Meet our Team

Mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change is one of Spain’s most important challenges. In recent times the country has experienced severe draughts which have had a detrimental effect on agricultural production. Availability of fresh water is being compromised in some municipalities. These extreme events are becoming more and more frequent in the Mediterranean area and science-based solutions are urgently required to actively overcome and address this difficult situation.

To date, Spain has been an active participant in GRA activities, with its involvement growing over the past few years. In particular, Spain co-chairs the Croplands Research Group, co-leads the Feed Additives Flagship project, and Spanish researchers are active cross the Research Groups and by hosting CLIFF-GRADS fellows.

Spain views the presidency role as providing an opportunity to strengthen their GRA participation and are working on a range of initiatives including an Agroforestry and Agroecology Flagship project, a new Mediterranean Network and supporting capability building advanced courses.

The GRA Chair role coincides with Spain also assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (July-Dec 2023). It is envisaged that this will assist with Spain’s goal of further disseminating the GRA concept in national and international fora, in particular in Spain, Europe and Latin America.

Click here to learn more about how the GRA Council works.

Dr Karl Walsh is the Head of the Research, Bioeconomy & Codex Division in the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). He grew up on a mixed dairy and beef pasture farm in Ireland. He graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) in 2003 with a degree in Agricultural Science. He then went on to complete a PhD at the Teagasc Grange Beef Research Centre in Meath, Ireland, as well as at UCD. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Analysis from the Institute of Public Administration.

Karl joined the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in 2007. He worked in a variety of areas, including Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade, Animal Feed and Fertiliser, Research, Economics, and as the Agricultural Attaché in Irelands Embassy to France as well as its multilateral Mission to the OECD. He was appointed Head of the Research, Bioeconomy and Codex Division in 2021.

Ireland, through the Research Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, was a founding member of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) when it launched in December 2009. Since then, Ireland has been active in the GRA in a number of ways, including as Chair/Co-Chair of thematic research groups.

As incoming Chair of the GRA Council, Ireland aims to:

• Further develop the reputational profile and leadership role of the GRA in tackling agricultural GHG emissions
• Advance research priorities to address both GHG emissions reduction and food security
• Support the international multi-lateral model and dimension of research, which Ireland has championed, through aligned collaborative partnerships to build both momentum and mass of resources, financing, and expertise to advance scientific and technological solutions
• Support and platform the goals of Ireland’s international development work, such as through engagement with the Africa Agri-food Development Programme

Dr. Harry Clark is the Special Representative for the Global Research Alliance (GRA). Based at the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC), his role is to act as an ambassador for the GRA. This includes:
1. Assisting members to maximise the benefits of their participation in the GRA;
2. Lifting the GRA’s profile at relevant international meetings;
3. Broadening links with non-governmental organisations, potential partners, the agricultural sector and other relevant organisations;
4. Helping to secure funding for research and capability building projects of the GRA; and
5. Expanding GRA membership to include active participation from regions that are currently under-represented.

Deborah Knox is the head of the Secretariat for the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), which New Zealand currently hosts, and has been involved with New Zealand’s support of the GRA since 2010.

The Secretariat supports the GRA Council Chair and Vice-Chair to hold the annual meeting of the GRA Council as well as overseeing the work of the Research Groups and Networks.

As the leader of the Capability Building and Pacific Programmes for the GRA, Jo champions initiatives driving innovation in resilient food systems. As part of her role, Jo leads the CLIFF-GRADS, NZ-GRADS and GRA-GRG programmes.

Rooted in Reunion Island and now based in Tamaki Makaurau/ Auckland, Jo champions sustainability with a profound understanding of diverse ecosystems. Her journey from plant scientist to global leader in capability building for agricultural greenhouse gas research exemplifies the fusion of academic expertise, hands-on experience, and a passionate commitment to a resilient agricultural future worldwide.

Shiloh (Ngāti Porou/Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa) leads the Indigenous Research Network (IRN) alongside both co-chairs from New Zealand and Samoa. She also co-leads the GRA’s Pacific Programme, focused on building capability and capacity in the Pacific Islands.

Shiloh’s career started working in Fukuoka, Japan in early childhood education as an English Sensei. She immersed herself in the Japanese culture which made her further appreciate her own and sparked her passion for international relations. Shiloh has a Bachelor of Arts Triple Major in Political Science, International Relations, and Education at Victoria University of Wellington.

Chista is an international development professional driven by a profound commitment for environmental sustainability. In her role as Partner Engagement Lead, Chista contributes to the mission of the GRA Secretariat by focusing on knowledge development, evidence-based communication, and partnership initiatives. Additionally, she co-leads GRA’s prestigious CLIFF-GRADS scholarship programme.

Chista’s career journey spans diverse sectors, encompassing the private sector, NGOs, and the UN system. Her work has covered areas such as policy research, data analysis and visualisation, grant writing, and project design and management.

Chista holds a master’s degree in Global Affairs with a specialisation in sustainable development from the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame.

Nicolás Costa is an Agronomist at the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZGARC) with nine years of experience working on sustainability and climate change in agriculture. Specializing in GHG emissions/removals accounting and MRV systems design, Nicolás uses that experience to support policy makers and researchers on how to assess the GHG impact of projects and policies. Currently he is contributing to the Global Research Alliance action in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Focusing on contributions to climate change mitigation and agricultural production systems sustainability, Nicolás has been able to put his knowledge to good use. Over the years, his strengths at the Ministry of livestock, agriculture and fisheries of Uruguay led to recognition for his participation in the development of a national MRV system for Uruguay’s NDC, compiling and improving of the AFOLU sector of Uruguayan National Greenhouse Gas National Inventory, and developing scenarios and assessments in the framework of the long-term climate strategy of Uruguay. He also has participated in FAO projects in Uruguay and Dominican Republic, specifically, in GHG mitigation projects in the livestock sector.

Dr Ackim Mwape is a Policy and Science Management Professional with over 20 years’ experience in the agricultural and environment sectors.  In his role as Africa Programme Lead, Ackim brings a Global South perspective to international climate change/agricultural policy and research, enhancing the GRA Secretariat’s ability to provide thought leadership in agricultural GHG mitigation research that is appropriate to stakeholders in the Global South.  His primary focus is on stakeholder engagement, strategy and capacity development, and programme delivery to allow African countries identify options to reduce and track their agricultural GHG emissions and move to higher tier national inventory accounting methods.

Ackim has extensive experience providing leadership in critical environmental policy areas spanning international and domestic climate change, land management, sustainable food systems, and biodiversity. He holds a PhD in Natural Resource Management from Massey University, New Zealand.