Julian McGill

Dr Julian McGill is the Managing Director and Founder of Glenauk Economics. Glenauk is an advisory firm focusing on the economics of crops, agricultural commodities and their value chains.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Dr McGill's main focus is on palm oil and the lauric oils as well as their many downstream derivatives in food, specialty fats, feed, biofuels and oleochemicals.

A globally recognized authority on the economics of the oil palm, Dr McGill also has a longstanding interest in yield intensification in tropical oil crops. He is a member of the Incorporated Society of Planters and council member of the Malaysian Estate Owners Association (MEOA). Dr McGill is also on the advisory board of the Sustainable Coconut Partnership.

Prior to founding Glenauk Economics, Dr McGill started his career with LMC International where he established the Kuala Lumpur office.

Dr McGill holds an M.A. (Honours) in Economics from the University of Edinburgh and completed his PhD at the University of Oxford.

Abdul Rasheed Janmohammed

Abdul Rasheed Janmohammed, the Chief Executive Officer of Westbury Group, holds a Commerce degree and a Masters in Law. He leads several key businesses, including Mapak Edible Oils, Mapak Qasim Bulkers, FWQ Enterprises, Dalda Foods, and Bulk Management Pakistan.

Rasheed is a prominent figure in various trade associations, currently serving as the President of the Bin Qasim Association of Trade & Industry (BQATI) and the Association of Port Terminal Operators (APTO), and as the Chairman of the Pakistan Shippers’ Council of FPCCI. His past roles include Chairman of the Pakistan Edible Oil Refiners Association (PEORA) and Executive Committee Member of FPCCI, REAP, and APSEA. He was also a member of the Prime Minister's Task Force for the supply of Palm Oil from Indonesia in 2022.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Rasheed is active in social causes as a member of the Managing Committee at Kharadar General Hospital, a member of the Rotary Club of Karachi, and a trustee of the Janmohammad Dawood Trust. He is a regular speaker at international edible oil conferences across Asia and is the Chief Executive of the Pakistan Edible Oil Conference (PEOC).

Pietro Paganini

Pietro Paganini is a distinguished economic and geopolitical analyst renowned for his policy-making expertise. He assists businesses, trade associations, and governments in navigating the complexities of the socioeconomic landscape and in promoting policies that foster innovation, free trade, and individual/societal well-being.

As an advocate for critical thinking, Pietro employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating economic, social, and scientific perspectives to address contemporary societal challenges. He is the founder and Curiosity Officer at Competere - Policies for Sustainable Development, a policy institute dedicated to creating a favorable policy ecosystem for businesses and governments.

Holding a Doctorate in Communication and Complex Organizations, Pietro serves as an Adjunct Professor in Business Administration at Fox School of Business, Temple University in Philadelphia, and John Cabot University in Rome. He has also been recognized as a Visiting Professor for the MPOB-UKM Endowment Chair at The National University of Malaysia (UKM).

Pietro's insights are regularly featured in prestigious Italian national newspapers and international publications, where he passionately advocates for an open society and innovation policies. He is the author of the best-selling policy book "iFood: How to Overcome Food Ideology?", which addresses public health policies.

He sits on the Board of Advisors of DiBiz and Envent, and on the Scientific Board of the Oil Palm Industry Economic Journal (OPIEJ). He is a Montessori kid.

Thomas Mielke

Thomas Mielke is Executive Director of ISTA Mielke GmbH in Hamburg (Germany), OIL WORLD, a leading research organization that provides global supply, demand and price analyses, statistics and forecasts for all the major oilseeds, vegetable oils & animal fats and oilmeals as well as for biodiesel and other products with clients in 100 countries.
 
Two times a week a market report is also released in Mandarin. Thomas Mielke joined the OIL WORLD team in the mid-1970s, after studying economics. He is a member of the Programme Advisory Committee of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. In 2014 Thomas Mielke received a Lifetime Excellent Award of the Malaysian industry in recognition of his contributions and commitments.

OIL WORLD was founded in 1958 and it is recognized worldwide for its independent, authoritative and unbiased information. The WEEKLY and daily FLASH reports can be obtained from the Internet at www.oilworld.de.

Dorab E Mistry

Dorab Mistry was born in India in 1953 and graduated from Bombay University in Commerce in 1973. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1976, having won the President's Gold Medal.

He started his career at GODREJ, one of India's leading industrial groups, in 1976. Since 1977 Dorab was based in London handling the vegetable oil buying and trading portfolio for GODREJ. The company's wide ranging interests in vegetable oil processing, animal feeds, oleo chemicals, alcohols, soaps, toiletries, foods and plantations gave him a unique perspective of the world vegetable oil scenario.

Since 1996, Dorab has been a regular speaker on vegetable oil Price Outlook and is regarded as a leading analyst of price behaviour. He also writes and speaks regularly on the Indian economic scene. Dorab has served as India''s representative on the managing committee of the International Association of Seed Crushers and was its Vice President from 2006 to 2008.

In June 2013, Dorab Mistry was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II Diamond Jubilee Birthday Honours List.

From April 2015, Dorab has re-located to Singapore.

Patricio Grassini

Dr. Patricio Grassini is a Sunkist Distinguished Professor in Agronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Patricio earned a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and a Ph.D. in Agronomy from UNL. He has authored over 100 articles published in international peer-review journals, including top-tier journals such as Nature Communications, Nature Sustainability, Nature Food, and PNAS. He has been listed within the top 1% Most Highly Cited Researchers in the discipline in the world during the last four years (2019-2022) according to the Web of Science. His research interests center on yield potential, productivity gaps, and resource-use efficiency in agricultural systems. Patricio’s applied research covers a diverse range of cropping systems, including rainfed and irrigated grain crops in South America, the U.S. Corn Belt, and Asia, and oil palm in Southeast Asia. He has been working on an initiative to improve productivity in smallholder oil palm fields in Indonesia over the past six years. Dr Grassini was recipient of the Sunkist Distinguished Professorship in Agronomy, a Fulbright Scholarship, and other three fellowships and seven awards, including the Agronomy Society of America (ASA) Early Career Award, W.L. Nelson Award for Diagnosing Yield-Limiting Factors, and International Agronomy Award. Patricio also serves as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Field Crops Research and Global Food Security journals and Associate Editor for Crop & Environment journal. Patricio was the Chair of the Crop Science Society of America Crop Ecology Division during the 2019 term.

B.V. Mehta

Dr. B.V. Mehta, who was born on 24 August 1949, holds a bachelor''''s degree in science, diploma in marketing management, master''''s degree and doctoral degree in law with his thesis on "Impact of WTO on Indian (Edible) Oilseed Sector and Safeguard Measures" in 2008.

Connecting with Indian vegetable oil industry for the last 4 decades, he has in-depth knowledge of Indian oilseed sector and vegetable oil industry and has presented papers at various national and international forums. He is also representing Indian Vegetable Oil Industry on number of committees set up by the Government of India.

Before being appointed to his current position as the executive director of the Solvent Extractor''''s Association of India (SEA), he had assumed a number of positions in several organizations of vegetable oils, which include the secretary general of International Association of Rice Bran Oil, Japan; director of International Association of Sunflower Oil, Ukraine; consultant to ITC, Geneva, (UN) for SITA Project in Africa; consultant to Solidaridad Asia for promoting sustainable Palm Oil; consultant to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board; and member of National Oilseed Board (NOVOD), Government of India (1984 – 2016).

He is on the panels of CNBC, ZEE Business & ET Now, as commodity analyst and regularly contributes his neutral views which are very well appreciated by the trade and Industry.

Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha

Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, FCCA, was appointed as Chairman of Malaysia Palm Oil Board since 1 February 2023. He is also the Group Managing Director of SD Guthrie Berhad (formerly known as Sime Darby Plantation Berhad) since 1 July 2019.

Datuk Mohamad Helmy started his career with Wellers Accountants, Oxford, United Kingdom in 1990. Upon his return to Malaysia in 1991, he worked in Shell Malaysia Group of Companies. He joined the Guthrie Group in 1997 serving in a number of senior roles in the property and plantation businesses of the Group in Malaysia and Indonesia. He was then appointed Chief Executive Officer of Highlands & Lowlands Berhad and Guthrie Ropel Berhad before the merger of the Guthrie Group, Golden Hope Plantations Berhad and Sime Darby Berhad in 2007.

After the merger, he was appointed Head, Upstream Malaysia for SD Guthrie in 2007. He served in several key positions before his appointment as Group Managing Director.

He is a Council and Exco member of Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) and a member of the Incorporated Society of Planters (ISP).

Datuk Mohamad Helmy is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and a Member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

Joko Supriyono

Joko Supriyono has been a member of the Advisory Board of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA) since April 2023, an Advisor of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk since April 2020, and a member of the supervisory board of Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) since 2015.

Previously, he had served as Chairman of IPOA for two terms in 2015 – 2023 and as General-Secretary of IPOA for two terms in 2009-2015. In 2006-2009 he served as Head of Organization Department. He was a chairman of IPOA Branch Riau in 2002 – 2005 and Vice President Director of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk in 2017 – 2020.

He has long experience in oil palm plantation since he graduated from Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta in 1985.

Ian Suwarganda

Ian Suwarganda is GAR’s Director of Sustainable Supply and Production, responsible for ensuring the company meets existing and emerging demands from customers and regulators. He ensures the company can deliver traceability, quality and compliance across its complex global supply chains.

Previously, he managed GAR’s international advocacy efforts to ensure market access to commerce and investment, working closely with stakeholders including policymakers and non-profits to promote responsibly-produced palm oil.

Ian has a Master Degree in Business Administration from INSEAD.

Alphonsus Inyang

Alphonsus Inyang is a business development and transformation guru as well as strategy and reengineering expert. He is a dynamic administrator, result-oriented entrepreneur and a prolific deal-maker. He has sound professional knowledge and experience with outstanding accomplishments in his career, businesses and other corporate undertakings.
In the last twenty-five years he has held the position of Managing Director/CEO in the underlisted companies:

• Trustworth & Eknol Consortium Ltd, a consortium formed by Sidiq Engineering Services Ltd, Eknol Nig. Ltd and Helbex Nig. Ltd to play in the fertilizer and agri-business sector.
• Shaw Brothers Overseas Limited, a Nigerian subsidiary of United States of America based Shaw Brothers, Inc with Headquarters in Durham, North Carolina.
• * Axxent Infrastructures Limited, a Nigerian subsidiary of Chicago, USA based Axxent Corp Inc., with interest in Security Technology and ICT.

Before becoming the Managing Director of its Nigerian subsidiary in 2010, Alphonsus was the Country Manager of Axxent Corp, Inc., for five years. As an Agro-entrepreneur, Alphonsus Inyang has made major investments in agriculture in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and the Americas. He started making substantial investments in the Agricultural sector even before formally establishing an agriculture company in 2013. He founded Hebron Integrated Farms & Mills Ltd, as a flagship of his Agro business endeavors. Since then, he has expanded to other sectors birthing The Hebron Group (comprising 15 subsidiaries) with him as Group Managing Director/CEO. In partnership with Americans, Ethiopians and Sierra Leoneans, he co-founded an NGO, Agriculture For Rural Africa Initiative (AFRA) to increase access to funds, markets, technology and training among Small Holder Farmers across Africa.

In June 2021, Mr. Inyang was the Keynote Speaker at the 10th Convocation Ceremony of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State. When it comes to the oil palm industry in Nigeria, Mr Inyang is the go-to person in view of his position as National President, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (he was re-elected for another term of four years in February, 2024). In recognition of his expertise and unique understanding of the oil palm sector in Nigeria, he has spoken at the World Palm Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2022; Lead Discussant at ASEAN M&E Expo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 2022 and currently National Focal Person for the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC). His latest interest is the development of Oil Palm Biomass in Nigeria. He was appointed by the Government of Nigeria as Vice Chairman of the National Technical Working Group on Oil Palm Development and Strategy to develop an Action Plan for the Country. A member and leader of several national associations, Mr. Inyang is a fellow of many reputable and recognized institutes both locally and internationally. He holds a MSc (Project Management) from the University of Chichester, UK and currently studying for a 2nd MSc in Development & Policy Studies, Kazian School of Management and a PhD in Agribusiness & Agricultural Economy, Brainee University, USA. This is in addition to pursuing a PhD program in Business Innovations & Applied Multi-Disciplinary Studies and MSc in Food Systems & Sustainable Agriculture from Osiri University, USA. He is married with three beautiful children.

Firman Hidayat

Mochammad Firman Hidayat is a Deputy Coordinating Minister for Maritime Resources, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Republic of Indonesia.. He joined Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Republic Indonesia in July 2021 as Special Staff to the coordinating minister for Maritime Affairs and Investments of Republic of Indonesia, when there was a surge in delta variant in Indonesia and became one of the key team members in designing PPKM Jawa Bali. He is also responsible in giving regular economic update and analysis to the coordinating minister.

Previously he worked in Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas. In Bappenas he was responsible in designing national macroeconomic framework in the national development plan, analyzing and forecasting macroeconomic indicators, conducting research, and developing economic models. Before joining Bappenas, he helped the late Dr. Syahrir, the economic advisor to the Presiden in SBY era.

Firman graduated from University of Indonesia with a BA in Economics in 2006. He finished his master’s degree in Graduate Program in Economic Development in Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA. During his time in Vanderbilt University, he received James S. and Rosemary Worley Award which is given annually to an outstanding first-year student in Graduate Program in Economic Development.

In addition to serving as Special Staff to the coordinating minister, since October 2022, Firman has been serving as Acting Deputy Coordinating Minister for Maritime Resources and officially took the oath as Deputy Coordinating Minister in September 2023. With extensive experience in the maritime sector, Firman has been instrumental in formulating policies to optimize maritime resources and uplift coastal communities. He also led a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on sustainable fisheries management, accelerating seaweed industrialization, and fostering multilateral cooperation, emphasizing responsible fishing practices and conservation efforts.

Eddy Abdurrachman

Eddy Abdurrachman is a President Director of the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) since 2 March 2020.

He earned his bachelor's degree in finance from the Institute of Financial Science (IIK), Jakarta in 1979. He received his Master of Science degree from Senior International University in 1999 and in the same year, he also graduated from a regular national course conducted by the national resilience institute (Lemhanas) KRA XXX11.

Before chairing BPDPKS, he had been assuming a number of leading positions, which include Director General of Customs and Excise at the Finance Ministry during 2002-2006, expert staff on International Financial Economic relations at the Finance Ministry during 2006-2008, and Secretary of Economic Coordinating Minister in charge of Economy during 2008-2014.

Eddy Abdurrachman was awarded with the Satya Lencana Karyasatya XX, Satya Lencana Karyasatya XXX, Satya Lencana Wirakarya, and Bintang Jasa Pratama.

Dadan Kusdiana

Dadan Kusdiana is the Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in Indonesia. He has been in this position since July 31, 2023. Prior to his current role, he served as the Director General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the same ministry and has been recognized for his contributions to green energy policy. He also currently serves as the Acting Director General of Oil and Gas (Plt. Direktur Jenderal Minyak dan Gas Bumi) as of May 1, 2024.

He holds a degree in Agricultural Mechanization from IPB University. His educational background includes a doctorate in engineering, and he has been involved in various energy-related initiatives and seminars. He has been involved in various initiatives, including receiving an award for his contributions to green energy policy.

His leadership has been recognized with awards for his pivotal role in advancing energy strategies and for supporting employees in their educational pursuits. Kusdiana's recent appointments and activities underscore his influence in shaping Indonesia's sustainable energy future.

Edy Suprianto

Dr Edy Suprianto appointed as Senior Executive Vice President (SEVP) Business Support PT Riset Perkebunan Nusantara (RPN), a subsidiary of PT Perkebunan Nusantara III (Persero), since August 2022. He earned bachelor's degree from the IPB University and earned PhD degree from Georg-August-Universität Gottingen, Germany in 2014.

His career starting as Oil Palm Breeder in Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (IOPRI) in 1998, Supervisor on Quality Control of Planting Materials (2001), Breeding Manager (2007), Head of Cooperation and Research Support Affairs (2014), and General Manager of Strategic Business Unit of Planting Materials of IOPRI (2017). He served as Corporate Secretary of PT RPN (2019-2020), Head of Indonesian Rubber Research Institute (2020-2021), and Head of Indonesian Sugar Research Institute (2021-2022).

He is actively involved in professional organizations such as the Indonesian Society for Oil Palm Breeding and Seed Science (PIPPSI), Secretary of the Indonesian Forum for Oil Palm Seed Producer (FKPBKS), and Member of Plant Variety Assessment Team (TPV Perkebunan) Directorate General of Estate Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, and Head of the Plantation & Forestry Crop Variety Development Compartment of the Indonesian Seed Association (ASBENINDO). He involved as an expert on drafting of Indonesian National Standards for Oil Palm Seeds (SNI 8211:2023). As an oil palm breeder, he has been involved on the development of IOPRI oil palm varieties DxP PPKS 540, DxP PPKS 718, DxP PPKS 239, and DxP 540 NG. Currently, he involves as a project leader of Indonesia – Tanzania Joint Exploration on Oil Palm Germplasm initiated by Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA) and Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), funded by Badan Pengelola Dana Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit (BPDPKS) and Indonesian Consortium for Oil Palm Germplasm.

Rizal Affandi Lukman

Dr. Rizal Affandi Lukman is currently serve as the Secretary General of Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), also serves as Senior Advisor to the Coordinating Minister for Economics Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, with a main role in strengthening foreign economic partnerships.

Previously served as Deputy Minister for International Economic Cooperation at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia with main role to oversees the coordination and harmonization of government policies related to international economic cooperation in multilateral, regional and bilateral forum. During his tenure as Deputy Minister, he was also appointed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia as Indonesia Sherpa at the G20 forum during 2016 -2021. During the Indonesian Presidency at the G20 in 2022, he was appointed as Indonesia B20 Sherpa. Under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) administrative, he worked at the Presidential Palace Office, served as Assistant to the 6^thPresident of the Republic of Indonesia Private Secretary.

He was also served as Indonesia's Senior Official in numerous bilateral cooperation frameworks such as with Japan, China, South Korea, Russia and Singapore as well as regional and sub-regional cooperation such as APEC, ASEAN, IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA cooperation and has experience as a commissioner in various state-owned enterprises (PT. Krakatau Wajatama, PT. Pertamina Hulu Energy, and Perum Peruri). He also has written various articles for academic journals, mostly in the topic of Economic Affairs, Poverty and Inequality, Monetary, Finance, and Management. He is also an active speaker in various domestic and international workshops and seminars.

Andri Hadi

Ambassador Hadi was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on 14 September 2020. He presented his Letters of Credentials to King Philippe of Belgium on 13 January 2021, to the President of the European Council Charles Michel on 11 February 2021, and to Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg on 24 March 2021.
Born in Bandung, West Java, Ambassador Andri started his career as a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia in 1987.
Before being appointed to Brussels, he served as the Chief of State of Protocol (2016-2020), an ex officio position entitled to the Director General of Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. As the Chief of State Protocol, he was responsible among others to coordinate all State and official visits and events for the President and Vice President of Indonesia, High-Level State Visits to Indonesia, and high-level international conferences.

Ambassador Hadi was the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Singapore for four years (2012-2016). Before this assignment, Ambassador Hadi was the Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia (2007-2011).
Before serving as the Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy, he served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Indonesia in Washington DC, from 2005 until 2007. Before that, he was the Director for Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia (2004-2005). Ambassador Hadi was also posted in Washington DC, USA (first posting) and Ottawa, Canada (second posting).

Ambassador Hadi received an award from President Soeharto in 1985 for being an outstanding model student for nation-wide university-level. Ambassador Hadi also received appreciation awards (Satyalencana Karya Satya) from three Indonesian Presidents, namely from President B.J. Habibie (1999), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2007), and President Joko Widodo (2018) for his excellent service as a public servant.

Ambassador Hadi is a lawyer by training. He received his Doctoral Degree in Public International Law from Padjadjaran University in 2013 (Bandung, West Java), master's degree in International Law from Monash University in 1998 (Australia), and bachelor's degree in International Law from Padjadjaran University in 1986 (Bandung, West Java).

Ambassador Hadi is happily married to Mrs. Ferial Hadi, a trained dentist. He is blessed with 3 children and 1 granddaughter. He enjoys reading, jogging, and playing golf.

Alvin Tai

Mr. Alvin is an Analyst covering the Global Soft Commodities industry in Bloomberg Intelligence. He has more than 20 years of experience in equity research including 19 years in Agriculture research. Prior to joining Bloomberg Intelligence, he was the Regional Sector Head at RHB Research, covering Plantation companies across South East Asia. He has won accolades from Starmine and Asian Wall Street Journal among others during his time as a sell-side analyst.

Ryan Chen

Ryan Chen works in Cargill Investment (China) Co., Ltd. Mr. Chen has 17 years trading and research experience in vegetable oil and oilseeds sector. He graduated in Finance and Investment, Master of Arts and started his career with Louis Dreyfus Company as an vegetable oil analyst/trader. Prior to joining Cargill, Mr. Chen also worked in Julong Group, Chinatex Corporation and Macquarie Group, and stationed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and China.

Nagaraj Meda

Nagaraj Meda is the Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of TransGraph Consulting. TransGraph Consulting is focused niche player in currencies and commodities and deliverables encompass research, price forecasting, risk management, value chain analysis, risk management software.He is a Post–graduate in economics with specialization in International trade/finance from University of Hyderabad and has additional qualifications in the fields of technical analysis and portfolio management.