Dr Matthias Halwart
Dr Matthias Halwart heads the Sustainable Aquaculture – Global and Regional Processes Team of the FAO Fisheries Division and serves as Technical Secretary of the global intergovernmental forum on aquaculture, the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture.
During his over 30-year professional career, he has covered a broad range of subjects predominantly in the fields of general aquaculture development, aquatic biodiversity, and integrated agriculture-aquaculture where he also obtained his PhD.
Over the years Dr Halwart has supported the growth of aquaculture through his work in many development projects, mainly in Asia and Africa, and through his role as coordinator of major events, studies and reviews such as on global and regional cage aquaculture or on The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. In September 2021, he will be convening the FAO/NACA Global Conference on Aquaculture Millennium+20 under the theme Aquaculture for Food and Sustainable Development which will bring together governments, business, academia and civil society to define and build consensus on priorities and actions needed for advancing aquaculture as a sustainable and competitive food production sector.
Dr Matthias Halwart heads the Sustainable Aquaculture – Global and Regional Processes Team of the FAO Fisheries Division and serves as Technical Secretary of the global intergovernmental forum on aquaculture, the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture.
During his over 30-year professional career, he has covered a broad range of subjects predominantly in the fields of general aquaculture development, aquatic biodiversity, and integrated agriculture-aquaculture where he also obtained his PhD.
Over the years Dr Halwart has supported the growth of aquaculture through his work in many development projects, mainly in Asia and Africa, and through his role as coordinator of major events, studies and reviews such as on global and regional cage aquaculture or on The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. In September 2021, he will be convening the FAO/NACA Global Conference on Aquaculture Millennium+20 under the theme Aquaculture for Food and Sustainable Development which will bring together governments, business, academia and civil society to define and build consensus on priorities and actions needed for advancing aquaculture as a sustainable and competitive food production sector.
Dr. Carsten Krome
Carsten worked as a technical analyst for an aquaculture investment fund before launching Alimentos Ventures.
Prior to founding HATCH in 2017, he oversaw equity investments in various aquaculture feed, health, IT and production start-ups.
Carsten holds a PhD in aquaculture nutrition from the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, has been a lecturer at Yale University and has a number of published works focusing on alternative feed.
Carsten worked as a technical analyst for an aquaculture investment fund before launching Alimentos Ventures.
Prior to founding HATCH in 2017, he oversaw equity investments in various aquaculture feed, health, IT and production start-ups.
Carsten holds a PhD in aquaculture nutrition from the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, has been a lecturer at Yale University and has a number of published works focusing on alternative feed.
Prof. Geert Wiegertjes
Geert Wiegertjes is professor of the Aquaculture and Fisheries group at Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands. As head of the group, his scientific interest in the interaction between fish nutrition and health in aquaculture has broadened, to also play a supporting role for research on fisheries ecology.
In his recent TEDx talk he underscores the need for a sustainable production of fish and shellfish products in a world where demands for seafood are rising rapidly. While unravelling critical factors limiting aquaculture and seafood production, he calls to respect biodiversity, animal health and welfare. Geert Wiegertjes has been project coordinator and/or training coordinator of three MSCA training networks (FP5, FP7) and work package leader of Imaquanim (FP6), ParaFishControl (H2020) and currently, AQUA-FAANG (H2020). He coordinated TargetFish (FP7), one of the larger research consortia on fish health and vaccination.
Geert Wiegertjes is professor of the Aquaculture and Fisheries group at Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands. As head of the group, his scientific interest in the interaction between fish nutrition and health in aquaculture has broadened, to also play a supporting role for research on fisheries ecology.
In his recent TEDx talk he underscores the need for a sustainable production of fish and shellfish products in a world where demands for seafood are rising rapidly. While unravelling critical factors limiting aquaculture and seafood production, he calls to respect biodiversity, animal health and welfare. Geert Wiegertjes has been project coordinator and/or training coordinator of three MSCA training networks (FP5, FP7) and work package leader of Imaquanim (FP6), ParaFishControl (H2020) and currently, AQUA-FAANG (H2020). He coordinated TargetFish (FP7), one of the larger research consortia on fish health and vaccination.
Frangiscos Nikolian
After the end of his IT studies in 1984, Frangiscos joined the Commission and the newly created Directorate General of Fisheries.
He held positions as project manager, ex-post auditor and Head of Sector of ex-post audit. In 2011 he moved to DG REGIO as Deputy Head of Unit in the Coordination Unit of the Audit Directorate. Eventually he re-joined DG MARE in 2013 as Head of Unit dealing with the implementation of EFF/EMFF in Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Cyprus and Croatia. In January 2016 he became the Head of the Unit responsible for Structural Policy and Economic Analysis. As of January 2017, Frangiscos is the Head on Unit responsible for Economic Analysis, Markets and Impact Assessment.
After the end of his IT studies in 1984, Frangiscos joined the Commission and the newly created Directorate General of Fisheries.
He held positions as project manager, ex-post auditor and Head of Sector of ex-post audit. In 2011 he moved to DG REGIO as Deputy Head of Unit in the Coordination Unit of the Audit Directorate. Eventually he re-joined DG MARE in 2013 as Head of Unit dealing with the implementation of EFF/EMFF in Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Cyprus and Croatia. In January 2016 he became the Head of the Unit responsible for Structural Policy and Economic Analysis. As of January 2017, Frangiscos is the Head on Unit responsible for Economic Analysis, Markets and Impact Assessment.
Ondina Afonso
Ondina Afonso is a food engineer and has over 20 years of work experience in academia and the agri-food sector. Currently she is Head of Quality & Research at SONAE MC - the market leader in food retail in Portugal. She also chairs the Producers Club of SONAE MC, via which the company strengthens the competitiveness, innovation and sustainability of national fresh production and producers.
She’s the Chair of the Food Committee at EuroCommerce. Since 2002 she has been working as an Independent Expert at European Commission, assisting with research and innovation assignments including the evaluation of proposals.
Ondina Afonso is a food engineer and has over 20 years of work experience in academia and the agri-food sector. Currently she is Head of Quality & Research at SONAE MC - the market leader in food retail in Portugal. She also chairs the Producers Club of SONAE MC, via which the company strengthens the competitiveness, innovation and sustainability of national fresh production and producers.
She’s the Chair of the Food Committee at EuroCommerce. Since 2002 she has been working as an Independent Expert at European Commission, assisting with research and innovation assignments including the evaluation of proposals.
Bertrand Charron
Bertrand joined the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) in 2017. His mission – via insights and communication - is to assist the ASC fulfil its own, i.e. “To transform aquaculture towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility using efficient market mechanisms that create value across the chain.”
This notably entails communicating the values of a set of robust and meaningful standards aimed at minimising or mitigating aquaculture’s potentially detrimental social and environmental impacts; reconciling industry best practices, demanding performance levels, verifiable sustainability claims and highlighting the merits of 3rd party independent eco-certification programme. Among other roles, Bertrand was co-founder/Chief Editor of IntraFish (1997-2003), and designed the only yearly quantitative benchmark of the international salmon farming, aquafeed & seafood industries’ Transparency Performances (2010-17).
He currently sits on the Expert Review Committee of the World Benchmarking Alliance’s Seafood Stewardship Index (SSI).
Bertrand joined the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) in 2017. His mission – via insights and communication - is to assist the ASC fulfil its own, i.e. “To transform aquaculture towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility using efficient market mechanisms that create value across the chain.”
This notably entails communicating the values of a set of robust and meaningful standards aimed at minimising or mitigating aquaculture’s potentially detrimental social and environmental impacts; reconciling industry best practices, demanding performance levels, verifiable sustainability claims and highlighting the merits of 3rd party independent eco-certification programme. Among other roles, Bertrand was co-founder/Chief Editor of IntraFish (1997-2003), and designed the only yearly quantitative benchmark of the international salmon farming, aquafeed & seafood industries’ Transparency Performances (2010-17).
He currently sits on the Expert Review Committee of the World Benchmarking Alliance’s Seafood Stewardship Index (SSI).
Andrea Fabris
Andrea Fabris has been the Director of Italian Fish Farmers Association (Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani) since 2016. He is also a member of the Aquaculture Advisory Council, where he chairs one of the Working Groups. He collaborates at national and international level: he is member of working groups at the General Direction for Fisheries and Aquaculture of Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Italian Ministry of Health regarding aquaculture EU rules and their implementation at national and regional level, and member of Exotic Species Aquaculture Committee - Italian Ministry of Agriculture.
On the international level, he is a Chairman of Fish Health and Welfare Commission in the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers. Andrea is part of the Federation of Veterinarians Europe Aquaculture Working Group, and FishMedPlus Coalition. He has also published 30 articles in scientific journals concerning fish pathology and aquaculture.
Andrea Fabris has been the Director of Italian Fish Farmers Association (Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani) since 2016. He is also a member of the Aquaculture Advisory Council, where he chairs one of the Working Groups. He collaborates at national and international level: he is member of working groups at the General Direction for Fisheries and Aquaculture of Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Italian Ministry of Health regarding aquaculture EU rules and their implementation at national and regional level, and member of Exotic Species Aquaculture Committee - Italian Ministry of Agriculture.
On the international level, he is a Chairman of Fish Health and Welfare Commission in the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers. Andrea is part of the Federation of Veterinarians Europe Aquaculture Working Group, and FishMedPlus Coalition. He has also published 30 articles in scientific journals concerning fish pathology and aquaculture.
Giulia Tarsitano
Giulia Tarsitano is Food Policy Manager at Euro Coop, the European Association of Consumer Co-operatives, where she focuses on the role of consumer co-operatives for the promotion of sustainable food systems, with a particular attention to healthy diets, animal welfare and circular economy.
Giulia holds a LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law from Edinburgh University. Previously, she studied Political Science and International Relations in Rome.
Giulia Tarsitano is Food Policy Manager at Euro Coop, the European Association of Consumer Co-operatives, where she focuses on the role of consumer co-operatives for the promotion of sustainable food systems, with a particular attention to healthy diets, animal welfare and circular economy.
Giulia holds a LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law from Edinburgh University. Previously, she studied Political Science and International Relations in Rome.
Adrien Vincent
Adrien Vincent joined SYSTEMIQ in 2017. He is leading the ocean work of SYSTEMIQ and is involved in circular economy projects. He worked with the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy for the past 2 years, being one of the lead authors of the report “Ocean Solutions that Benefit People, Nature and the Economy”, published in December 2020. Adrien is also the Programme Director of Seaweed for Europe, a coalition launched in June 2020 to advance a sustainable seaweed industry in Europe. Prior to this, he served in the French navy for 2 years and worked at McKinsey & Company during 6 years, being largely involved with the Sustainability practice.
Adrien holds an Engineering degree from ENSTA ParisTech, with a major in Environment, a master’s degree in climate change from Institut National Supérieur de Techniques Nucléaires (INSTN), and a specialized Master in strategic management from HEC Paris.
Adrien Vincent joined SYSTEMIQ in 2017. He is leading the ocean work of SYSTEMIQ and is involved in circular economy projects. He worked with the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy for the past 2 years, being one of the lead authors of the report “Ocean Solutions that Benefit People, Nature and the Economy”, published in December 2020. Adrien is also the Programme Director of Seaweed for Europe, a coalition launched in June 2020 to advance a sustainable seaweed industry in Europe. Prior to this, he served in the French navy for 2 years and worked at McKinsey & Company during 6 years, being largely involved with the Sustainability practice.
Adrien holds an Engineering degree from ENSTA ParisTech, with a major in Environment, a master’s degree in climate change from Institut National Supérieur de Techniques Nucléaires (INSTN), and a specialized Master in strategic management from HEC Paris.
Douglas Waley
Doug Waley has a background in political and development economics studies, and several years in stakeholder engagement roles within large scale research projects in Asia and Africa focused on sustainability and ethical issues in aquaculture production and export.
For four years Doug has been the Fish Welfare Programme Leader at Eurogroup for Animals, lobbying for better regulations at EU level and for applying non-legislative instruments to raising fish welfare standards. He also has a role in supporting and coordinating communications and lobby work among Eurogroup’s 70 member organisations, and is currently a member of the fish welfare technical committees of both the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Global Aquaculture Alliance BAP certification schemes.
Doug Waley has a background in political and development economics studies, and several years in stakeholder engagement roles within large scale research projects in Asia and Africa focused on sustainability and ethical issues in aquaculture production and export.
For four years Doug has been the Fish Welfare Programme Leader at Eurogroup for Animals, lobbying for better regulations at EU level and for applying non-legislative instruments to raising fish welfare standards. He also has a role in supporting and coordinating communications and lobby work among Eurogroup’s 70 member organisations, and is currently a member of the fish welfare technical committees of both the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Global Aquaculture Alliance BAP certification schemes.