capital Partners to provide mergers and acquisitions advisory for maritime technology companies. Evan also publishes the Skysail Maritime Technology Landscape, providing widely followed market intelligence on a broad range of technologies used in the maritime industry. As CEO of B&V since 2019, Evan is leading the AI revolution in laytime and demurrage – a complex, manually-intensive workflow in commodity trading and vessel chartering. B&V’s product offerings are trusted by 150+ of the world’s most demanding commodity traders and vessel charterers to calculate demurrage for over one billion tons of cargo each year. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Evan lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and three children. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Gustavo Idigoras
CIARA-CEC
Gustavo Idigoras has a degree on political sciences and a master degree on international affairs and business and a PhD in Agricultural Business Administration. He used to work as Public He worked as an affair manager for Monsanto as well as he was Director of Business Issue Management, also he was working for different chambers and companies related to food business and biofuels. Gustavo is also International Consultant working for WTO, IDB and FAO on SPS. agriculture trade and sustainability. He was government negotiator for 18 years on market access negotiations at WTO, MERCOSUR, FTAs, CODEX, OIE, IPPC, IGC, OECD as well as he served as Argentine Agricultural Minister at European Union, based in Belgium, for 5 years.
Erin Gowriluk
Canada Grains Council
Erin Gowriluk is the President at the Canada Grains Council (CGC), a national umbrella association which represents the interests of the entire grain value chain in Canada. Erin works with her team and Council members to lead policy development and advocacy initiatives on cross-commodity issues and opportunities, striving to build consensus and speak as one voice on the issues that matter to Canada’s grains sector. In her current capacity, Erin represents CGC on the International Grain Trade Coalition’s Management Council, the Canada Advisory Committee for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture and serves as the Chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops. Prior to joining CGC, Erin served as the Executive Director at the Grain Growers of Canada, where she advanced federal policy priorities on behalf of 65,000 grain farmer members from coast to coast. She has an extensive and diverse background in agriculture policy having held senior policy roles with Syngenta Canada, the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, and the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Erin holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University.
Sorin Albeanu
Head of Commercial
Covantis
Sorin Albeanu has been spending the last 15 years in roles responsible for the business growth of platforms and electronic networks used for energy and commodities trading. With previous experience in electricity, gas and oil markets Sorin has joined Covantis over 3 years ago and is looking after Covantis business growth and platform adoption across agri markets globally.
Kyle Tapley
Meteorologist and Senior Sales Manager
Maxar Intelligence
Kyle Tapley is a Meteorologist and Senior Sales Manager at Maxar Intelligence. He joined the team following his graduation from Penn State University in 2008 with a degree in Meteorology. Mr. Tapley has more than a decade of experience forecasting weather for major crop areas around the world, with an emphasis on how weather conditions affect production of agricultural commodities. Mr. Tapley contributes to WeatherDesk seasonal forecasts and communicates with WeatherDesk customers daily. Mr. Tapley is also responsible for generating new sales of Maxar’s WeatherDesk products. Mr. Tapley is a frequent speaker at agricultural conferences globally.
Monika Tothova
FAO – AMIS
Monika Tothova is a Senior Economist in the Markets and Trade Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. She leads a team which provides short term outlook for basic food commodities. She also serves as a Secretary of the Agricultural Market Information System, AMIS, a G20 initiative to enhance food market transparency. A national of Slovakia, she earned her Doctorate in Economics and Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University. Before joining FAO in 2012, she worked in the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, France.
Jad Wakileh
Vice Chairman & Business Development Manager
Aqaba Manufacturing and Refining Vegetable Oils Co.
Jad Wakileh currently serves as the Vice Chairman and Business Development Manager for, Aqaba Manufacturing and Refining Vegetable Oils Company, a Jordan based business founded in 1992 that manufactures and refines a variety of superior quality Vegetable Oils. Jad buys and manages the raw materials from the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Jad also serves at National Poultry Co. (NPC) as Board Member. National Poultry is a Jordan based business founded in 1998. NPC is specialized in trading and sourcing ingredients for use in poultry, cattle, aquaculture, and other feed blends. Wakileh holds a B.S. in Mathematics & Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Krista Thomas
Vice President of Seed Innovation and Trade Policy
Krista Thomas serves as the Vice President of Seed Innovation and Trade Policy at the Canada Grains Council. She is a leader in international industry forums, for example co-chairing a committee within the International Grain Trade Coalition. Krista has delivered presentations at prominent multilateral venues, including APEC and the WTO. Prior to her tenure at the CGC, she held several positions within the Canadian Federal Government. Krista holds an M.Sc. in Plant Agriculture from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Ryan Standard
Managing Editor Americas
Ryan Standard earned a degree in English literature and history from Monmouth College, while maintaining a parallel track in economics. With a background in logistics and sales, he joined The Jacobsen in 2007 as an analyst and the editor of the Animal Fats and Feed Bulletins, and contributor to the Biodiesel Bulletin. He has built a solid, reliable network of sources to inform his industry analysis.
Nikolay Gorbachov
Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA)
Nikolay Gorbachov has more than 30 years of experience in the agricultural market of Ukraine. In February 2017, he was elected as the President of Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) and in 2021 was re-elected for a second term. He previously co-chaired the Grains and Oilseeds Committee of the European Business Association (EBA). He also holds the position of Director in the trading company in Ukraine.
Jorge De Saja
General Director
Spanish Feed Industry Federation (CESFAC)
Trained as a lawyer in several EU Countries, he holds over 20 years European experience managing trade and business organizations in the Food, Feed and health sectors. He is considered to be an expert on regulatory and political issues related to distortions of agricommodities supply and on managing sector crisis. Member of numerous public and private boards and advisory bodies, he also advises both the Spanish Govt as well as the European Commission on grain and feed matters.
Ryan Easterbrook
Head of Grains and Oilseeds
ADM ISI
Ryan is the Head of Grain & Oilseeds Sales at ADM Investor Services International; an independent, full service multi-asset brokerage company with 106 years corporate history in London and extensive International reach; offering clearing and brokerage services into all major investment markets. Ryan works with the Global Grains desk, covering the major grains and oilseeds futures & options exchanges and serving a wide variety of clients around the globe. The primary focus being commercial hedge business, working with clients throughout the supply chain, that each have their specific risk management needs.
Jason Martinet
Head of Dry Freight
Montfort Trading
Jason Martinet is head of Dry Freight at Montfort Trading. Prior to joining Montfort, Jason spent over 15 years of trading derivatives and managing risk and physical freight for both Owners and grain trading companies in Europe, Asisa and Oceania (Scorpio Bulkers, Noble Agri, Australian Wheat Board and Quadra Commodities). Jason is a graduate of the Institut Superieur de Gestion in Paris with a major in international affairs and holds a master’s degree in risk management from St John’s University in New York City.
Veysel Kaya
Owner
SUNSEEDMAN
Veysel KAYA has B.Sc. degree in Food Engineering and worked for a food company, Trakya Birlik ( one of major farmer sales cooperative unions and Sun Complex market players in Turkey ) for more than 15.5 years ( in between 1998 and 2014 ). He was undertaken there to carry out foreign correspondence, to follow worldwide Oilseeds, Vegoils, Oilmeals markets and so to launch Daily/Weekly price sheets and market reports as well as to perform importation procedures of the company. By 21st July, 2014, he resigned by his initiative and established his own company SUNSEEDMAN, as his market-known nickname.
Jaine Chisholm Caunt
Director General
Jaine Chisholm Caunt was appointed Director General of Gafta in 2014. She is also the current Chair of the Federation of Commodity Associations. Jaine was the Chair of the International Agri-food Network (IAFN) which co-ordinates the work of the Private Sector Mechanism (PSM) at the UN Committee on World Food Security from 2015-2017. Jaine was Secretary General of the Tobacco Manufacturers Association from 2011 to 2014 and was previously the Director of Stakeholder Relations and Policy for Cogent, the skills body for the UK’s science-based and process manufacturing industries from 2006 to 2011. She is a board member of two European Trade Associations in the agri-commodity sphere, COCERAL, and CELCAA. She is also a board member of two international bodies, the International Agri-food Network, and the International Grain Trade Coalition. Jaine Chisholm Caunt was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2022 for services to promote International Free Trade.
Eduardo Tinti
Senior Price Reporter
Graduated in economics at Unicamp, Brazil, with a double master’s degree in macroeconomics at Sorbonne Paris XII, France, and Kingston University, UK. Covering commodity markets as an analyst and price reporter since 2019, focusing on the South American soybean complex
Tore Alden
Director, Forecasting
Tore Alden began his career as an analyst for the Agricultural Marketing group at Smith Barney more than 20 years ago. When the group left to form the International Agribusiness Group (IAG), he directed the firm’s fundamental research reports covering the markets for grains, oilseeds and coffee, amongst others. Before joining Fastmarkets, Tore covered the oilseed complex and supported consulting projects in the biofuel industry for Informa Economics. At Fastmarkets as a senior analyst, Tore has worked on consulting projects for international refining companies that included a 20-year forecast of the impact of growing biofuel demand on feedstocks. Tore has been a speaker at industry conferences for the last ten years.
Mostyn Gregg
Vice President of Pulses
Olam Agri
Mostyn Gregg is the Vice President of Pulses at Olam, a leading global agribusiness. With extensive experience in commodity trading and supply chain management, Mostyn has played a key role in expanding Olam's pulse business across various markets. He is known for his strategic insights into global trade dynamics and sustainability practices in the agricultural sector. Mostyn's leadership has contributed significantly to Olam’s growth in the pulses industry, fostering innovation and collaboration within the company and the broader market. He holds a strong commitment to driving sustainable solutions in the food and agriculture industry.
Svitlana Synkovska
Senior Conference Producer
Svitlana has 18 years of experience in agricultural events, media and agribusiness consulting, including international commodities trade, agri investments, inputs markets, marketing and PR campaigns of agri companies. She is also working as agri markets columnist. Also, Svitlana is a frequent speaker for numerous international agri conferences in EU, MENA. China, India, the USA. For 12 years Svitlana was a marketing director of APK-Inform agency. Also, Svitlana was co-founder and Secretary-General of the International Sunflower Oil Association (ISOA).
Cedric Pene
Counsellor, Agriculture and Commodities Division
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Cédric Pène is a seasoned international food and agriculture trade policies expert. After serving as Head of the grains and oilseeds unit in the French Ministry of Agriculture and as Agriculture Counsellor in the French Permanent Delegation to the WTO in Geneva, he joined the WTO in 2010. He has co-chaired the WTO Committee on Agriculture in Special Session since 2017, overseeing agriculture negotiations with a focus on export competition, export restrictions, and cotton-related issues. He has also been instrumental in the creation of the Agricultural Market Information System (2011) and more recently the joint WTO-IGC dashboard on real-time wheat maritime trade monitoring (2023). Pène holds engineering degrees, along with advanced degrees in economics and decision-making sciences.
Will Watchorn
Global Head of Pulses
Viterra
Will Watchorn is the Global Head of Pulses at Viterra, one of the world’s leading agricultural commodity networks. Born and raised on the British farmlands of Norfolk, Will joined Viterra in 2004 after graduating from Imperial College London. After nearly a decade trading cereals and pulses from Viterra’s UK office, Will moved to the company’s headquarters in Rotterdam in 2013 to specialise in pulses. In 2020, Will became globally responsible for Viterra’s pulses activities and is now actively seeking to increase Viterra’s presence within the pulses market, leveraging their world leading origination strategies and logistics network to create value throughout the whole supply chain, from the farm gate to the consumer. Outside of work, Will enjoys time with the family, long distance bike rides and barbeques.
Pelin Ozer Yagar
Managing Partner&Broker
MPM GIDA
Pelin Ozer Yagar is the Founder and Managing Partner of MPM Gıda San ve Tic. A.S in Istanbul, 2010. MPM is a leading commodity brokerage company for the physical trading of grains, oilseeds, vegetable oils and feedstuff *and also do international trade of raw materials for bakery, dried fruits & nuts, confectionary-cake, meat, dairy and food supplements ingredients* for 14 years in Turkish market. Pelin is a professional with 23 years of experience in the area of crushing, trading, and distributing who spent 6 years at ADM Turkey and ADM Hamburg at the position of oilseeds, veg oil and sunmeal trader and also worked at different agri companies at different positions in Turkey. She represents Turkey at the brokerage category in GAFTA Black Sea Desk Committee. Her company MPM is both FOSFA and GAFTA approved.
Alejandra Castillo
President&CEO
North American Export Grain Assoc. (NAEGA)
Alejandra Castillo is the President & CEO of the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA). A senior executive with over 15 years’ experience in global trade with expertise in trade execution, stakeholder management and trade policy. Alejandra worked at the U.S. Grains Council in D.C., Singapore, and India. Most recently, she opened the Council’s newest office in India, where she served as the Regional Director for South Asia. In that capacity, Alejandra set up the strategy to evaluate and implement the Council’s market development programs in the region which included India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Alejandra also serves as volunteer President of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC). Since 2019, Alejandra has supported the IGTC Working Group on Electronic Trading Documentation. In that role, she served as one of the co-chairs for the Industry Advisory Group (IAG) and the IAG representative for the CPM Focus Group on Sustainable Funding for the IPPC ePhyto Solution Project. Prior to the Council, Alejandra worked in trade execution with Cargill focused on trade risk management as well as vessel and container logistics for cotton, grains and oilseeds. She also gained experience as an international freight forwarder prior to entering trade execution. Before joining Cargill, she worked as a project manager for the Mayo Clinic and an associate director of admissions for St. Catherine University. Alejandra is a native of Nicaragua and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in strategic management and organizational leadership, both from St. Catherine University, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Janelle Whitley
Senior Director, Market Access and Trade Policy
Pulse Canada
Janelle Whitley is the Senior Director, Market Access and Trade Policy at Pulse Canada. Pulse Canada is the national association representing growers, traders and processors of Canadian pulses (dry peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas). Janelle has over 15 years' experience working in Canadian agriculture focusing on policy, legislative and regulatory affairs related to grain marketing, trade and market access both domestically and globally. On behalf of her members, she works to advance a strong, sustainable pulse sector by maintaining and diversifying markets for Canadian pulses and by removing impediments to trade. Prior to joining Pulse Canada, she was employed in various capacities within the agriculture industry in Canada and overseas. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics, and a Masters in Business Administration.
Jose Angel Olivero
Sales Director
LIPSA
Mr Olivero received a Degree in Economics from the University of Seville in 1988 and a Degree in Food Business Management from Instituto International San Telmo in 2015. During the last 34 years, he has been involved in the Oilseeds, Oils&Fats business. He has been Sales Director in Lípidos Santiga, S.A., since 1996, and, prior to that, from1989 until 1996, he worked in the Sales department of Cargill España, S.A. Mr Olivero has participated as panellist and speaker in many international events, like Price Outlook Conference, Palm Oil Trade Seminar-POTS, Andalusian Commodity Exchange, Gapki, etc. He represents Lipsa in international Forums and in international and national associations, like Fediol, AFOEX, the Spanish Foundation on Sustainable Palm Oil and the RSPO. Lipsa is a family owned company founded in 1969 that started processing oils and fats in 1973. The company owns two refineries in the area of Barcelona and in Huelva, with a combined annual processing capacity of over 1.5 million tons. Lipsa Barcelona processes palm, palm kernel, coconut, sunflower, rapeseed, soybean, and corn oils; palm, rapeseed and sunflower oils, both conventional and high oleic. Lipsa refines both physically and chemically, hydrogenates, interesterify and fractionate, and sells to the food, feed, oleochemical and biofuels sectors. Currently the company is exporting to over 50 different countries in 5 continents. Lipsa is a member of the RSPO since 2005 and certified SG and MB since 2010.
Alex Bobylov
Commodities Products and Business Development
Euronext
Alexandre Bobylov has more than 15 years of experience in the commodities space with knowledge of derivatives, investment, finance and financial markets. He joined Euronext, the pan-European leading market infrastructure in September 2022 as Commodities Products and Business Development Manager to further develop the Euronext MATIF franchise.
Joe Glauber
Senior Research Fellow
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Joe Glauber is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington, DC and until January 2024 served as interim Secretary of the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS). He also holds appointments at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the American Enterprise Institute. Prior to joining IFPRI, Glauber spent over 30 years at the US Department of Agriculture, including as Chief Economist from 2008 to 2014. From 2007-2009, Glauber was the Special Doha Agricultural Envoy at the office of the U.S. Trade Representative where he served as chief agricultural negotiator in the Doha talks. He is the author of numerous studies on agricultural insurance, trade policy and U.S. farm policy.
Maria Dimitriadou
Special Representative to the UN and the WTO
World Bank
Ms. Maria Dimitriadou is the World Bank Special Representative to the UN and Head of the World Bank Geneva Office. She is a Greek National with more than twenty-five years of experience in the World Bank Group (WBG), the European Commission (EC), and the public and private sectors. She joined the WBG in 2015 as Senior International Affairs Officer in the Brussels Office, where she has worked on the WBG's strategic relationship and partnership with the EU and other Brussels-based interlocutors. Prior to that, she worked as a Policy Officer at the Directorate General of Economic and Financial Affairs of the European Commission, where she worked on relations with European and International Financial Institutions, including on promoting the use of innovative financial instruments. Ms. Dimitriadou has also worked as a Policy Officer and Head of Unit in a Managing Authority of European Territorial Cooperation Programmes implemented under the mandates of EU Member States, Enlargement and Neighborhood countries in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea, and as an Economist in the Hellenic Ministry of Finance. Ms. Dimitriadou started her career in the private sector, where she advised Greek and Western Balkan private and public entities on the design, financing, and implementation of investment projects.
Mathilde De Mareuil
Vice President
WISTA Switzerland
Mathilde is the CEO of STN, a leading headhunting firm specializing in the commodities market. With a passion for recruitment and a native fluency in both English and French, she is dedicated to matching top talent with critical roles across sectors like oil, energy, metals, and agriculture. As Vice President and Board Member of WISTA Switzerland, Mathilde actively supports WISTA’s mission to empower women in maritime, trading, and logistics. She thrives in multi-cultural environments, drawing from her extensive international experience in Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, London, and currently Geneva.
Ivanna Dorichenko
Tradaide
Ivanna Dorichenko is London based international trade expert and commodity arbitrator with over 16 years of experience in representing commodity traders in international commercial disputes and advising them on various issues relating to sale and carriage of commodities (including grain, feed, oils and oilseeds). Ivanna regularly helps clients to structure and draft international commercial contracts as well as manage contract execution in various jurisdictions, especially at early stages of potential disputes. More broadly, Ivanna advises on conflict of laws, prevention and management of risks, debt recovery strategies and other aspects of international business. Ivanna is particularly known for her expertise on the international grain and oilseeds market. Originally an Ukrainian qualified lawyer, she was among the very first practitioners involved in GAFTA and FOSFA work in the Black Sea region and has first-hand in-depth knowledge of all regional and international aspects of trade both with and within emerging markets
John Baffes
Senior Economist, Prospects Group
John Baffes is Senior Economist at the World Bank’s Prospects Group where he leads the World Bank’s commodity price forecasting process and oversees the management of the commodity price database. With a rich background in various units within the World Bank, including Latin America, South Asia, East Africa, Evaluation, and Research, John brings a diverse perspective to his work environment. His contributions extend beyond the confines of the World Bank, with numerous chapters and articles published in academic journals covering economic development, agricultural economics, resource economics, and applied econometrics. John also teaches an executive MBA course on Applied Econometrics for Commodity Markets. Prior to his academic pursuits, John gained invaluable experience managing a commodity trading company, solidifying his practical understanding of commodity market dynamics. John holds degrees in Economics from the University of Athens, Greece (BS), Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia, U.S. (MS), and Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland, U.S. (Ph.D.).
Louisa Follis
Head of Dry Cargo Analysis
Clarksons
Louisa Follis heads up the Global Dry Cargo Analysis team for shipbroker, Clarksons, and is based in Geneva. She joined Clarksons in early 2019 in their Singapore office. This was after 8 years at grain trader, Bunge, in Geneva where she first managed the freight analysis team and then European agriculture analysis group. Prior to this, Louisa worked as a tanker market analyst for a shipbroker in London and Singapore. Louisa has also extensive experience as a maritime journalist working in Asia, the Middle East and Americas which followed her Master’s degree in Shipping Trade & Finance from Bayes Business School (City University) in London. She also has a BA Hons in South East Asian Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Law.
Solomon Gagunashvili
Executive Director/Founder
Agrodity
With over 25 years of experience, Solomon is a certified commodities trader and entrepreneur with expertise in corporate finance, commodity trading, real estate management, hospitality, and startups. He holds an MBA from Georgian Technical University. As the founder of Agrodity, an agricultural commodities marketplace, and iDreamers, a digital platform for personal growth, Solomon focuses on strategic planning, business development, and innovation to drive success and positive impact in various sectors. Agrodity is an agricultural commodities electronic marketplace that maximizes the profits of farmers, wholesalers, brokers, and traders by offering standardized contracts and short-term delivery.
Leonardo Vencato
Commercial Director
Sipal Group
Leonardo is an experienced trader in the grain and oilseed market, working at one of the largest companies in the sector in Brazil. With a solid career in the agricultural sector, he has specialized in hedge operations and financial risk management. Leonardo use advanced option structures in commodities like soybeans and corn, and is also accustomed to dealing with exchange rates. His expertise in hedge strategies allows for the optimization of company results in a market characterized by high volatility. With a deep understanding of commodities and financial markets, Leonardo is a dedicated professional who constantly seeks to enhance his skills and knowledge to add value to the organization.
Mohammed Bayejid
MV Tayyabia Trading BD/Tayyabia Commodities
Mohammed is a Managing Partner of MV Tayyabia Trading BD/Tayyabia Commodities, he has been a leader in international bulk grain trade since 2006. Specializing in the Bangladeshi market, he collaborates with globally renowned suppliers of soybean, corn, and wheat, ensuring the consistent supply of high-quality commodities. Mohammed is deeply involved in grain market research, leveraging his expertise to provide strategic insights on global pricing and market dynamics, representing both buyers and sellers in negotiating optimal outcomes for their trading needs. His extensive industry knowledge and commitment to excellence have solidified his reputation as a strong player in the international grain trade sector.
Andrea Berutti
Director
Ahlmann-Zerssen
Andrea is Director at Ahlmann-Zerssen, Head of Projects / Business Developments and DeepSea Chartering. He started his career in the shipping community over 35 years ago and after completing a maritime qualification in Genova and the subsequent Cadetship onboard several commercial ships, he sailed as Navigator Officer both for the Italian Navy and later for commercial operators onboard Ro/Ro vessels. Andrea enhanced his business skills by working internationally, in Germany, as a Chartering Broker before returning to his hometown of Genova where he became a qualified Agent and Shipbroker, and member of the local Chamber of Commerce. In 1993 Andrea moved back to Hamburg, where he worked as a Freight Charterer before joining the German Shipbroker Company Bernd von Blomberg as head of the Atlantic Grain Chartering desk. He helped to grow Bernd von Blomberg into one of the leading German shipbrokers. He became a member of the London Baltic Exchange in 2010, and in the same year took on the role of Director of Chartering Desk at the Shipbroker Company Brouwer Shipping and Chartering. Andrea joined Ahlmann-Zerssen in 2019, a well-known company providing a wide range of shipping services (shipowners, shipping agents, customs, warehousing and chartering) in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, where he became Director of Chartering Desk/Projects and Business Developments. He contributes to the international developments of Ahlmann-Zerssen, which has a growing owned and commercially managed fleet of coaster vessels, thanks to the acquisition of two ships in 2022 and 2023, and the opening of the Latvian office in Riga. Ahlmann-Zerssen is today one of the leading German companies to offer to its customer fully tailored shipping logistic solutions, mainly related to grains and feedstuff commodities trading companies. Ahlmann-Zerssen is part of Royal Peterson Control Union Group B.V.
Frederico Humberg
AgriBrasil
Fred Humberg is an entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience focused on agribusiness, commodities, trading, and logistics, having built a strong network with the international grain market. He started his career in 1990 at Glencore, developing strategies, and contributing to making it the largest soybean and corn exporter in Brazil. In 1998, he moved to France to work at a soybean meal distribution company and to represent major Brazilian crushers. He also established operations in Singapore, Italy, and England to expand this distribution network. In 2005, Fred returned to Brazil to lead Bunge’s sugar and ethanol division. Within a year, Fred positioned Bunge as a significant player in the sugar market, trading 3 million tons annually. In 2006 he founded Agriservice, a provider of integrated services for grain trading. After five years, Agriservice’s business volume exceeded 3 million tons, attracting the attention of the U.S.-based company Gavilon, which acquired the business on the condition that Fred and his team stayed on board. In 2012, Fred became President of the newly formed Gavilon Brazil, achieving another success story: he built a team of over 120 employees, grew revenues to over USD 1 billion in just five years. In 2016, Fred founded Agribrasil, a company specializing in sourcing soybeans and corn directly from cooperatives, resellers, and major producers across Brazil. Agribrasil transports and sells these commodities for export and provides risk management and logistics solutions. The company is supported by a highly experienced team in both Brazilian agribusiness and international grain trading. Besides the headquarters in São Paulo, Agribrasil operates branches in Mato Grosso, Paraná, Bahia, and Goiás, covering Brazil’s main export routes like Santos, Paranaguá, São Francisco do Sul, Barcarena, Itaqui, and Ilhéus. Agribrasil also has a fully owned subsidiary in Switzerland for direct sales to the international market.
Nicole Bavaud
Global Head of International Operations for Grains and Oilseeds
COFCO International
Nicole joined COFCO International as Global Head of International Operations for Grains and Oilseeds in September 2021. During her career, she has assumed multiple responsibilities , such as Head of Letter of credit for UBS SA, Head of Operations for various commodities trading companies (AWB Geneva, Gavilon SRL & ECTP) and Head of Trade Finance (EMEA) for Mercuria Energy Trading . She has gained solid experience in contracts, operations, trade finance, laytime, key industry sustainability issues, digital transformation, and application of “blockchain” to build more efficient processes.She believes that Agri industry must continue to transform being Actor instead of Spectator. This needs to be pushed to the next level by accelerating the digitization of post-trade processes and by encouraging the existing good efforts already taken by our industry on sustainability topics. Being of enthusiastic and collaborative nature, Nicole wants to promote diversity and equality among the workforces.
Fergus Garvin
Global Head of Freight
Engelhart
Fergus is the Global head of freight at Engelhart. After 8 years trading dry bulk at Cargill, Fergus joined BTG Pactual Commodities at its inception in 2013. BTG Pactual rebranded as Engelhart and Fergus took over management of the business in 2015. The company now runs a physical business in the Capesize, Panamax and Supramax markets and is an active participant in the freight derivatives markets.
Friederike Greb
Economist the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
Friederike Greb works as an Economist in the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), based at WFP HQ in Rome. Her work focuses on analysing the food security implications of the global economic context as well as supporting WFP's operations in 80+ countries in generating economic evidence for operational decision-making. Friederike previously worked at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and in academia, with a research focus on food price dynamics. She completed a Diploma (Master’s equivalent) in mathematics and PhD in agricultural economics.
Rakhi Rastogi
Global Shipping and Energy Analytics Lead
Cargill
Rakhi Rastogi serves as the global head of market research and analysis for Cargill’s Ocean transportation business and Energy activities, based in Geneva, Switzerland. Rakhi started her career with Cargill as a freight credit risk analyst in Geneva and later became a global commodity analyst in ferrous markets, moving to Singapore. She moved in 2017 to lead analytics for Cargill Ocean transportation in APAC and then globally. Over the last three years, she has been in-charge of building the energy analytics capability for Cargill on natural gas, LNG and petroleum markets. Her work experience outside Cargill includes her role as analysis manager at BHP and multiple roles in the Indian banking sector. Rakhi holds an MBA from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford where she was a Naomi Molson Scholar. She holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from S.R.C.C, Delhi University. She is passionate about the interaction between fundamentals, China’s macroeconomic policies and geopolitical influence on commodities and shipping markets. She believes that decarbonization is a slow yet growing force that will play a significant role in shaping the global economy and markets over the next several decades.
Koray Tüysüzoğlu
Erser Grup Turkey
Koray Tüysüzoğlu has extensive experience in the agricultural and food distribution sectors, and is currently serving as CEO of Erser Grup Turkey since July 2024. Previously, Koray held roles including Senior Grain and Distribution Trader at Bunge, and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Tekkeli Gida. His background also includes Deputy General Manager at REKA Bitkisel Yaglar San.Tic.A.S., Treasury Manager at Bunge, and Branch Manager at Halkbank. With over 25 years of experience, Koray brings a comprehensive understanding of the industry and a strong commitment to organizational growth and success.
Alex Lissitsa
President of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), Chairman of the Board of IMC
Alex Lissitsa, Chairman of the Board of IMC agricultural company (one of the TOP-10 agricultural companies in Ukraine and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange), President of UCAB (UCAB is a business association which represents interests of leading companies of the Ukrainian agro-food sector) and Co-founder of Land Club (Land Club is an association of investors in Ukraine interested in acquiring of agricultural land for profit).
Jonathan Hepburn
World Trade Organization
Jonathan HEPBURN is a Counsellor in the Agriculture and Commodities Division of the World Trade Organization (WTO). He has twenty-five years' experience working on trade, public policy and sustainable development, especially in the area of agriculture, food security, and the environment, and has authored and edited numerous publications on these topics.
Cem Bogusoglu
Swiss Aegean Trading
Cem Bogusoglu is the founding partner of Swiss Aegean Trading AG which is a trading and logistics company active in the Black Sea and the Middle East Region, specialized on the supply of grains, pulse, oil seeds as well as the ship management and operation. With his experience of over 20 years in the pulses industry, Cem has served in several different roles before starting Swiss Aegean Trading such as; Global Head of Pulses Trading, Agricultural project management, pulses processing factory management and head of trading. After he was graduated from Gaziantep University Food Engineering Department in 2003, he has also done an MBA Essentials course at LSE in 2020. Cem is a member of GAFTA Pulses Committee since 2015 and has served as Board Member in the GPC between 2018 and 2024.
Norbert Sztolc
Commercial Head – Grains & Oilseeds
Polish Agro
Norbert's endeavour with the grains started 14 years ago. For the last 9 years, he has been active in commercial activities in Poland and international markets with a focus on wheat, corn, small grains and rapeseed. Norbert's experience includes sourcing and selling undertakings, as well as product, financial, people and operational management.
John Banaszkiewicz
CEO & Founder
Freight Investor Services (FIS)
John Banaszkiewicz, commonly known as John B, founded Freight Investor Services (FIS) in 2002, growing the company into one of the world‘s leading freight and commodity brokers. John has shown determination and diligence in building liquidity in the multi-billion-dollar FFA market, attracting clearing services and encouraging dialogue between users and brokers, and is well known in the market. He has used this experience to develop our key freight and commodity markets, and continues to pioneer new innovations. John was the first chairman of the FFA Brokers Association (FFABA), inaugural chairman of the Iron ore and Steel Derivatives Association and has helped to launch the Independent FFA Association (IFFAA) in 2023, and he serves in his capacity as Director. He can regularly be heard speaking to shipping and financial market conferences worldwide on freight and commodity derivatives. John is an avid philanthropist and has founded and been involved with numerous charities. Most recently he has launched CARES Ukraine, a charity that aims to help a healthcare system on its knees since the Russian Invasion.
Alberto Perez
Global Head, Maritime Commercial Markets
Lloyd’s Register
As Global Head, Maritime Commercial Markets at Lloyd’s Register, Alberto manages strategic relationships with commercial stakeholders such as charterers, insurers, and financers who come to Lloyd’s Register as their trusted advisor for compliance, performance, and sustainability. Prior to joining Lloyd’s Register, Alberto worked Inmarsat as Director of Strategy and Business Development, and ABB Marine, holding various integral global positions in Sales, Business Development and Product Management. He completed engineering studies at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, an MBA from IE Business School and a Diploma in Commodity Trading from the University of Geneva.
Olena Isaieva
Baringa
Piotr Cichocki
Managing Director for Europe
Secro Inc.
Piotr is a seasoned professional on a mission to digitalize international maritime commodity trade. He is currently the Managing Director for Europe at Secro Inc., a SaaS provider delivering the first natively valid, electronic, tokenized Bill of Lading, and also manages the IT team for Secro Technologies Ltd. in Poland. With extensive expertise, he has served as an Investment Advisor at the Polish Steamship Company, managing new tonnage investments and decarbonization projects, and as a Board Member and Investment Director at Rentrans Cargo Sp. z o.o., leading divestment and restructuring initiatives for a major port logistics provider. His career includes strategic roles such as Strategy and Business Development Director at OT Logistics, where he oversaw M&A projects and implemented restructuring plans, and Interim CEO and CFO of the Polish Steamship Company, spearheading refinancing and restructuring efforts. As President of Polsteam USA Inc., he modernized operations and treasury management, and in previous roles, he enhanced market share for dry bulk shipowners in North and Central America. Piotr’s background is built on over 25 years in vessel management, commercial operations, and strategic leadership. He holds a Master's degree from the Maritime Academy in Szczecin and a postgraduate qualification in Business Management.
Dawit Kelemework Mekonnen
Dawit Mekonnen is a Senior Economist with the World Bank’s Prospects Group and a non-resident fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute. He is a co-author of the Commodity Markets Outlook report, a World Bank semi-annual publication focusing on market analysis and price forecasts. His work focuses on agriculture, food security, water resources, and seed systems. He holds a PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Georgia and B.A. and M.Sc. degrees in Economics from Addis Ababa University.