It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to our fifth Plant Protection Symposium. This annual virtual symposium takes place over the course of two mornings. The format is very simple, touching base with all of the EU regulatory zones and also the neighbouring European region of GB/NI, while also including different viewpoints from other stakeholders in the plant protection industry. Our aim for the symposium is to be short, relevant and focussed.

Dr. Irene McGrath

Managing Director, Kerona Scientific Ltd, Ireland

With a PhD in Chemistry from DCU, Irene founded Kerona Scientific Ltd. in 2014 where she manages the interface between clients and the regulatory team for plant protection products, fertilising products, biocontrol products, biocides and chemical products. Irene has spent over 30 years managing regulatory departments in industry and working as a consultant for the regulation of plant protection products, biocides, plant biostimulants and fertilisers in the EU.  Kerona Scientific is headquartered in Ireland, with offices also in the UK and Spain.

General Manager ECCA (The European Crop Care Association), Belgium

With a Master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences, Paolo began his career as a Research Associate at the Ministry of Agriculture, Italy, where he contributed to the development and enforcement of a revised national grain grade system. He transitioned into roles of increasing responsibility, including Marketing Manager at Groupe Limagrain, where he played a vital role in product development and market expansion, Senior Corporate Communication Leader at DuPont de Nemours, Italy and then International Government & Industry Affairs Manager at Corteva Agriscience, where he navigated complex regulatory landscapes and fostered strategic relationships across the food and energy value chain and contributed to shaping industry standards through participation in associations like Euroseeds. Paolo is currently serving as the General Manager at ECCA where he has led a transformative restructuring initiative, enhancing organizational agility and advocacy capabilities within the European agricultural sector.

Partner, VVGB Advocaten, Belgium

Peter Kugel specializes in the intersection of science and law, focusing on hazard and risk regulation, particularly regarding chemical control and market access conditions. His expertise extends to occupational health and safety, product safety, and European and International Environmental law, emphasizing sustainable development and product stewardship. Since establishing KUGEL LEGAL in 2009, he has represented various clients, including trade associations and governmental authorities, and has acted as legal counsel for task forces under EU regulations like REACH and Biocides legislation. Peter also negotiates data protection rights and represents clients in regulatory decision-making and litigation before domestic and European courts. He collaborates with specialists in toxicology and environmental sciences to provide comprehensive legal support.

Regulatory Adviser, IBMA – International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association AISBL

Jeroen Meeussen is a regulatory specialist in biocontrol with over 35 years’ experience. He previously worked in Ctgb, DG SANTE, for the Minor Uses Coordination Facility and for ERM Consultancy. Jeroen has recently joined IBMA as a Regulatory Adviser. Jeroen has always had a particular focus on biopesticides and he has provided significant support to Working and Expert groups on biopesticides at EU-level, as well as OECD-level.

DEPA, Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Agency, Denmark

Vibeke Møller is Deputy Head of the Pesticides Division in the Danish EPA. She is
responsible for National and Zonal pesticide approvals under 1107 and has worked
with Environmental Risk Assessment and risk management in the Danish EPA for more
than 20 years. She has been involved in ECCO, PRAPER, Evaluation, Legislation, PAI/G,
Zonal and Interzonal meetings under the EU pesticide evaluation programme over the
years.

Team Leader Effect Modelling & Statistics

Rifcon GmbH, Germany

Oliver Jakoby is an ecological modeller leading the Effect Modelling and Statistics Team at RIFCON. He studied biology and computer science at the University of Marburg and was educated in applied statistics at ETH Zurich. He holds a PhD in applied system science and worked several years as a researcher at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ and the Swiss federal research institute WSL in the field of ecological risk modelling and management. Since 2016 he applies and develops mechanistic effect models (including TKTD and population models) in the field of Environmental Risk Assessment of Chemicals at RIFCON. He is  member of the Steering Committee of the SETAC Interest Group on Effect Modelling and engages in numerous activities to promote the use, understanding and acceptance of effect modelling approaches in ERA.

Health and Safety Executive, Chemicals Regulation Division (HSE CRD)

Barry joined the Chemicals Regulation Division of the Health and Safety Executive in 2018, following a career in the private sector in IT and operations. He joined the Pesticides Products Team as a trainee and worked his way up, specialising in emergency applications and seed treatments, and even working on a new active substance. This led to extensive contact with other government agencies and involvement in research and development projects, including securing funding for them. Leveraging on his management experience in business, Barry was promoted to acting head of  team in March 2023 and substantively this year. He is heavily involved in leading the update of IT systems for CRD to modern standards on a single platform to drive efficiencies and improved use of data and analytics.

Head of Coordination Department, Plant Protection Products Division, Section of Agricultural Inputs, Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture, Czech Republic

Lucie obtained a Master´s degree in Ecotoxicology and PhD in Plant Biology from the Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. She has been working at the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture since 2008. Since 2019 she has been working as Head of the Co-ordination Department in the Plant Protection Products Division. She is responsible for administrative procedures and projects regarding PPP authorisation decisions and active substances procedures.

Agronomic Engineer | Country Registration Manager at BASF | Public Governmental Affairs and Sustainability Manager

Paulo is an Agronomic Engineer and has been working at BASF since 2008, consistently serving as the County Registration Manager. In his current role as the Public Governmental Affairs and Sustainability Manager, he advocate for sustainable practices and navigate the complexities of public policy. Paulo is an active member of the Board of Directors of CROPLIFE Portugal, representing BASF Portuguesa, and serve on the Technical Commission of CROPLIFE PT, where he contribute to the advancement of the agricultural sector in Portugal.

Policy Officer, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, Unit E4 – Pesticides and Biocides, European Commission, Belgium

Maristella worked for more than 30 years at the Italian Higher Institute of Health as responsible for the implementation of EU legislation related to authorization of PPPs and biocides and application of policies of EU related regulations such as Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH), Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (CLP), Regulation 524/2017 (Poison Centers), Directive 128/2009 (sustainable use). She was also a risk assessor and risk manager for dangerous substances and products, supporting the Competent Authority (MoH) and inspector for dangerous preparations and GLP, a tutor in non- EU Countries and accessing Countries in several European projects related to chemical legislation, and is the author of more than 100 scientific publications.

Maristella is currently at EU COM DG SANTE acting as risk manager aimed at the approval of PPPs, in particular dealing with coformulants issues, PFAS and CLP new hazard classes and endocrine disruptors, being also part of the specific Working Groups at ECHA and EFSA.

Global Regulatory Affairs Manager at Bayer Crop Science

Sunita Bohra is an experienced Product Manager with a strong background in the
farming industry and Global Regulatory Affairs Manager at Bayer Crop Science. She
has a proven track record of success in technical documentation, agile methodologies,
public speaking, and product development. Holding a Master of Science (MSc) in
Agronomy and Crop Science, Sunita has leveraged her expertise to drive product
innovation and enhance client satisfaction. Sunita’s performance-oriented approach is complemented by a unique blend of communication, analytical, and team-building skills, enabling her to establish and maintain critical relationships that foster success in complex projects.

Managing Director of Agri-food department at Penta Group Brussels

Shiraz is the managing director of the Agri-food department at Penta’s Brussels office,
with nearly a decade of experience in EU public affairs. She specializes in project
management and strategic advice for clients in highly regulated sectors, particularly
agri-food, chemicals, and international trade. Shiraz is adept at navigating EU
regulations and legislative processes, which allows her to effectively advocate for her
clients’ interests. Previously Shiraz worked at Hume Brophy and was a senior advisor
for EU trade Policy, Commercial and Agricultural Affairs. Shiraz has extensive experience lobbying European institutions and collaborating with external stakeholders to build coalitions.