Governance & Oversight
BecA Hub Advisory Panel
The BecA-ILRI Hub Advisory Panel comprises leaders and experts in biosciences in Africa and beyond, policy experts and representatives of key stakeholders’ organizations and has been constituted to provide strategic advice to AU/NEPAD, the ILRI Board, and the BecA–ILRI Hub management on future research directions, new technology developments, potential science and development partners and resource mobilization opportunities. The panel also provides a forum for deeper interaction amongst African stakeholders, international science and development partners and investors to seek their views of BecA’s continuing contributions towards biosciences applications in Africa. The management of the BecA-ILRI Hub provides input to the Advisory Panel with the Director of BecA serving as the secretary to the panel.
Abdou Tenkouano
Member
Dr Abdou Tenkouano is Executive Director of CORAF/WECARD, with extensive experience leading agricultural research across Africa. A geneticist, he has held senior roles at ICRISAT, IITA and AVRDC, advancing research programmes, partnerships, resource mobilisation and agricultural development.
Aggrey Ambali
Member
Professor Aggrey Ambali is a leading African science and innovation expert with extensive experience at NEPAD and the African Union. A population geneticist and former professor, he has advanced continental science policy, biosciences, research partnerships and innovation, including development of STISA 2024.
Andy Watt
Member
Andy Watt is Managing Director of QualiBasic Seed Company, with over 37 years’ experience in African agriculture, agribusiness strategy, management and investment. Formerly with Syngenta and the African Agricultural Fund, he also brings practical farming, consultancy and corporate governance experience.
Dieter Schillinger
Member
Dr Dieter Schillinger is assistant director general responsible for ILRI’s biosciences research. He brings over 25 years of animal health industry experience and expertise in leadership, business management, animal health policy and veterinary public health.
Edwin Southern
Member
Professor Sir Edwin Southern is a distinguished molecular biologist who pioneered the Southern Blot and oligonucleotide microarray, transforming DNA analysis, genome mapping, forensics and diagnostics. Former Oxford Biochemistry Chair, he is Chief Scientific Advisor at Oxford Gene Technology.
Margaret Munene
Member
Margaret Munene is a distinguished entrepreneur, agribusiness leader and philanthropist with over 25 years’ dairy industry experience. Co-founder of Palmhouse Dairies and founding trustee of Palmhouse Foundation, she is a former agricultural researcher and recipient of Kenya’s Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear.
Theresa Sengooba
Member
Dr Theresa Sengooba is a distinguished biosafety and agricultural research expert, advancing biotechnology regulation, policy and capacity building across Africa. A former NARO Deputy Director General, she has held influential advisory and governance roles in regional biosafety, research and innovation programmes.
Yemi Akinbamijo
Member
Dr Yemi Akinbamijo is a distinguished agricultural research and development leader with extensive experience across Africa and Europe. Executive Director of FARA, he has held senior African Union roles in agriculture and food security and is an accomplished researcher in tropical animal production.
Our People
The Team Behind BecA’s Science and Innovation
Our staff bring together diverse scientific, technical and professional expertise to advance the BecA-ILRI Hub’s mission. Working across research, technology platforms, capacity development and operational support, the team enables high-quality bioscience research and helps strengthen agricultural innovation across Africa.
Agnes Njeri Mburu
Technical Management Assistant
Agnes Njeri Mburu is the Technical Management Assistant. A trained electronics engineering technologist, Agnes is fascinated by the wealth of electronic equipment available to researchers at the BecA-ILRI hub
Cathrine Ziyo
Director
Dr Ziyomo is a plant Molecular Breeder with combined experience in public and private sector breeding institutions. Prior to joining ILRI, Cathrine was a maize Molecular Breeder for Dupont Pione
Collins Mutai
Research associate
Collins Mutai is a research associate at the BecA-ILRI Hub supporting Swedish funded ‘Climate-smart Brachiaria grasses for improving livestock production in East Africa’ project.
Dalmas Odhiambo Ngere
General Laboratory Assistant
Dalmas Ngere is a laboratory and office assistant at the BecA-ILRI Hub, responsible for general cleaning ,waste management, glassware washing, autoclaving and laundry services.
David Barasa
Program Assistant
David Barasa is a Program Assistant at the BecA-ILRI Hub providing support to the Swedish funded ‘Climate-smart Brachiaria grasses for improving livestock production in East Africa’ project.
Edwin Isaac Onyiego
Greenhouse Assistant
Edwin Isaac Onyiego is the greenhouse assistant at the BecA-ILRI Hub. Prior to this appointment, he worked at the BecA-ILRI Hub’s Central Core Unit as a laboratory assistant
Eunice Machuka
Research associate
Eunice Machuka is a Research associate at the BecA-ILRI Hub supporting capacity building and training of visiting scientists. She has vast experience in molecular biology, bioinformatics and biochemical techniques
Evelyn Atieno Onyango
Technical Assistant
Evelyn Atieno is a Technical Assistant at the BecA-ILRI Hub where she is responsible for the formulation of quality cell culture media and buffers used by researchers at the Hub.
Francesca Stomeo
Scientist - Capacity building
Francesca Stomeo is a scientist responsible for providing technical guidance and building the research capacity of scientists with a particular focus on genomics
Francis Gatei
General Laboratory Assistant
Francis Gatehi is a laboratory and office assistant at the BecA–ILRI Hub responsible for general cleaning of the laboratory and office spaces, waste management, glassware washing, autoclaving and laundry services.
Fredrick Munga Ng'ang'a
Research associate
Fredrick Ng’ang’a is a research associate - analytical chemist at the BecA-ILRI Hub mycology and nutrition platform.At the BecA-ILRI Hub, he offers technical support to visiting and hosted scientist in the screening and quantification of various mycotoxins
Jean-Baka Domelevo Entfellner
Scientist - Bioinformatics
Jean-Baka Domelevo Entfellner is a scientist–bioinformatics at the BecA-ILRI Hub. Before joining the BecA-ILRI Hub, Jean-Baka was a senior lecturer in Computer Science at the University of the Western
Julius Osaso
Diagnostic Platform Manager
Julius Osaso is the Diagnostic Platform Manager at the BecA-ILRI Hub. He is responsible for the training and supervision of students, visiting scientists and other partners
Linnet Agiza
General Laboratory Assistant
Linnet Agiza is a laboratory and office assistant at the BecA-ILRI Hub, responsible for general cleaning, waste management, glassware washing, autoclaving and laundry services.
Lucy Muthui
Research Technician
Lucy Muthui is a Research Technician attached to the Sequencing, Genotyping, OligoSynthesis and Proteomics (SegoliP) Unit. The unit offers support services to core research projects at ILRI
Manasses Mwaura
Technical Assistant
Manasses Mwaura is a technical assistant in the BecA-ILRI Hub’s Central Core Unit where he is responsible for ensuring the cleaning and sterilization of all laboratory glassware and plastic-ware
Mary Wambugu
Technical Support Coordinator
Mary Wambugu is the point of contact for crop breeders within the region in providing technical backstopping in the use of the Integrated Breeding Platform (IBP) manager software at the BecA-ILRI Hub.
Michael Ominde
General Laboratory Assistant
Michael Ominde is a laboratory and office assistant at the BecA-ILRI Hub, responsible for general cleaning, waste management, glassware washing, autoclaving and laundry services.
Mwihaki Mundia
Communications Officer
Mwihaki Mundia is Equipped with five years’ experience in the Communications field. She has expertise in public relations, advocacy, social media management and strategic planning
Roger Pelle
Principal scientist, capacity building
Roger Pelle is a principal scientist, providing technical guidance and strengthening the research capacity of scientists with a particular focus on molecular parasitology and livestock health.
Sita Ghimire
Senior Scientist
Sita Ghimire is a senior scientist leading the Swedish funded “Climate-smart Brachiaria grasses for improving livestock production in East Africa” program at the BecA-ILRI Hub.
Valerian Aloo
Capacity Building Officer
Valerian Aloo serves as the capacity building officer for the capacity building program at the BecA-ILRI Hub. She holds a degree in business studies and a diploma in occupational health and safety.