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World Potato Congress Board changes: Who is in? Who is out?
Changes to the Board of the World Potato Congress: Albert T. Wada (top left, retired); Douglas Harley (top right, new to the Board); Frank Mulcahy (bottom left, new to the Board); Dr. Kaiyun Xie (bottom right, new to the Board)
David Thompson, President and CEO of World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC) announced today the retirement of Albert Wada, after an eight year term, as an active member the Board of Directors.
David Thompson:
"Mr. Wada has contributed significantly to World Potato Congress."The United States will continue to be represented, on the World Potato Congress Board of Directors, by Dr. Nora Olsen of Idaho. Dr Olsen joined the Board in 2014 and has recently been reappointed to a three year term.
"We fully appreciate his commitment while a director and wish Albert well in the future."
The vacancy created by Wada's retirement gave the organization an opportunity to bring a new international perspective to the table with the appointment Douglas Harley of Scotland, a well recognized potato industry player from the United Kingdom. The Board also approved the appointment of two International Advisers Frank Mulcahy of Australia and Kaiyun Xie of China.
All three appointments come at an ideal time for the organization which is in the process of implementing of a new strategic plan designed to encourage a more proactive role for the Congress in the global potato industry. In particular the Board wishes to facilitate growth and development in regions where opportunities emerge from challenges.
David Thompson:
“The three appointees being announced today will strengthen the Board and the International Advisory Committee while WPC strives to achieve objectives set out in the new strategic plan.”
Douglas Harley (United Kingdom)
Frank Mulcahy
With over thirty years experience in agriculture he has become highly skilled in the development and implementation of horticultural principles and an active researcher with a focus on agronomy challenges confronting growers.
With over five years experience living in developing countries, implementing leading edge agricultural technologies and systems, he has global experience in seed potato production in Australia, India, Iran, Turkey, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Canada and USA.
He has also been a contributor in the formulation of National Standards for Australian Certified Seed Potatoes. And served as a Tasmanian representative on a National steering committee overseeing the development of Horticultural Research Development Corporation project “National Certified Seed Potato Certification Standards” Australia, 1998 – 2002. The outcome of this project is a single National Australian standard for Certified Seed Potatoes.
Dr. Kaiyun Xie (China)
Dr. Kaiyun Xie
Capitalizing on his project management training Kaiyun now represents the CIP-China Center for Asia Pacific. He was formerly affiliated with the International Potato Center Beijing Liaison Office and the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers.
Dr. Xie has travelled extensively to neighbouring countries as well as internationally. Through his travels and related studies he has become familiar with potato issues regionally and globally. Kaiyun has also served as Deputy Secretary General of Potato Association of China (PAC) where he was in charge of the organization of annual meeting of PAC.
Dr. Xie has managed a variety of projects and participated in over 18 initiatives. He has also produced over fifty research papers on a variety of agricultural issues. His work has been recognized nationally where he has received numerous awards of excellence for his contributions to research and development initiatives.
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