Dr. Mark Holderness, appointed as new Executive Secretary of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research in late 2007, took office in January 2008.

Dr. Holderness began his working career in Papua New Guinea and has worked in science related to international agricultural development for over 20 years. A Council Member of several scientific societies, he is now also a Board Member of the World Vegetable Centre. Originally a plant pathologist, his interests cover a wide range of scientific areas and international development contexts and are particularly concerned with knowledge and innovation flows between science and society and their implications for institutional structures and rural development. He played a leading role in the International Assessment of the Role of Agricultural Knowledge Science and Technology in Development. He recently served as Director of Agriculture and Director of Membership and Partnerships for CAB International.