Minshad is founder and Managing Director of Bionema Ltd and has over 20 years in bio-pesticide development with a proven track record of delivering of IPM strategy in agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors. He has more than 70 research publications and is a regular invited speaker at biopesticide conferences. He has extensive experience in strategic R&D planning, operational management, business and technology development. Minshad completed his PhD at Ghent University, Belgium and is a qualified BASIS advisor in Crop Protection (Commercial Horticulture).

He is responsible for strategic and operational management of the company.

Transforming our broken food system: how to make food supplies secure, healthy and sustainable?

Natalie was the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales from 2012-2016, having previously spent two decades as a journalist, including as editor of the Guardian Weekly. She has continued since 2016 to do full-time Green Party campaigning from her base in Sheffield. She graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in agricultural science, and has a keen interest in food security, farming and land use.

Professor Shashi Sharma was Director at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia, Plant Biosecurity and member of the Senior Leadership Team. Dr Sharma has been internationally active in the area of plant health management for the last 35 years. He has served as Head and Professor of the Division of Nematology, the largest nematology centre in the world, located in New Delhi, India, Scientist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Visiting Professor at the Delta Centre of the University of Missouri in the United States of America, and International Fellow at the Rothamsted International, in the United Kingdom.

Since 2010 David has been in place as the inaugural Executive Director of this dynamic global trade association with a strong European focus. His career path has been focused on IPM, resistance management, implementation of biocontrol techniques, and systems based control of pests and diseases.

David is passionate about reducing the reliance on traditional pesticides through finding, developing, registering and bringing to market new solutions to feed a growing world population whilst respecting biodiversity, the environment and protecting human health.

Willem is Regulatory and Governmental Affairs Manager and Member of the Management Team of the BU Microbials of Koppert Biological Systems with more than 30 years of experience in research and development of beneficial insects and microorganisms for crop protection products. He has ample experience in registration of microorganism in the European Union as well as in other countries. Willem has a Masters degree in Biology (Entomology) from Leiden University, and he did his PhD in 2010 on the development of microbial pest control products for control of arthropods at the University of Wageningen, the Netherlands. His thesis resulted in the following book: Ravensberg, W.J., 2011. A Roadmap to the Successful Development and Commercialization of Microbial Pest Control Products for Control of Arthropods. Springer, Dordrecht, the Netherlands.

Dr Dave Chandler is a microbiologist and entomologist. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Nottingham, followed by a PhD in mycology from Kings College London. His main areas of interest are: insect pathogens and microbial pest control; bee health; ecology and physiology of entomopathogenic fungi; biopesticide regulation and governance; and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Paul’s areas of expertise fall under molecular microbiology, gene expression analysis, cell biology, bacterial symbionts of insects and tumour-targeting bacteria. As a professor at Swansea University, Paul covers modules such as Microbial Molecular Genetics, Biotechnology & Protein Engineering and Genetic Analysis. He was honoured in the 'UK’s Best Breakthroughs' list for his pioneering work which has shown that Salmonella could be used to create better cancer treatments. And has previously used technology to develop a pesticide-free weapon against insects that cause sleeping sickness and damage crops, research which was funded by the Gates Foundation.

Dr Andrew Brown specialises in Horticultural pest control, Biological control, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Pesticide and Biopesticide application technology, Entomopathogenic nematodes. With a PhD in applied pest control and a BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection, Dr Brown now works as managing director for Andermatt UK, a leader in biological technologies. His career history also includes the chair of Microbials Professional Group at IBMA and a team leader in technical development at BASF Agricultural Specialities.