Meet our WEO Warsaw Speakers
Find out more about our inspirational speaker line-up for the 2026 Business Conference in Warsaw.
Ben Dellaert
WEO AI Global Expert Group & 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 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.
Julian Mellentin
New Nutrition Business, United Kingdom
Julian Mellentin is the founder of New Nutrition Business, a specialist consultancy focused on the business of food, nutrition and health. With more than 20 years of experience, he provides strategic, marketing and technical insight to companies across the global food and health sectors, and will share expert analysis on the continued growth in consumer demand for protein, exploring the drivers behind this shift and what it means for innovation, positioning and future opportunities within the egg industry.
Dr. Magdalena Kowalewska
BNP Paribas Bank Polska, Poland
Dr Magdalena Kowalewska is a Food & Agri sector expert at Bank BNP Paribas Poland. She is the author or co-author of numerous scientific publications, commentaries, market analyses, and expert opinions. She reports on agri-food economics and sector management, bringing deep expertise to the global egg industry.
Marie Laborde
Interprofessional Committee for Foie Gras Ducks and Geese (CIFOG), France
Marie Laborde, Deputy Director of Interprofessional Committee for Foie Gras Ducks and Geese (CIFOG), is closely involved in steering and implementing France’s strategy for vaccinating ducks against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). In her role, she coordinates the work carried out with public authorities and industry stakeholders to support the implementation and monitoring of the vaccination campaign, as well as its adaptation to health, economic, and commercial challenges.
Nan-Dirk Mulder
Rabobank, Netherlands
Nan-Dirk Mulder is 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, Nan-Dirk offers deep analysis of market trends, trade dynamics, and sustainability.
Dr. Olivier Espeisse
WEO & IABS, France
Dr. Olivier Espeisse is a veterinary leader with over 30 years in global pharmaceutical Public Affairs. After graduating from Maisons-Alfort Veterinary School in 1981, he began in dairy medicine before transitioning to international industry roles. Now retired, he consults on Public Affairs and serves as Chairman of the International Alliance for Biological Standardization (IABS), a non-profit whose mission is to improve access to vaccines and biological medicines. Olivier also provides HPAI expertise and advice to WEO on a consultancy basis.
Dr. Ovsanna Mikhaylovskaya
Independent Poultry Consultant, Latvia
Dr Ovsanna Mikhaylovskaya is an independent poultry consultant and internationally recognised industry expert with over 25 years of global experience. She advises producers and integrators on production strategy, flock optimisation, welfare-driven system design, and cage-free transitions, delivering practical, implementable solutions. She has held senior roles, leading technical services, business development, and modern poultry management across Europe and Central Asia.
Vitor Arantes
Hy-Line International, United States
Vitor Arantes is the Global Technical Service and Product Manager at Hy-Line International, supporting customers worldwide and managing the nutrition of Pure Lines and Grandparent breeding flocks. He oversees the lifecycle of Hy-Line’s genetic products, working with R&D, sales, marketing, and technical teams to align performance with market needs. Previously, Vitor was Technical Services Director at Hy-Line Brasil and has held roles in commercial egg production and the laying hen division of a Brazilian premix company.