Plant biologist by training, I hold a PhD in natural sciences from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. I have more than 30 years’ experience in international environmental and agricultural policy issues with special emphasis on food systems, sustainable development, natural resources management, biodiversity, biotechnology, biosafety, agroecology, innovation, and green economy.
From 2015 to September 2019, I was Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to FAO, IFAD and WFP. I have held different positions in the Swiss Federal government. I have been Director of the International Sustainable Agriculture Division at the Federal Office for Agriculture. I was in charge of FAO as well as food and agricultural issues in relation to the G20, OECD, the multilateral environmental agreements and the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. I have also worked at the Federal Office for the Environment on GMOs, Biotechnology and Biodiversity and as a researcher in USA and Switzerland. As Swiss expert and negotiator I have been involved in the Convention on Biological Diversity since 1995 and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources since 2005 where I had the privilege of serving in several capacities as facilitator in different negotiation processes including the Cartagena Protocol (2000) and the Nagoya Protocol (2010). Today I am working as Adviser on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development.