Essam Yassin Mohammed
WorldFish Director General and CGIAR Senior Director of Aquatic Foods

Dr.Essam Mohammed has more than 19 years of international experience across Sub-Saharan Africa, South, South East and East Asia, Latin America and Europe. He has advised governments including Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Myanmar, Vietnam, Albania, Egypt and Lebanon.

Essam is a member of several advisory bodies including the Group of Experts for the second cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects of the United Nations. 

In addition to his academic and professional experience as a fisheries scientist, he has worked in both governmental and non-governmental research institutes on a wide range of topics, such as the economic valuation of environmental goods and services and fiscal reforms to connectivity between high seas and territorial waters and the climate change and food security nexus; all with a strong focus on influencing policy processes to promote fair, inclusive and sustainable ocean-based economies at national and global levels.

WorldFish’s Essam Mohammed: Africa on the brink of aquaculture transformation– Seafood Source

Asia's 'blue capital' can help alleviate hunger and poverty Nikkei Asia

Cop27 can help the world achieve blue prosperity The National News

Edward Allison
Acting Director Sustainable Aquatic Foods Systems

Prof. Eddie H. Allison, an expert with over 30 years in academia and policy, has significant global influence in livelihoods and food systems, particularly in fisheries and aquaculture. His work spans regions including sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, North America, and Europe. In 2023, for the fourth time, he was celebrated as one of the top 0.1% most cited researchers worldwide by Clarivate/Web of Science.

Eddie advises the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and is also a science advisor to the non-profit Oceana. Holding honorary and visiting professorships, he is affiliated with institutions such as Lancaster University's Environment Center, UK, and the University of Washington's School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, Seattle, USA.

John Benzies
Acting Director Aquatic Foods Biosciences

Dr. John Benzie leads the genetics group at WorldFish. He has more than 25 years of research experience in government, university and private sectors worldwide, applying genetics to natural resource management and aquaculture. He has led programs in aquaculture and marine biotechnology for Australian Government agencies, the University of New South Wales, and a multi-national shrimp breeding company. He is also currently Professor of Marine Molecular Biodiversity at University College Cork, Ireland and an Editor of the journal Aquaculture. In 2022 A crown-of-thorns seastar native to the Red Sea was named after John in recognition of his groundbreaking genetic studies on crown-of-thorns seastars

Tilapia Genome Provides Boost to Global Food Security Technology Network 

Researchers make tilapia lake virus breakthrough The Fish Site

Crown-of-thorns seastar named after WorldFish scientist WorldFish

Ann Fleming
Director of Programs & Impact

Dr. Ann Fleming holds a PhD in Aquaculture. Prior to joining WorldFish she managed research projects at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), focusing on fisheries livelihood development in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. She has also served as the Manager of Aquaculture in the Northern Territory Government and led the Abalone Aquaculture Program in Melbourne for the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.