Meet our WEO Cartagena Speakers
Find out more about our inspirational speaker line-up for the 2025 Global Leadership Conferences in Cartagena, Colombia.
Abongile Balarane
CEO of SAPA, South Africa
Dr. Abongile Balarane is the CEO of SAPA, and a member of the WEO Executive Board. In his role, he leads policy advocacy, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement for both commercial and emerging egg producers. With a PhD in Agricultural Economics from North‑West University and over a decade of experience spanning the Land Bank and the National Agricultural Marketing Council, he brings deep expertise in agri-market analysis, industry transformation, and trade regulation. During recent HPAI outbreaks, he has been instrumental in representing the industry in negotiations with government on biosecurity, vaccination strategies, and producer compensation.
Alberto Romo
General Manager, PROAN, Mexico
Alberto Romo is the General Manager of PROAN, Mexico’s largest egg producer and one of the world’s top three. Under his leadership, PROAN has expanded its operations to include poultry, swine, and dairy, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.
Dr. Alberto Trejos
Professor of Economics, INCAE Business School, & Former Minister of Foreign Trade, Costa Rica
Dr. Alberto Trejos is Professor of Economics at INCAE Business School and previously served as Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade, where he played a pivotal role in negotiating the DR‑CAFTA agreement. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and has advised governments and institutions across more than 50 countries on trade, macroeconomic policy, and sustainable development. In academia, he has held visiting positions at major universities including Northwestern and Michigan. Dr. Trejos also chairs and serves on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards focused on economic growth and competitiveness.
Alexandra Furthner-Poringer
Co-owner of “INNVIERTLERLANDEI” Johann Poringer, Austria
Alexandra Furthner-Poringer is a co-owner and key figure behind “INNVIERTLERLANDEI” Johann Poringer, a family-run Austrian egg business known for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and regional identity. The company emphasises animal welfare, transparent production, and innovation in egg farming. Alexandra plays a leading role in the strategic and operational development of the business, ensuring it remains both environmentally responsible and economically resilient. Her work reflects a deep connection to the land and a forward-thinking approach to agricultural entrepreneurship.
Ben Dellaert
Chair of WEO AI Global Expert Group & Director at AVINED, Netherlands
Ben Dellaert is the Director of AVINED, which represents the complete production chain for the production of poultry meat and eggs in the Netherlands. He has been a member of the WEO since 1999 and served as Chairman between 2015 and 2017.
Ben currently chairs the WEO Avian Influenza Global Expert Group, a combination of top experts and scientists from across the globe that have been brought together to propose practical solutions to avian influenza in the short, medium and long term.
Chad Gregory
President & CEO of United Egg Producers, United States
Chad Gregory is president and CEO of UEP, a cooperative of US egg farmers working collaboratively to address legislative, regulatory and advocacy issues impacting the industry. Chad joined UEP in 1999 and assumed his current position in 2013.
Chad will share how the US egg industry is working with their government to address the critical issue of HPAI, including the process so far, what this means for egg producers, and next steps as they push for HPAI vaccination for laying hens in the US.
Dr. Daxin Peng
Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, China
Dr. Daxin Peng of Yangzhou University will share his wealth of expertise and knowledge on “Vaccination strategies and insights for the control of HPAI in China” at WEO Cartagena 2025.
He will be exploring how China have used mass vaccination combined with strict biosecurity to turn the tide on HPAI. China now operates one of the most comprehensive avian influenza vaccination and surveillance systems in the world.
Diana Sarita Nieto
Technical Director, FENAVI, Colombia
Diana Sarita Nieto is the Technical Director at FENAVI, where she leads initiatives on avian disease control, biosecurity, and animal welfare across Colombia. She has prominently represented FENAVI in national campaigns to control Newcastle disease in collaboration with the Colombia Agricultural Institute (ICA), overseeing vaccination and epidemiological monitoring efforts nationwide.
Elwyn Griffiths
Director, Griffiths Family Farms, UK
Elwyn is a Director of Griffiths Family Foods Ltd., a hugely successful egg production, processing and marketing business in the UK. Elwyn has a history of leadership roles, namely being the CFO for Oaklands Farm Eggs Ltd., a Director for Griffiths Green Enterprises Ltd. and a Partner at J.A & O Griffiths Ltd. The Griffiths family are into their third generation working on the farm for nearly 70 years. The business has developed into a poultry enterprise which is the largest in-line egg production operation in the UK.
Emily Metz
President and CEO of the American Egg Board, United States
Emily Metz, President and CEO of the American Egg Board, leads the U.S. egg industry’s marketing and research efforts, driving consumer engagement and industry growth. With a background in law, agriculture, and food policy, she has held leadership roles at the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the National Pork Board, and the USDA.
Gonzalo Moreno
Executive President, FENAVI, Colombia
Gonzalo Moreno Gómez is the Executive President of FENAVI, a role he has held since August 2018. As head of Colombia’s leading poultry and egg federation, he has overseen record-breaking production – over 18 billion eggs and 1.8 million tonnes of chicken in 2023 – and led the country’s first-ever fresh egg exports to Cuba. He represents Colombian aviculture on the International Poultry Council’s Executive Committee, serves as Vice President of the Consejo Gremial Nacional and is a board member of the Sociedad de Agricultores de Colombia.
Javier Prida
Executive President, CAPIA, Argentina
Dr. Javier César Prida is the Executive President and Chairman of CAPIA. He is also the Coordinator of the Latin American Poultry Institute (ILH) and served as Secretary of the Latin American Poultry Association (ALA) from 2017 to 2019. With a background in agronomy and law, and a postgraduate specialisation in poultry production, Dr. Prida has been instrumental in leading national campaigns that have significantly increased egg consumption in Argentina. He has authored over 60 publications and delivered more than 100 conferences on poultry industry topics.
Jorge Bedoya
President, Colombian Agricultural Society (SAC), Colombia
Jorge Bedoya is the President of the Colombian Agricultural Society. He is a Master of Public Policy by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, having directed the National Poultry and Egg Industry Association of Colombia. Jorge has over a decade of leadership experience in Colombia’s agricultural sector. He was Vice Minister of Defence (2011–2015), led Fundación Bavaria’s sustainable development programs, and previously served as President of FENAVI. Under his leadership, SAC has championed policies focused on agricultural competitiveness, rural transformation, and national food security.
Marcus Rust
CEO, Rose Acre Farms, USA
Marcus Rust is the CEO at Rose Acre Farms, one of the largest egg producers in the USA. A member of the founding Rust family, he has been integral to the company’s growth. In September 2023, Marcus also became Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership, Rose Acre Farms has focused on quality, service, and integrity, maintaining its commitment to small-town values.
Nan-Dirk Mulder
Senior Global Specialist in Animal Protein at Rabobank, Netherlands
Nan-Dirk Mulder is a Senior Global Specialist in Animal Protein at Rabobank, providing strategic insights on the global livestock, meat, and egg industries. With a background in agricultural economics from Wageningen University, he has advised on key industry issues across all continents.
A sought-after speaker at international conferences and no stranger to the WEO stage, Nan-Dirk offers deep analysis of market trends, trade dynamics, and sustainability. At WEO Cartagena, he will share global perspectives on the long-term future of the egg industry, advising egg business leaders on navigating the next decade.
Peter van Horne
WEO Economic Analyst, Netherlands
Peter van Horne is the WEO Economic Analyst and a senior farm economist at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. Recognised as Europe’s leading Poultry Economist, Peter specialises in high-impact research for both government and industry, with a focus on the economics of animal welfare, environmental sustainability, animal health, and global competition.
He has played a pivotal role in shaping the WEO’s statistical services. At the upcoming Cartagena conference, Peter will offer a comprehensive global overview of trends, drivers and growth opportunities within the egg sector.
Ricardo Faria
Founder & CEO, Granja Faria, Brazil
Ricardo Faria is the founder and CEO of Granja Faria, one of Brazil’s leading egg producers and a major player in Latin America’s agribusiness sector. Under his leadership, the company has grown rapidly through innovation, strategic acquisitions, and a focus on high-quality, sustainable egg production. With a forward-looking vision, Ricardo has positioned Granja Faria at the forefront of modern poultry farming, emphasising technology, efficiency, and animal welfare. His entrepreneurial drive and deep understanding of agribusiness have made him a prominent figure in Brazil’s food industry and a key voice in the future of global egg production.
Sharon Gui
International Keynote Speaker
Sharon Gui is an international keynote speaker with life experience in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres, giving her a dynamic understanding of the WEO delegation. During Sharon’s keynote presentation, she will deep-dive into the transformative effects of artificial intelligence on business, explore the tremendous opportunities and challenges it presents and how these can be applied to the egg industry.
Tim Yoo
Marketing & Sales Director, Ganong Bio, South Korea
Tim Yoo serves as the Marketing & Sales Director at Ganong Bio in South Korea, a leading brand in the country’s dynamic egg sector. With a clear vision and strategic approach, Tim has played a crucial role in Ganong Bio’s continued success, navigating challenges like the pandemic and evolving buyer behaviours. Ganong Bio stands out as an exemplary business model in the global egg industry, thanks to Tim’s leadership and innovative strategies.