International Advisors
The members of the International Advisory Committee are all volunteers who have made a commitment of time, energy and expertise to assure a successful future for World Potato Congress Inc.
Mr. Jianmin Xie
Director of the CIP-China Center for Asia and the Pacific (CCCAP)
In his role based in Beijing, Jianmin’s duties include leading the development and implementation of the CCCAP research and innovation strategy, in line with the CIP and One CGIAR strategies, overseeing CCCAP fundraising in accordance with its business plans, trends, and needs, leading CIP’s operations in China, and ensuring CCCAP and CIP staff deliver impactful research there.
A citizen of China, Mr. Xie has more than 30 years of experience in agriculture and rural development, planning and international cooperation. Before joining CIP, in October 2022, he worked as Counsel Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ Department of International Cooperation, in Beijing. Prior to that, Mr. Xie worked as Deputy Representative and Counsellor of the Permanent Representation of China to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, based in Rome. He holds a master’s and post graduate studies in Economics from the School of Economics, China Renmin University, in Beijing.
Mr. Wachira Kaguongo
Mr. Kaguongo is an agricultural economist currently working with the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK). He joined NPCK in 2011 and has been involved in its establishment, operationalization, strategy development and resource mobilization.
Over the last twenty years Mr. Kaguoungo has worked with agricultural based organizations in impact assessment, monitoring and evaluation of research and development projects. He has conducted research and development projects on livelihood, policy, farming systems, trade-offs analysis, value chain analysis and agricultural marketing in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Ethiopia and Malawi. He has previously worked with KENFAP and CGIAR centres (International Potato Centre-6 years, International Livestock Research Institute-3 years and International Crop Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics-6 years). His current work has included capacity building of farmers and agricultural extension staff, project implementation, household survey, policy evaluation and formulation and lobby and advocacy. In the course of his work he has worked closely with government departments, national, regional and international partners and public and private sector actors and players.
In 1996, Mr. Kaguongo graduated from the University of Nairobi, Faculty of Agriculture-Kenya with a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics. He also holds a BSc Agriculture from the University of Nairobi, Faculty of Agriculture-Kenya.
Willie Jacobs
With his expertise and experience as agricultural economist, Willie has already proven his mettle through a change in focus on enhancing the relationship between producer and consumer and tackling potato industry challenges head-on.
He studied BSc Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State, South Africa and obtained an MBA at North West University.
Up until his appointment as CEO of Potatoes South Africa (PSA) in January 2021, Willie worked on several contracts as an independent consultant. Most of the contracts were agricultural funding and management related.
Previously, he worked as Executive at the Land Bank of South Africa, serving corporate clients and later, as Executive Director of Obaro Financial Services, where farming activities were funded.
Santosh Kumar Tiwari
Dr. Tiwari holds a PhD in Plant Breeding Y Genetics and presently leads a highly qualified team of 7 DR’s and 150 contractual of Potato mini-tuber production at the Aeroponic facility & technical program of PepsiCo. Since June 2019, Dr. Tiwari is the Associate Director Agro Research & Development, PepsiCo India Holding Pvt Ltd, Jalandhar, Punjab where he has commercialized 6 PepsiCo Frito lay varieties for Chip grade production at PAN India level, successfully introduced 29 Potato clones of processing grade from Rheinlander USA to PepsiCo India and successfully registered 6 PepsiCo Potato varieties under “PPV & FRA” GOI, New Delhi. He has also developed new seed & chip grade potato production geographies in Assam, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Karnataka. As well he has developed innovative solutions & capability development in high-tech Potato long storage > 9 months, the breakthrough solution to manage reducing sugars in processing potatoes and provided technical support in establishing sustainable farming initiative “SFI” in association with Global team & leading Agri companies in India.
He has also worked as Project Manager for CIP – APART, North Eastern Geography of India. From 2015 to 2018, he was the Head Agro R&D, PepsiCo India Holding Pvt Ltd, Gurgaon, Haryana. He was also the Facility Manager, PepsiCo India Holding Pvt Ltd, Hoshiarpur, Punjab for two years and the Manager Agro R&D, PepsiCo India Holding Pvt Ltd, Patiala, Punjab & Agra, Uttar Pradesh from 2009 to 2013. Dr. Tiwari was a Research Scientist, MAHYCO Seeds, Jalna, Maharashtra from 2003 to 2009.
Mr. Douglas (Doug) Harley
Douglas (Doug) Harley is Group Managing Director of Alexander Harley Seeds Ltd., a family-owned group of seed companies involved in breeding and marketing a broad range of crops. Its potato activities are undertaken by Cygnet which is the largest breeder of potatoes in the UK. Cygnet has successfully introduced several varieties, its latest being Kingsman and Elland. Cygnet is a vertically integrated company that produces their own minitubers and controls the production of over 30,000 tonnes of seed potatoes in Scotland which are then exported to over 40 countries around the world.
Doug has an Honours Degree in Agriculture and Crop Science from Aberdeen University and has held several roles representing Cygnet and Scottish seed potatoes on organizations in the UK and abroad including BPTA, BSPB, Euroseeds and Breeders Trust. As a previous Director and Chair of the Awards Committee, he has previously served with WPC for several years.
Mr. Derek Roulston
Derek Roulston was brought up in a farming family in Co. Donegal Ireland. He was the third generation to grow certified potato seed on the farm which he took over from his father in 1990. In 1998 he, along with his family, moved to Kenya to serve as missionaries in rural and community development. While in this role he realized the huge lack of quality potato seed and in 2010, focused his efforts on the development of a combined potato seed project with Kisima Farms in Kenya. Present day, they are still one of the largest producers of certified potato seed in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2013, upon returning home to Ireland, he studied the methodology used for trialing new potato varieties and disease management with the Agri-Food & BioScience Institute. In 2015 he formed his own consulting company Moyle Hill Enterprise (MHE) and has worked with organizations such as the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), the International Potato Center (CIP), IPM Potato Group, as well as Vita. Through this work, Derek has had the privilege of assisting potato projects in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique. He is currently the director of Africa Potato Initiative (API) formally known as the Irish Potato Coalition. API was set up by several NGOs, research institutions and members of the private sector. who felt the need to create linkages and meaningful relationships between science, rural development and the private sector. API played a leading role in developing the Declaration of Dublin and sees its role in implementing the Declaration in Africa.
Ms. Krista Shaw
A distinguished leader with over 22 years of leadership experience, Krista Shaw has held key roles including Assistant Deputy Minister, Executive Director, and Director in both government and non-governmental organizations. Her extensive background has equipped her with a strong understanding of organizational governance, which she brings to her role alongside a deep
passion for agriculture.
Currently serving as the Director of Stakeholder Relations at the Prince Edward Island Potato Board, Krista is deeply rooted in the agriculture industry, having grown up around family farm
operations and married into Shaw Brothers Farm—PEI’s oldest family farm with an impressive 252-year legacy. Shaw Brothers Farm is an eighth-generation elite seed, grain, soybean, and wild blueberry operation. Her deep understanding of the industry allows her to navigate the challenges and opportunities that potato growers face because she too faces them at home.
Krista’s academic achievements include a bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Work,
Organization, and Leadership, and she is on track to completing the CITP/FIBP designation
(Certified International Trade Professional/Fellow of the Institute of British Freight Forwarders).
Her leadership acumen, coupled with her familial connection to agriculture, positions her as a
remarkable asset to the World Potato Congress.
Ms. Berta Redondo
Since January 2018, Berta has played a pivotal role at Europatat, the European Potato Trade Association, where she has served as Secretary General since September 2020. In her current role, she represents the interests of the European potato sector in both regional and global arenas. Her leadership responsibilities include daily management of the association, strategic communications, and policy dossiers addressing sustainability, agriculture, research, and innovation. Her dedication and expertise have made her a respected advocate for the European industry on multiple fronts.
Berta holds a Journalism Degree from the University of Valladolid in Spain, where she is originally from, and she has a strong work experience in agricultural communication and European affairs. Before moving to Brussels, she worked as an agricultural journalist for a regional radio and collaborated with several agri-specialised media.
Berta Redondo brings a wealth of experience in agricultural communication and European policy advocacy.
Dr. Dinah Jeruto Borus
Dr. Dinah Jeruto Borus, is a dynamic and results-driven Agricultural Scientist specializing in Agronomy, recognized for strong ethical values, motivation and commitment to excellence. She completed her PhD Research in Agronomy at The University of Tasmania (UTAS), Tasmania, Australia (2017) focusing on impacts of climate change on the potato productivity in Tasmania, Australia and Kenya.
Dinah has 17+ years of experience working in the potato industry with an in-depth understanding of production, value addition, and market linkages and agribusiness entrepreneurs, impacts of climate change, sustainable and climate smart practices. As a Scientist at International Potato Center, CIP, (2008-2012, 2016-2025) she has successfully led and implemented several potato-based projects in Kenya, Rwanda and other East and Central African countries. Fondly known as “Mama Viazi” among potato farmers in Kenya, Dinah has made a significant impact across nearly all the potato producing counties, working closely with both the public and private potato sectors.
Before joining CIP, Dinah worked at ICRAF (2005-2008) overseeing project design and implementation in several countries in Africa. She also has over a decade experience on extension programs having worked as an agricultural extension officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya before joining CGIAR.
She is an Awardee of Australia Agricultural Awards for Africa (AAA, 2002, 2012) and a Fellow under USDA Borlaug Fellowship Program, Texas TTU, USA, 2022.