We are electing a new Executive Committee for the upcoming two-year term from October 2022. There are four standard positions plus a student representative. The IPRRG Executive Committee is a parliamentary system, whereby the four elected standard members decide amongst themselves which roles they will fill within the committee (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary-Treasurer and Communications). The Student Representative is elected separately.
The (online) election concludes at the end of our upcoming Annual Meeting in Athens. The election results will be announced near the conclusion of the meeting. Please submit your ballot by 13 October 2022 12:15 AM Eastern US/CAN to ensure your vote is counted in the results! (Results will be compiled and reported by an election administrator who isn’t among the candidates.)
Note that there is a single candidate for Student Representative: Jessica Kriticos. As Jessica is running unopposed, she will automatically be installed to the Executive Committee for the 2022-2024 term and so does not appear on the ballot at the bottom of this page.
There are FIVE candidates for the four standard Executive Committee positions (arranged in alphabetical order by surname):
Ciro Gardi – Ciro is a communications officer with EFSA. He has had a long association with IPRRG and wants to use his skills as a communicator to help assist the organisation to achieve its aims.
Tomasz Kaluski – Tomasz is an experienced risk assessor who worked at the Institute of Plant Protection, Poznan, Poland for 20 years, and for 13 years was head of Research Centre of Quarantine, Invasive and Genetically Modified Organisms. Since April 2022, Tomasz has been a Scientific Officer in European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy. For 6 years Tomasz was leading the national Pest Risk Assessment project funded by the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and is coauthor of more than 100 pest risk assessments and pest reports. Tomasz has a strong experience in project management and coordination, organizer of many national and international conferences and meetings. He is a former President and Vice-president of the Association of Polish Malacologists. Tomasz has a long history of association with IPRRG. In his former role in Poland, he hosted the previous meeting of IPRRG in Poznan. Tomasz recognises the important role that IPRRG plays in the global biosecurity apparatus and wishes to play a role in supporting it to meet its aims.
Frank Koch – Frank is a Research Ecologist and Team Leader for Forest Health Monitoring Research with the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station. He is one of the founding members of IPRRG and has been actively involved in the group’s activities for 15 years, including when it was still known as the International Pest Risk Mapping Workgroup. Frank wrote most of the group’s constitution and, since its ratification in 2015, has served continuously on the IPRRG Executive Committee as Communications Officer. He was recognized as an IPRRG Fellow in 2021 for his contributions to the group and pest risk research more generally.
Candidate statement: Many of you already know me and my commitment to furthering the IPRRG mission. I’m passionate about the group and would like to extend its reach even further. Collectively, we are seen as the authority on pest risk modelling, mapping and so much more, which makes sense given the diverse skill sets and knowledge bases of our members. Now, when others look to IPRRG for solutions to the analytical or policy challenges they face, I believe that we need to be positioned not only to offer our expertise, but ideally to provide them with training so they can find those solutions themselves while adhering to best practices. Over the next few years, I think this sort of engagement could really set IPRRG apart from other like-minded organizations.
Melanie Newfield – Melanie stepped into the role of Secretary/Treasurer of IPRRG in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic. Melanie has a long association with IPRRG through her employment with the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries, where she worked for 16 years, first as a risk assessor and then as manager of the Plants and Pathways Risk Assessment team. Melanie believes strongly in the IPRRG aims and objectives and wants to help the organisation become even more effective. She has a particular interest in improving the links between science, risk assessment and decision making.
Rose Souza-Richards – Candidate statement: I am a qualified plant pathologist with a range of experience and skills in risk assessment, risk management and leadership on many advocacy pieces in relation to phytosanitary issues as the Seed Health Manager of the International Seed Federation (ISF). In my previous role in the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) I was responsible for the development, drafting and implementation of import phytosanitary measures for seeds for sowing into New Zealand. I had a largely autonomous role leading advice to the government and seed industry on topics related to the regulatory system around importation of seed for sowing and GMO regulation. It was my task to research and liaise with the seed industry on all topics related to the development and implementation of new phytosanitary measures in certain cases even pest risk analysis. I currently manage, develop and promote the International Seed Health and Regulated Pest List Initiative which develop seed health and validation methods plus assessments of regulated pests using scientific evidence and industry experience under the umbrella of the ISF. As the key point person for the international seed industry with the International Plant Protection Convention it is vital that I have a deep understanding of international standards. I am also responsible for the coordination of interactions with National Plant Protection Organisations on behalf of the international seed industry. I do coordinate the development of an industry-wide response to WTO notifications on proposed changes to national phytosanitary regulations. As part of my role, I also manage, develop, and promote existing ISF activities such as the ones from the Systems Approach working group. I am happy to commit myself as part of the executive committee for 2 years and bring my skills and network to meet the goals of the organization.
I am a strategic thinker with a character and approach that is persuasive and credible; with the ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, and to manage and motivate project team members. I also have a good understanding of and managing multicultural groups in ISF. I have a discerning and of good judgement, flexible and tactful when dealing with ISF members and officials, which allows me to be able to build trust and foster collaboration among members. I can and do multi-task, manage occasionally heavy workloads with tight deadlines, pay attention to details. I have developed and implemented advocacy strategies in the phytosanitary arena that were directed at policy makers including politicians, government officials, public servants, and the seed industry. I am experienced in recognizing emerging risks and how to mitigate them. I do have a very strong relationship management skills, having collaborated and built positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders from seed producers, importers, and New Zealand border teams (advising on operational risks), international laboratories and facilities (as Lead Auditor), industry organisations and overseas partners as a Lead Advisor on biological diversity and international best practice. I do have extensive experience researching, preparing, and writing decision documents, briefings for bilateral meetings, reports for the Minister, many different ISF documents and responses to Parliamentary Questions and OIAs. I do have in-depth knowledge of international standards (i.e. ISPM 38), international agreements, national seed laws e.g. New Zealand’s Biosecurity Act and HSNO Act, and wider legislative development and the machinery of government. I am well-networked internationally having represented New Zealand and MPI and now ISF in many different international fora.
** Please complete the ballot below to select FOUR of the five candidates. **