Dr Valérie VERDIER

CEO, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement

Valérie VERDIER, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD-France)

As phytopathologist, Valérie Verdier has co-authored over 100 scientific publications related to plant science and conduct research in Central Africa, West Africa, Latin America and the United States. Valérie Verdier has been recipient of a Marie Curie Fellowship from the European Commission in 2010 and an associate researcher at Colorado State University (USA) since 2012.

She also received the Excellence in International Service Award from the American Phytopathology Society (APS) in 2014 and named her a fellow in 2020, recognizing her "outstanding contribution to the advancement of research in the field of plant health".

She was appointed to the rank of Knight of the French Legion of Honour in 2016.