Our Board of Directors

Henrik Wegener brings to the Board of Directors more than thirty years’ experience in epidemiology of infectious diseases. His research on antimicrobial resistance and infectious Diseases from a One Health perspective has contributed to the development of national, European and global programmes for monitoring and controlling antibiotic resistance in the farm-to-fork chain. Currently Henrik is Rector at the University of Copenhagen. In his former position at the National Veterinary Serum Laboratory Henrik Wegener was co-responsible for the establishment of DANMAP, the Danish Programme for surveillance of antimicrobial consumption and resistance in bacteria from food animals, food and humans, which today still is seen globally as a role model for surveillance in a One Health perspective.

“My research and experience have made clear the need for a one-health approach to tackling antimicrobial resistance. I am really looking forward to chairing the ICARS Board of Directors and providing governance to mobilize the important and ambitious ICARS agenda.”

As founder and Executive Director of AfriCAN and a former World Food Programme (WFP)  Chief of Gender, Isatou brings 30+ years of policy, strategy and implementation experience to the ICARS board. She has worked across sectors to establish strategic partnerships, build and coordinate multi- sectoral and multi-stakeholder platforms. She continues to work to position nutrition and women at the centre of development at all levels.

“As a nutritionist, I am pleased to be part of the ICARS board and supporting its mission as AMR and malnutrition are both cross cutting challenges, requiring multi-sectoral collaboration and solutions. I am looking forward to working on the board to among other things,  put nutrition on the agenda of AMR and AMR on the agenda of nutrition”.

Jimmy Smith served as Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute from 2011-2022, he brings considerable experience in livestock research for development. Before joining ILRI, he worked for the World Bank, leading its global livestock portfolio. Earlier in his career, as ILRI’s regional representative for West Africa, he led the development of integrated research promoting smallholder livelihoods through animal agriculture and built effective partnerships among stakeholders in the region.

“As the whole world grapples with the urgent challenges of COVID 19  and climate change, we should not let the risk of Antimicrobial Resistance fall off the table. It is also urgent and compelling everywhere but particularly in developing countries where efforts to respond lag to those in developed countries with greater financial and institutional means. It is in this context that I am very pleased to be see ICARS coming to fruition as it will be a shot in the arm to the responsiveness of low and middle income countries on AMR. I am equally pleased to be asked to serve on ICARS inaugural Board” 

Dr. Renu Swarup brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to support us in our mission of tackling antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries. In her almost 30-year career at the Department of Biotechnology, Renu played a key role in the formulation of India’s Biotechnology Vision and Strategy and is credited with the establishment of India’s largest Microbial Resource Centre.

“It is a pleasure to join the ICARS Board. I look forward to the very important work being undertaken on developing and implementing AMR action plans in LMICs. AMR is a silent pandemic that needs global attention and ICARS’ vision and mandate aims to do that.”

Haileyesus Getahun is Director of AMR Global Coordination at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Quadripartite (FAO/OIE/WHO/ UNEP) Joint Secretariat on Antimicrobial Resistance. He coordinates the global One Health multisector response to AMR across the human, animal, plant, food, feed and environment sectors. Haileyesus was appointed by the Quadripartite Organisations as an observer to ICARS Board of Directors, to oversee Board proceedings and to reflect on discussions and processes as they evolve.

Martien van Nieuwkoop, a Dutch national, was appointed Global Director for the Agriculture and Food Global Practice in the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Practice Group on July 1, 2019.  As Global Director, Martien provides leadership to the formulation and implementation of the Bank’s strategy and knowledge in agriculture and food, oversees the operationalization of the Bank’s vision on agriculture and food in regional and country programs, acts as senior spokesperson for agriculture and food Bank-wide and globally and manages the Agriculture and Food Global Practice.  The Agriculture and Food Global Practice has a portfolio of about 160 projects with close to US$ 20 billion in commitments in investment project, program-for-results and development policy lending and about 250 staffs.