Professor Norah Khadzini Olembo is the Executive Director of African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF). She holds a Post Doctoral Degree in Molecular Biology from Courthould Institute (University of London) in the United Kingdom, a Post Graduate Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Nairobi (UoN), Masters Degree in Zoology from UoN, Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry, Zoology and Botany from the same University. She also holds an advanced level Certificate in Chemistry, Biology and Physics from Mount School in New York. 

Professor Olembo has also received professional certificate from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) training in Insect Growth, Development and Behavior, Insect Endocrinology from International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya, Strategic Planning from Voluntary Agencies Development Assistance in Kenya (V.A.D.A) and Recombinant DNA techniques from Courthould Institute in the United Kingdom.

Before her appointment at ABSF, Professor Olembo served as an Associate Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Nairobi. She also served as the Managing Director of Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI). She has also worked as the Director of the Kenya Industrial Property Office (KIPO) in the Ministry of Trade and Industry and chaired the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Nairobi. Prior to that, Professor Norah Olembo served as a consultant for Kenya Non-Governmental Organizations Committee for the 1995 United Nations End of Decade Women Conference. She has also been a Senior Lecturer and Graduate Research Assistant at the UoN. Professor Olembo has undertaken many assignments and published in scientific journals and proceedings. She is also the Chairperson, member and trustee in many public service organizations and societies in Kenya and other African countries.

Mr. Felix M’mboyi is the Programmes Officer. Mr. M’mboyi holds a Master degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Egerton University in Kenya. He also possesses professional training in Management Focused Monitoring and Evaluation (MFM and E) from World Bank Institute-Washington and Computer Applications in Data Processing and Analysis and Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) from Michigan State University. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree with interest in Agricultural Biotechnology Policy and Food Security in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.

Mr. M’mboyi previously worked as the Cooperative Development and Training Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. He has served as a Graduate Fellow at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Nairobi and as a  Research Scientist at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and headed the Socioeconomics section at the National Animal Husbandry Research Center (NAHRC).He has also previously worked as an Assistance Programmes Officer at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kenya ,as a Research Fellow /Agricultural Economist under a USAID funded programme and Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser at Project Operational Department at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Kenya office before taking up the position of  a Visiting Research Fellow at Czech University of Agriculture in Central Europe. 

Mr. Felix M’mboyi has been involved in many other activities such as consultancies and research and has written several scientific publications. He also serves as a Honorary Director to several environmental and Developmental NGO’s operating in Kenya.

Mr. Ben is the Information Technology Administrator. He is currently undertaking his degree studies (part time) at Kenya School of Professional Studies (KSPS) under Jomo Kenyatta University Of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). He is also enrolled at Kenya School of Professional Studies (KSPS).  He holds a Diploma in Information Technology from Info- Tech Training Centre.

Mr. Indangasy   has served at KIKA Strategic IT Consultant as a System Developer.  He has also served at Computer Society of Kenya as a Communication Officer. Prior to that, he worked at Sheer Logic Consultants as an Information Technology Consultant.

Dr. George Mamati is a Programme Associate/Biotechnologist. He holds a Doctorial degree in Genetics and Breeding from Zhejiang University in China. He also holds a Masters Degree in Plant Breeding from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from the University of Nairobi.

Dr. Mamati is currently a lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Prior to his appointment, he served as a part time lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Kenyatta University and at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Botany Department.  Dr. Mamati has also served at Tea Research Foundation of Kenya as a Plant Breeder Research Officer, as an Agricultural Officer in the Ministry Of Agriculture and as Programme Assistant for Biotechnology and Public Policy at the Africa Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS).

Dr. George Mamati has published several books, newsletters and journals on Food Science.

E-mail: Elcio.Guimaraes@fao.org

Email: David.Priest@fao.org

David studied an M.Sci. in Plant Science at the University of Glasgow during which time he had a particular interest in salt tolerance and abiotic stress. David then worked with Unilever Research investigating how to increase the nutritional value of tomatoes and model legumes.

David undertook his Ph.D. with Prof. Dianna Bowles at the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products in the University of York, again in Plant Science. He investigated the metabolism of the plant hormone, abscisic acid and was particularly interested in studying the deactivation of the hormone by glucosyltransferases. This involved the use of modern molecular, biochemical and physiological techniques. David was also fortunate to be granted additional funds to visit Prof. Sue Abrams at the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory in Saskatoon Canada during his Doctorate.