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Speakers
Keynote Speakers
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Dr. Jerry Caulder
Executive Chairman
Finistere Ventures
Opening Lunch Keynote
(May 24th)
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Dr. Bryan Willson
Director
CSU Clean Energy
Supercluster
Breakfast Keynote
(May 25th)
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Often referred to as the "father of agricultural biotechnology," Dr. Jerry
Caulder is the executive chairman of Finistere Ventures. Dr. Caulder has an unparalleled
record of success in the life science industry. His career began at Monsanto, where
for 15 years he held a number of management positions including responsibility for
Monsanto's early venture investment activity and worldwide responsibility for commercial
development and introduction of all new agricultural products.
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Dr. Bryan Willson has worked for over 25 years developing large scale solutions
for global energy needs. In addition to being a renowned Professor at Colorado
State University, he is also the co-founder and Chief Technology Strategist of Solix
Biofuels and Director of CSU’s Clean Energy Supercluster. In 2009, Scientific
American named him to its inaugural list of the “Scientific American 10” – ten individuals
who have made significant contributions to “guiding science to serve humanity” on
a global basis.
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Jason R. Hall
Executive Director
Missouri Technology Corporation
Networking Reception
(May 24th)
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Charles F. Cleland
USDA National Program Leader
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
USDA NIFA Presentation
(May 24th)
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Jason joined the Nixon Administration from the St. Louis office of the international
law firm Bryan Cave LLP where he had been an attorney focusing his practice on antitrust
matters. During that time, Jason developed a wide range of experience representing
high-technology and science-based clients, including substantial work representing
the leading multi-industry licensing organizations. Jason was nominated to be the
Executive Director of the Missouri Technology Corporation in April 2009 by Governor
Nixon.
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Charles Cleland helps to administer the SBIR program and oversee the portfolio of
applied research and development projects supported by the SBIR program with special
attention to the following four topic areas: 1) Forests and Related Resources; 2)
Soil and Water Resources, 3) Aquaculture, and 4) Small and Mid-Size Farms. Mr. Cleland
received his B.A. from Wabash College in 1961, and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from
Stanford University in 1966. During his career, he authored over 30 scientific publications.
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Panels
The Nexus of Energy & Agriculture
This panel explores the intersection of the energy
and agriculture sectors in addressing the challenges we face in supplying energy
at appropriate cost while managing the carbon footprint. Although a major consumer
of energy, the agriculture sector holds promise for sustainable production of food,
feed and renewable fuels to help manage our carbon footprint. Experts from agriculture,
finance and energy companies will explore the impact of policy and technology on
energy use, commodity pricing and opportunities for emerging technologies to make
a difference.
Moderator
Mich Hein
Managing Partner
Nidus Investment Partners
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Dr. Hein is a Managing Partner of the Nidus Partnership which is focused on developing
and commercializing early stage technologies for the energy and agriculture markets.
He has startup, corporate and research experience in the biotechnology industry
at Heliose Corporation, Chromatin, Epicyte Pharmaceutical, Monsanto, PPG Industries,
the Scripps Research Institute, and the Illinois Medical District. Dr. Hein holds
a Ph.D. and M.S. in plant physiology from the University of Minnesota, and a B.S.
in botany from Ohio University.
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Panelists
David Fischhoff
Vice President Technology Strategy
Monsanto
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Miguel Oliveira
Director Global Innovation
Bunge
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Jake Tarr
Managing Director
Kinetic Ventures
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David Fischhoff
Vice President Technology Strategy, Monsanto
Vice President Technology Strategy and Development, Monsanto Company Since 1983
Dr. Fischhoff has held multiple positions at Monsanto in biotechnology research
and business development. Dr. Fischhoff invented and developed insect resistant
transgenic crop plants and co-invented the “synthetic gene” technology for expression
of Bt genes in plants, which was the breakthrough that made possible Monsanto’s
highly successful insect resistant biotech traits. Dr. Fischhoff also initiated
and led Monsanto’s plant genomics research program. From 1998 through 2002 he was
President of Cereon Genomics, a Monsanto subsidiary, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Cereon Genomics was a collaborative research venture between Monsanto and Millennium
Pharmaceuticals and functioned as Monsanto’s primary genomics research center. Today,
Dr Fischhoff is a driving force for scientific research and a champion of the Monsanto
Fellows program – creating an environment of scientific thought and exchange and
harnessing this community to study issues such as global warming and biofuels. Dr.
Fischoff holds a bachelors degree in Biology from M.I.T. and a Ph.D. in Genetics
and Molecular Biology from the Rockefeller University.
Miguel Oliveira
Director Global Innovation, Bunge
He has worked for Bunge since 1985, starting out in Bunge's isolated soy protein
plant in Southern Brazil as Quality Control and Production & Control Manager. After
the PhD, he became the product manager for isolates and concentrates for Bunge in
Brazil, ultimately becoming the COO of the ingredients division for Bunge Alimentos
in 2000. After the acquisition of Central Soya by Bunge in 2002, helped create the
Solae Joint Venture (the global leader in soy proteins) with DuPont in 2003, by
joining together the DuPont Protein Technologies, Central Soya and Bunge ingredients
business. In Solae, he has held positions in VP of Meat Segment Strategy (St. Louis,MO
2003-2004), Asia Pacific Regional VP (Hong Kong 2004-2008) and VP New Business Development
(2008-2009). Return to Bunge in July 2009 to head the Bunge Global Innovation team,
presently located in St. Louis, MO.
Jake Tarr
Managing Director, Kinetic Ventures
Mr. Tarr joined Kinetic Ventures in 1987. His investment activities focus on power/clean
tech, distributed resources, and wireless applications. He is a Director of APX
and SmartSynch. Earlier investments include Clear Standards (acquired by SAP), Peace
Software (acquired by First Data Corp.), Innova (IPO), Xenergy (acquired by NYSEG,
now Energy East), and Liberty Technologies (IPO). Earlier in his career, Mr. Tarr
was the Head Deutsche Mark Dealer at the Bank of New York. He received his BA degree
from Roanoke College and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
The Future of Ag:
Global Partnerships & Collaborations
The issues and concerns surrounding food and energy
are global in nature. Rising commodity prices, environmental degradation, diversion
of foods to biofuels are all issues that dominate multilateral discourse. Given
the worldwide nature of the industry, governments and private sector companies alike
seek continually to form, refine, and redirect their global strategies to meet specific
objectives. This panel will feature speakers with expertise in a variety of functions
involving cross border partnerships, including a high-level representative from
Malaysia. Panelists from Canada, India, and Malaysia will address the agricultural
challenges facing emerging markets, will discuss policy initiatives evolving in
countries around the world to tackle new challenges and the role international partnerships
will play in driving toward new boundaries and opportunities.
Moderator
Rohit Shukla
Founder and CEO
Larta Institute
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Mr. Shukla is the Founder and CEO of Larta Institute. Apart from being an entrepreneur
in his own right, founding and running two small technology-based companies early
in his career, he has also been an advisor to hundreds of businesses worldwide.
Under his leadership, Larta Institute, founded in1993, currently manages one of
the nation's largest innovation pipelines of companies emerging from federally-funded
research (NIH, USDA, NIST, DARPA), 18 top research universities, and from a network
of global partner nations. He has designed and led dozens of well-regarded innovation
programs including SBIR Commercialization Assistance Programs for NIH, USDA, and
NSF as well as “Global Bridge” technology commercialization programs for foreign
governments around the world including Australia, Sweden, Finland, Japan, Canada,
Israel, Korea, Taiwan and New Zealand. Most recently, he was involved in creating
a special program for the government of Malaysia, in partnership with the Malaysian
Biotechnology Corporation called Global Bridge Malaysia CAP, targeting emerging
biotech and agbio companies.
He has a Master’s in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge,
England, and a Master’s in Communications from Loyola Marymount University, Los
Angeles.
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Panelists
Atish Babu
Vice President
Nexus Venture Partners
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Dr. Gord Surgeoner
President
Ontario Agri-Food Technologies
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Dr. Wan Abdul Rahaman Wan Yaacob
Chief Operating Officer
Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation
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Atish Babu
Vice President, Nexus Venture Partners
Atish brings to Nexus wide experience in technology start-ups and venture capital/private
equity firms. He has spent significant time sourcing and evaluating early stage
and growth investment opportunities in India and US at Edelweiss Capital and Battery
Ventures.
Atish was also an early team member at Vonage. He served as the company's VP of
Corporate Development for several years, helping to build the company into the early
leader of the US VoIP market and bringing it to an eventual IPO. Atish has also
spent several years as a Program Manager at BAE Systems, where he managed advanced
communications businesses serving customers around the world.
Atish is a mentor to a number of cross-border (Indo-US) entrepreneurs and students
with new venture ideas. He received his MBA from the Harvard Business School and
attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for his undergraduate studies.
Dr. Gord Surgeoner
President, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies
Dedicated leader is perhaps the best way to describe Gord Surgeoner. During his
30-year career, he has worked tirelessly to promote initiatives and champion causes
that he believes are important to the well-being of the agri-food industry.
After completing his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1971 at the University
of Guelph, Dr. Surgeoner went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Economic Entomology
in 1973, also from Guelph and a Ph.D. in Forest Entomology in 1976 from Michigan
State University. Gord became an esteemed professor at the University of Guelph
in Environmental Biology and Plant Agriculture, where he remained on faculty until
his retirement in 2004.
Since his secondment from the University of Guelph in 1999, Gord has been the President
of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, a non-profit organization consisting of members
from farm associations, universities, industry and governments. The organization
focuses on ensuring that Ontario producers have access to the latest technologies
to compete globally and to develop new market opportunities, many of which are beyond
food.
In September, 2005 Dr. Surgeoner was invested with the Order of Ontario. This distinguished
award recognizes Dr. Surgeoner's significant contribution to Ontario's agri-food
sector.
In addition, Gord has also received the 2007 University of Guelph Alumnus of Honour
Award, the 1989 Distinguished Teaching Award from the Ontario Agricultural College
Alumni Association, the 1994 T.R. Hilliard Award for Notable Contribution to Agricultural
Extension in the Province of Ontario, an endowed Chair of the University of Guelph
bearing his name, the 2002 Award for Contribution to Advancing the Benefits of Biotech
for Canadians, and is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award.
Gord is a strong advocate for Canadian agriculture, the Canadian regulatory system
and the opportunities Canada has in a global marketplace.
Dr. Wan Abdul Rahaman Wan Yaacob
Chief Operating Officer, Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation
Dr. Wan Abdul Rahaman bin Wan Yaacob is currently the Chief Operating Officer of
Malysian Biotechnology Corporation. In this capacity, he is a leader in spearheading
the Malaysian government’s mission to identify value propositions in both R&D and
commerce as well as to support these ventures with financial assistance and developmental
services. He has spent a substantial part of his career leading rubber organizations
including his position as Deputy Director General of the Malaysian Rubber Board.
Dr. Wan Abdul Rahaman started his career as Assistant Rubber Instructor in 1972
with the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia after obtaining his Diploma in Agriculture
from the Agriculture College, Serdang. He then moved on to the post of Assistant
Research Officer in 1975, Research Officer in mid-1980's and Head, Biotechnology
Division in 1989. During this period, he gained his B.Sc. (Plant Science) from the
University of California, Davis; a M.Sc.(Horticulture/Biochem Genetics) and a PH.D.
(Horticulture/Biochem Genetics) from Kansas State University.
Dr. Wan Abdul Rahaman has represented the country in numerous international forums
and meetings related to the rubber industry and have presented papers at scientific
conferences and seminars both locally and internationally.He is recognised both
internationally and locally as one of the leading authorities on biotechnology.
This reputation has been built by his research achievements through his 25 scientific
papers in the field of biotechnology, biotechnology policies and management as authors
and co-authors.
For his services to the industry, Dr. Wan Rahaman has been awarded various honors
both at home and abroad, namely Gama Sigma Delta, USA (1978), Pi Alpha Xi, USA (1980),
gold Medal MRRDB (1986), Best paper Award JNRR (1999) and Gold Medal Award: Salon
International Des Inventions Geneve (1998). For his contribution to the country
he was awarded the Johan Mangku Negara (JMN) in conjunction with the Official Birthday
Celebration of the Yang Dipertuan Agong on 2 June, 2001.
Ag Ventures in 2010:
Is Agriculture the Next Cleantech?
What will it take for cleantech and sustainable agriculture
startups to attract VCs and other institutional investors? Panel will be composed
of leading ag investors to uncover the challenges associated with investing in the
ag space and to discuss the frontier of this emerging investment area.
Moderator
Arama Kukutai
Managing Director,
Finistere Ventures
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Arama Kukutai joined Finistere in March 2005 as a Managing Director, from a successful
career in agribusiness, investing and international trade. Prior to joining Finistere,
he served as Regional Director - North America for the New Zealand government's
Trade Development agency in North America establishing multiple pathways for New
Zealand businesses to access this key market. Mr. Kukutai has had an active career
in investment, both in commercial banking at Westpac Banking Corporation, and as
a Director of PKW Incorporation, a successful $300M agribusiness and diversified
investment entity involved in agriculture, aquaculture and property development
with activities in New Zealand, Asia and Australia. He served as Chairman of PKW
Farms, a large pastoral Dairy agribusiness in New Zealand. Mr. Kukutai serves on
the boards of Hawaii BioEnergy LLC, and Somark Innovations, Inc. He is also Chairman
of the Larta Institute's advisory board for the USDA Commercialization program for
SBIR grantee companies - see more at usdacap.larta.org. He has lived and worked
internationally for much of his career and brings a strong agricultural business
focus to Finistere Venture's activities.
Mr. Kukutai is responsible for agricultural technology and green energy portfolio
investments and is a member of Finistere's Investment Committee.
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Panelists
Ron Meeusen
Managing Partner
MidPoint Food & Ag Fund, LP
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Andrew Williamson
Director
Physic Ventures
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Derek Norman
Investment Manager
Syngenta Ventures
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Patrick McCroskey, Ph.D.
Principal
TPG Biotech
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Ron Meeusen
Managing Partner, MidPoint Food & Ag Found, LP
Ron has 26 years of experience in bringing new technologies and products to market.
During this time he has led research and development for major corporations in agricultural
chemicals, field crop and vegetable genetics and breeding, animal health, novel
foods and industrial materials. His successful projects include planning and conducting
the world’s first field trial of a genetically engineered crop trait in 1986, development
and launch of one of the first insect and herbicide resistant corn hybrids in 1996,
introduction of a trans-fat free canola oil, and development of dozens of new varieties
of field and vegetable crops on three continents. Ron has been a frequent speaker
at conferences, a consultant to Federal policy on regulatory issues, and active
in industry trade groups on key issues such as European acceptance of new food technologies.
Prior to forming MidPoint Ron spent two years as an executive-on-loan writing an
economic development plan which the State of Indiana adopted for its food and agricultural
sectors. During the previous six years as Global Leader of Biotechnology at Dow
AgroSciences, Ron led the expansion of its biotechnology research and development
program.
Ron holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in plant cell biology,
and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in plant physiology.
Andrew Williamson
Director, Physic Ventures
Andrew Williamson is a Director at Physic Ventures, a San Francisco based Venture
Capital firm investing in consumer-directed Health and Sustainable Living. Andrew’s
investment practice is focused on science-based companies that are developing technologies
and products to enable consumers to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. He is particularly
interested in companies developing renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions,
green building technology, water purification technology, and bio/sustainable materials.
Among the portfolio investments managed by Physic Ventures, Andrew is a member of
the boards of Chromatin, EnergyHub, Halosource, Impinj and Novomer.
Prior to joining Physic Ventures, Andrew spent 10 years leading materials science
research and development projects at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable
Energy Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. While at LLNL, Andrew
helped develop strategies for identifying and commercializing new technologies.
He also worked as an Executive Management Fellow in the University of California
Industry-University Cooperative Research Program to establish industrial alliance
programs for new University of California research centers in nanotechnology, micro-fluidics,
foods for health and stem cell research. Dr. Williamson has published over 50 peer
reviewed academic articles and 2 patents. He holds a BA and a Ph.D. in Physics from
the University of Cambridge and a MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University
of California, Berkeley.
Derek Norman
Investment Manager, Syngenta Ventures
Derek Norman is an Investment Manager with Syngenta Ventures, the corporate venture
capital group of Syngenta. Syngenta Ventures is responsible for investing in and
managing a portfolio of companies that can provide strategic value and financial
returns for Syngenta.
Prior to joining Syngenta Ventures, Derek was an Associate at Hatteras Venture Partners,
a life science-focused venture capital firm with $120 million under management.
Derek also spent three years at Dean & Co., a strategy consulting firm located in
Washington, D.C.
Derek received a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University.
There, his thesis work focused on using chemistry, biochemistry and protein crystallography
to study the chemical mechanism of DNA repair processes. Derek received a B.S. in
Chemistry from Stanford University.
Patrick McCroskey, Ph.D.
Principal, TPG Biotech
Dr. McCroskey joined TPB Biotech in 2007 with a focus on the industrial biotechnology
sector. Prior to joining TPG Biotech, Dr. McCroskey was Chief Financial Officer
of Ceres, Inc., a privately-held plant biotechnology company developing energy crops
such as switchgrass, miscanthus and sorghum for second generation biofuels production.
Prior to joining Ceres, Dr. McCroskey was Vice President of Business Development
for Diversa Corporation, leading the business activities for the Biosciences division,
including responsibility for strategic business development, industrial collaborations
and the development and commercialization of Diversa’s industrial enzyme product
portfolio. Prior to Diversa, Dr. McCroskey was Vice President of Finance and Strategic
Planning for Intarsia Corporation, a joint venture between The Dow Chemical Company
and Flextronics International created to commercialize novel flat panel thin film
technology for integrated electronic devices. Dr. McCroskey joined Intarsia after
spending 10 years at The Dow Chemical Company in various technical and business
positions.
Dr. McCroskey received his B.S. from West Virginia University (1984) and his M.S.
(1985) and Ph.D. (1988), in Chemical Engineering, from Carnegie Mellon University.
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