Ambassador Remo Gautschi will come to the end of his 6-year tenure as Chair of the WorldFish board of trustees at the end of 2014.
Amb. Gautschi has overseen the board during a critical period of reform. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding the implementation of the organizational framework to enable good governance of the AAS Program.
Increased revenue under his tenure has allowed WorldFish to expand its research programs into new geographies; increase focus on core areas, such as aquaculture technologies and genetics; and participate in new research areas, such as value chains and nutrition.
Amb. Gautschi joined other board members and WorldFish management, in welcoming the incoming Chair, Dr. Elizabeth Woods, currently Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for the Queensland Government. Dr. Woods, formally appointed as Amb. Gautschi’s successor following a recent board meeting will assume the role of chair on 1 January 2015. She brings extensive experience in the fields of agribuisness and agriculture obtained in high-ranking academic and government posts. She joined the board of the the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in 2005 and was chair from 2008–10.
Stephen Hall, Director General, WorldFish: “The role of chair is critical to the running of WorldFish, providing direction to management and strategic guidance on research and funding. Amb. Gautschi’s support for and direct engagement in the work of WorldFish was welcomed by all staff. His guiding hand will be missed. At the same time we welcome Dr. Woods and her in-depth knowledge of the CGIAR system and excellent credentials. I look forward to working with her and the rest of the board to ensure WorldFish’s continuing impact on the lives of the poor throughout the world”.