Kateryna Schroeder is an agricultural economist at the World Bank Food and Agriculture Global Practice. Her main area of expertise lies in the area of agricultural and trade policy, and food security in the Europe and Central Asia region. In her work she is also exploring how digital technologies address market failures along the global agri-food value chains, and the role of public policy in facilitating this process.
Prior to joining the World Bank, Kateryna worked as a researcher at the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, and a frequent consultant with the UN FAO on the issues related to trade policy, food security and nutrition. She holds a PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economist from the University of Missouri.

H.E. Nicholas Brousseau was appointed Ambassador to Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan in 2017.
He joined Foreign Affairs Canada in 2004. At Headquarters, he has worked in the European Union Division and the Eastern Europe and Balkans Division. He has also served as deputy director in the Nuclear Disarmament, Arms Controls and Disarmament Policy Division and as senior departmental adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Overseas, he has served at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the Embassy to Russia and the Embassy to Romania, where he was the head of the political section and was also accredited to Bulgaria and Moldova. Prior to being named Ambassador, he was the Senior Departmental Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Nicholas Brousseau holds a PhD [History] from the University of Paris 1 (Panthéon-Sorbonne), 2005.

Virginia Lukšienė has a professional experience in the organic sector for 15 years. She is a member of the Board and Council of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (www.ifoam-eu.org) and Director of the Lithuanian company Ekoagros (www.ekoagros.lt). Responsible for the development of organic certification services in Lithuania and outside the EU.

Since 2016, an Executive Director at the National Union of Producers and Consumers of Organic Products of the Russian Federation (The National Organic Union). More than 12 years engaged in the development of organic agriculture in Russia. Since 2010, as a Deputy General Director, he was engaged in the formation of organic agricultural direction at the enterprises of the Corporation “Organic” in the Moscow region (one of the pioneers of organic in the Russian Federation). In 2013, he became one of the initiators of the creation of the National Organic Union, for 3 years he was a member of its Board. One of the initiators and active participants in the formation of the organic market of Russia, participated in the development and adoption of the Russian law “On organic products” and national standards. A Member of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) working group “Organic agriculture”.

Marat has extensive experience working in Kazakhstan on various projects involving private, public and quazi-government sector. He is a seasoned manager with thorough understanding of Kazakhstan’s regulatory and business environment and has managed multi-national research teams working in Kazakhstan in areas of flood management, rangeland health assessment and water resource management. His recent work in agriculture sector includes an Integrated Rangeland Assessment project in Akmola oblast, as well as water efficiency monitoring project in Turkestan. Both projects aim to provide accurate assessment of the state of natural resources in respective region using cutting-edge satellite remote sensing technology, machine learning and drone images.

Mr. Bahodir Ganiev is Senior Advisor at the Center for Economic Development (CED), a think tank based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He helps CED staff conduct applied research and formulate policy recommendation aimed at strengthening macroeconomic management and improving the business environment in Uzbekistan. He often carries out consulting assignments for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development institutions. Previously, he taught international economics at Westminster International University in Tashkent and was a staff member of ADB. He also worked as a staff member and/or consultant for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Mr. Ganiev has extensive experience in designing, implementing and evaluating development projects and programs. His work experience covers about 20 Asian and Eastern European countries. His research interests include trade policy and trade facilitation, regional economic cooperation and integration, international remittances and inclusive economic growth. He has authored, or contributed to, many publications on economic policies and development issues in countries of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Southeast Asia.

Mr. Ganiev holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University and a Ph.D. degree in economics from Tashkent State University of Economics.

Kees Koeleman is a Team Coordinator for International Advisory, EBRD. He grew up in the family business, processing fruit and vegetables, specializing in pickled vegetables. Currently he is non-executive chairman of Koeleman India Pvt. Ltd, an export orientated vegetable pickling company, operating from Netherlands and India. He has a long-standing experience in processing, contract farming and captive farming in Europe and Asia. Currently he coordinates international advisory projects for EBRD in Agribusiness sector and provides consultancy services to other organizations in this sector.

The official representative of the German certification body TUV International Certification, Director of CERT Group for International Development and Editor-in-Chief of the MANAGEMENT international magazine.

He has 18 years of experience in the field of management systems on quality, product safety, ecology and industrial safety by international ISO standards as a consultant, teacher, international auditor and supervisor. He is the teacher of the IRCA courses for qualification of internationally recognized auditors. Regularly conducts IRCA courses in Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia, Egypt, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and the CIS countries. The founder of the Club “Managers for Quality” (2005). Author of 10 textbooks and more than 60 articles. Founder of 17 companies and branches in the CIS and Europe.