Massimiliano Giansanti was elected President of Copa in 2024. He has been President of Confagricoltura since 2017 and Vice President of Copa from 2020 to 2024. Previously, he served as President of Confagricoltura Rome, then Vice President of Confagricoltura Lazio, and Vice President of the Board of Directors of Confagricoltura Nazionale. He has served on the boards of numerous private and public agricultural bodies, such as the National Association for Water Management, the Rome Chamber of Commerce, and the National Institute for Agricultural Mechanization. Mr. Giansanti runs farms in Rome, Viterbo, and Parma, is a producer of Parmigiano Reggiano, and a supplier of high-quality milk to the Centrale del Latte di Roma dairy.
Lennart Nilsson was elected President of Cogeca in 2024. He has been a Board Member of the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF) since 2012 and has a long-standing commitment to the Swedish cooperative movement. He is President of a grain and supply cooperative Harplinge Lantmän and a member of the Lantmännen cereal cooperative. Since 1990, Lennart runs a mixed farm with arable crops and cattle breeding with his wife and two brothers in law. They manage a herd of 250 Charolais breeding cattle, 200 hectares of arable land and 100 hectares of pastures. He has also been heavily involved in Copa-Cogeca's working parties, and previously served as Vice-Chair in the cereals working party and as Chair of the Working party for Oilseeds and Protein Crops.
EU Affairs and Communications Manager Damien O'Reilly joined ICOS as EU Affairs and Communications Manager in November 2022. Damien runs the ICOS Brussels office, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of its establishment in 2023. He works on EU policy developments relevant to ICOS members. Previously, he spent 24 years as a broadcast journalist with RTE Radio 1. Before leaving the media, Damien presented Countrywide, an award winning farming, food and rural affairs programme. He also worked across other areas including news, sport and current affairs. Damien is a co-founder member of the European Network of Agricultural Journalists.
A proud Prince Edward Islander, Senator Mary Robinson was appointed to the Senate in January 2024. Coming from a 6th generation family farm operation, she has been a strong voice for industry at the provincial, national, and global levels. She was the first female Chair of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council, the first female President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and vice president of the World Farmers’ Organisation. In 2021, she was named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Atlantic Canada by the Atlantic Business Magazine.
Harry Smit is a long-tenured senior analyst at the RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness department of Rabobank. RaboResearch is the global knowledge provider of Rabobank. The team supports the bank’s mission by providing sector and company views and publishes research on macroeconomic trends and the dynamics in the food chain from supplier to retailer. Its research is based on extensive knowledge, expertise and insights about global Food & Agribusiness (“F&A”) market trends. Harry supports clients and the bank with his knowledge of the agricultural sector and is a regular speaker at meetings. Harry specializes in the impact of the food system transition on business models in the food supply chain. One of his recent reports, ‘Five key transformations to watch to navigate the global food system amid increasing volatility’, can be found online. Harry gained his knowledge of the sector from various positions within the agricultural domain at Rabobank and the Ministry of Agriculture. He studied at the Agricultural University in Wageningen and grew up in the Achterhoek region on his parents' farm.
Currie, a Collingwood, Ontario farmer, was born and raised on the family farm and is the 8th generation on the farm family operation. Currie graduated with a diploma in Agriculture Production Management from the University of Guelph, Ridgetown College in 1982. Upon Graduation, Currie returned home to manage the family dairy and cash crop farm in Simcoe County with his wife Janice and together they have raised four children. Currie’s operation now focuses on production of grains and oilseed, forages for dry hay, along with a sweet corn and gladiolus flower production. Over the years, Currie has represented many agriculture boards and organizations at the regional, provincial and federal levels serving on both livestock and cropping organizations. Keith is the Past President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and has had 25+ years of board experience with the OFA. Agriculture Co-operatives, Dairy Herd Improvement association, Fair Boards, Holstein Clubs, Soil and Crop Improvement association, Conservation Authority committees and county federation of agriculture boards are just a few of the local organizations that Keith has been involved with over the years. Keith is also an Ontario delegate to The Co-Operators Insurance. Keith has also been appointed to three provincial government advisory committees in Ontario, the 4 Plan Review committee (a review of 4 provincial land use plans), the Environmental Advisory committee as well as the Wetlands Advisory committee. Before becoming CFA President in 2023, Keith served on the CFA board for several years and was elected as the organization’s 1st Vice-President in 2019.
René Roy holds a PhD in agricultural economics from McGill University and is actively involved in various aspects of the agriculture industry. He is a pork producer specializing in farrow-to-finish operations, a dairy farmer, and a maple syrup producer. René, alongside his brother Mario, manages their family business, Ferme Alliance 7 inc., where they oversee financial management, daily operations, livestock management (including swine and dairy), crop cultivation (particularly pastures), and maple syrup production. With a deep understanding of agricultural production, René contributes significantly to the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) as the Chair. Additionally, he serves as the vice-chair of Swine Innovation Porc, responsible for managing the research cluster of the Canadian pork industry. René also contributes his expertise to organizations such as the Beauce Economic Center Board of Directors and the Institute of Governance of Public and Private Organizations (IGOPP) Young Directors Program. René's academic background includes a Doctorate in Agricultural Economics from McGill University, where his research focused on estimating environmental goods and services from agriculture for decision-making purposes. He also holds a Master's degree and Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics from McGill University, along with a Diploma of College Studies (DEC) in Horticultural Production and Environmental Techniques from the Institut de Technologie Agroalimentaire de Saint-Hyacinthe. René's contributions extend beyond the agricultural sector, as he has been involved in community service and educational initiatives. He has served as a trainer for the Center for Volunteer Action Beauce-Etchemin, teaching about the powers, roles, and responsibilities of administrators. René has also been a guest lecturer and course instructor at McGill University, sharing his knowledge and experience in agri-food marketing, agricultural and natural resource policies, and applied econometrics. Throughout his career, René has received numerous honors and distinctions for his academic achievements, leadership, and contributions to the agricultural community. He is committed to promoting sustainable agricultural practices, advancing animal welfare standards, and advocating for the interests of pork producers in Canada. René Roy's diverse experiences, deep expertise in agricultural economics, and active involvement in industry organizations make him a respected leader and advocate for the Canadian pork industry.
Cristiano Fini, an agricultural entrepreneur from Castelfranco Emilia, in the Modena area, where he owns a winery with 13 hectares of organic vineyards. Former president of Cia Emilia-Romagna since 2018 and, previously, of Cia Modena. He is a member of the CNEL (National Council for Economy and Labor) and of the ISPI (Institute for International Political Studies) and is on the board of directors of Cantine Riunite Civ. He was also a member of the Modena Chamber of Commerce Council. He has been at the helm of Cia-Agricoltori Italiani since May 20, 2022.
Agnieszka is the First Vice President of COGECA and the President of the Board and Director of the Office of the Polish Chamber of Milk. Since 2002, she has been the organizer of the international dairy sector conference – currently the International Dairy Community Forum, a conference with a very high substantive level with the participation of experts from around the world, politicians and diplomats. She is the initiator of the establishment (in 2008) of the Polish Chamber of Milk and has been acting as President of the Board and Director of the Office of the Polish Milk Chamber, the largest dairy industry organization in Poland. From 2019, she serves as the First Vice President of COGECA - the largest and most influential agriculture cooperatives representation organization in Europe.
Nikolaus Berlakovich is an Austrian Farmer and politician who, since 2018, has served as President of the Burgenland Chamber of Agriculture. Prior to this, he was member of parliament for the state of Burgeland from 1991 to 2005 and was later appointed Austrian Agriculture and Environment Minister from 2008 until 2013. Mr. Berlakovich presides over the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture's Committee of Plant Protection, while also holding leadership roles within the Burgenland Croatian community. Mr Berlakovich holds the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria. He studied crop production at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, where he graduated from in 1985.
Maurizio Martina is Deputy Director-General, supporting the Director General in different external and internal strategic matters. A national of Italy, he holds both a master’s degree in political science and international Relations, and a bachelor’s degree in political science and international Relations from the University of Macerata in Italy. Prior to joining FAO, Mr. Martina served as a Member of the Italian Parliament at the House of Representatives as well as Member of the Agricultural Commission in Rome, Italy. Between 2013 and 2015, he held various roles in the Government of Italy with increasing responsibility both as Delegate Responsible for Expo Milano 2015 and Undersecretary of State of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. From 2014 to 2018, he was Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry in the Government of Italy. He has joined FAO in 2021, at first as Special Adviser to the Director-General, Office of the Director-General, and then as Assistant Director-General, Office of the Director-General at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. He provides strategic direction and oversight over the Corporate Logistics and Operational Support Stream of the Organization and leads on FAO’s partnerships and cooperation with the Host Government, the European Union, as well as UN entities, civil society organizations, private sector and other non-state actors.
Ettore Prandini is the national President of Coldiretti. Graduated in Law, Prandini leads a dairy cattle breeding company and runs a Lugana wine production company. He is also Vice President of the Italian Breeders Association and President of the Italian Experimental Institute "L. Spallanzani”.
Jorge is a shareholder and Executive Committee member at ECOM Agroindustrial, a global leader in trading coffee, cocoa, and cotton, with operations in 45 countries. He is also Chairman of Grupo COPRI, a major Mexican real estate and infrastructure firm. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at HSBC in Latin America, including CEO of Insurance, Pensions, and Investments, and founded the bank’s Corporate Sustainability department in Mexico. Jorge sits on the boards of several leading companies, including Telmex and Aeroméxico, and is a member of the Mexican Business Council. Since February 2025, he has served as President of Mexico’s National Agricultural Council. He holds an MBA from Kellogg and lives in Mexico City with his wife and three children.
Johanna Hill is a Deputy Director-General at the World Trade Organization, a position she assumed on 13 November 2023. With over 30 years of experience in international trade, Ms Hill, a native of El Salvador, has collaborated with governments and businesses to foster economic development through international policy and trade negotiations. Before joining the WTO, Ms Hill advised firms and SMEs on trade regulations, foreign direct investment strategies, and market access. She has also held senior roles in financial institutions and has leadership experience in telecommunications regulation. Additionally, she served as Vice Minister of Economy for El Salvador, where she oversaw trade policy formulation and negotiated both bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. In her role as Deputy Director-General, Ms Hill leads the WTO’s work on economic research and statistics, digital trade, intellectual property, government procurement, competition, trade in services and investment, and documentation and information management. She holds a bachelor's degree from Tufts University and a master’s degree from Columbia University and serves on the board of TradeExperettes.
Zippy Duvall leads the American Farm Bureau Federation, serving as president for nearly a decade. He is a third-generation farmer from Georgia. He and his son operate a beef cow herd, raise broiler chickens, and are continuing to restore the farmland that has been in the family for more than 90 years. Through his leadership, Duvall helped to shape the 2018 farm bill and is working to ensure Congress passes a new, modernized farm bill that effectively supports farmers and ranchers. He has helped defeat misguided regulations, shepherd new trade agreements, and in 2024, stopped Wall Street regulations from hitting farms and played a key role in securing $30 billion in aid for farmers and ranchers hit hard by natural and economic disasters. Duvall was honored by the National 4-H Council as a founding luminary, a group of influential 4-H alumni. Prior to being elected AFBF president, he was president of the Georgia Farm Bureau and served on the AFBF board of directors. In 1987, he also served on the AFBF board as Young Farmer Committee chair. Duvall and his wife, Jennifer, were married in December 2021. Both lost their first spouses to illnesses but found new joy in each other, along with their six children and ten grandchildren.
Guillaume Gruere is Head of Agriculture and Resource Policies Division at OECD. Guillaume heads the Agriculture and Resource Policies Division at the OECD, which oversees OECD’s policy work on agriculture and fisheries, including on agricultural resilience. Before this position, he spent 10 years as a Senior Policy Analyst, leading projects on climate change, water and resilience issues in agriculture. Prior to joining the OECD, he was a Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington DC, conducting research on agriculture, environment and trade issues in Asian and African countries. Mr Gruere holds a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California Davis and a double MS in Environment and Natural Resource Economics and Agronomic Engineering from AgroParisTech.
Pedro Barato Triguero is the current president of the Spanish Agrarian Association of Young Farmers (ASAJA), an organization that represents the interests of Spanish farmers and ranchers. Born in 1959 in Calzada de Calatrava, in the province of Ciudad Real, Barato has been involved in the agricultural world from a young age, working on his father's family farm. Since joining ASAJA in 1988, he has worked to improve the situation of farmers and ranchers, promoting policies and programs that foster sustainability, competitiveness, and growth in the Spanish agricultural sector. He is recognized as an influential figure in the agricultural sector and a passionate advocate for farmers' rights. He holds a law degree and has been a member of the National Confederation of Farmers and Ranchers (CNAG) since 1978. In 1988, he led the merger of three agricultural organizations to form the main Spanish Agrarian Organization, ASAJA.
Leonardo Pofferi has served as Vice-President of Cogeca since 2020, representing Europe’s agrifood cooperatives at the highest level. He sits on the board of Cooperatives Europe, the umbrella organisation for cooperatives across the continent, and was a board member of Social Economy Europe from 2022 to 2024. An alternate member of the European Economic and Social Committee since 2019, he previously chaired Cogeca’s Cooperative Coordination Committee (2016–2019). Since 2014, Leonardo has been the permanent representative in Brussels for Alliance of Italian Cooperatives – Agrifood, representing over 5,000 cooperatives, 720,000 producers with €34 billion in turnover. Leonardo is married with two children.
Søren Søndergaard is the President of Danish Agriculture & Food Council – since November 2020 and the 2nd Vice President of Copa – since 2024. He runs the farmstead Baldershave between Vejle and Billund in the western part of Denmark. The farm has been owned by the family since 1877 and he is the fifth generation on the farm. Søren holds a degree in agricultural economics from the Vejlby Agricultural School in Aarhus. Has been a self-employed farmer since 2004 and produces 1,100 sows and 35,000 piglets for Danish Crown. He runs 900 hectares in a joint operation with his parents, where they grow cereals, rape seed, grain and potatoes and he breeds suckler cows on 100 hectares. He spent a year in Australia, working on a sheep farm and is a conscript in the Royal Danish Navy. Søren is married to Ingebeth Lundgaard-Karlshøj and father of four children.
Rogelio is a farmer and Agricultural Vice President of the National Agricultural Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Monterrey in 1983. Fourth-generation farmer since 1985 with nearly 40 years of experience in the field. He is a producer of grains and oilseeds in the northern part of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Since 2012 he has been the Agricultural Vice-President of the National Agricultural Council and the President of the Matamoros Agricultural Association since 2007. Since 2013 he is also the President of Granos “La Adelita” and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Dr. Francisco Galván Malo, since 2000. Among others he is also a Member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Users of Bajo Bravo and a Member of the Administration Council of Banorte Bank in the Northern part of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Rogelio also acts as Global Advisor to Bayer AG. He boosts extensive experience in the production, administration, storage, preservation, assurance and commercialization of grains and oilseeds. He has participated in multiple thematic forums and conferences on agricultural production, genetically modified organisms and international water treaty.
Donald Killorn is the Executive Director of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture (PEIFA). A native of Charlottetown, PEI, Donald studied at the University of Prince Edward Island and has built a career at the intersection of sustainability, policy, and rural economies. He specializes in developing innovative strategies to quantify sustainability and integrate it into complex agricultural systems. Prior to his role at PEIFA, Donald worked with fishermen on the Belize Barrier Reef and shellfish harvesters in the Bay of Fundy, gaining hands-on experience in coastal and marine sustainability before returning home to support the farming community on Prince Edward Island.
Antonello Capua, 52, is a chartered accountant and has served as President of AGCI Agroalimentare (General Association of Italian Cooperatives – Agri-food Sector) since January 2025. With a degree in Economics, Finance and Business Management Law, he is a specialist in management, finance, and cooperative governance. He has long been committed to the promotion of agri-food cooperation and serves as liquidator, auditor, and bankruptcy trustee for cooperative enterprises. Capua is also Vice President of the Consorzio Allevatori Bufalini dell'Amaseno and was formerly Director and General Manager of Amaseno Società Cooperativa Agricola, producer of buffalo mozzarella under the L’Amasena brand.
Cristian Maretti, 55, is President of Legacoop Agroalimentare and a prominent figure in Italian agricultural cooperation. With a background rooted in Emilia-Romagna, he holds a degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Bologna and a postgraduate diploma in Agri-food Business Management from the CIHEAM in Montpellier. A longstanding advocate for cooperative development, Maretti is Vice President of Fruttagel and AOP Viva, Italy’s largest fruit and vegetable producers’ organisation. He also serves on the Presidential Council of Legacoop Nazionale and has been a board member of Coopfond. Since taking the helm of Legacoop Agroalimentare in 2020, he has steered the organisation through major challenges, including the Covid-19 crisis and fisheries disruption caused by the spread of blue crab. His leadership has focused on innovation, sustainability, supply chain enhancement, institutional advocacy, market access, and internationalisation. Central to his vision is supporting farmers' incomes and promoting the Mediterranean Diet, Italian agri-food excellence, and cooperative human capital development.
Since December 2024, Raffaele Drei has served as the National President of Confcooperative Fedagripesca, the federation representing agricultural, agri-food, fishing, and aquaculture cooperatives adhering to Confcooperative. His appointment marks the culmination of a professional journey entirely dedicated to enhancing the cooperative model, based on the ability to unite, engage in dialogue, and create shared value. An agricultural entrepreneur and owner of a fruit and vegetable company, Drei began his leadership path in 1997, when he became President of PAF cooperative in Faenza. Moving from this foundation, he promoted a visionary development and aggregation process that brought together several local entities. This initiative led, in 2007, to the establishment of Agrintesa: a key player that, under his presidency until 2018, grew to over 9,000 hectares of orchards, 7,000 hectares of vineyards, and approximately 4,000 member farms. In 2019, he was appointed President of Valfrutta Fresco Spa, a commercial company of the Apo Conerpo Group, and since 2021, he has held the position of Vice President of Conserve Italia. In this role, he contributes to the governance of one of the most important cooperative groups in the food processing sector, which values the work of its members through historic brands such as Valfrutta, Cirio, Yoga, and Derby Blue. Prior to assuming his national role, he successfully led Fedagripesca Confcooperative Emilia-Romagna until December 2024. Raffaele Drei is a concrete example of how leadership in the cooperative world is built on trust, shared objectives, and the ability to unite forces to face market challenges, ensuring growth and a sustainable future for member agricultural enterprises.
Oklahoma County horticulturalist Rodd Moesel was elected president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at the organization’s 76th annual meeting on Norman. Moesel and his wife, Dona, own and operate American Plant Products and Services in western Oklahoma City. The grandson of dairy farmers and lifelong Farm Bureau members, Moesel grew up on a vegetable farm and greenhouse operation. He first became involved in the farm organization as a 4-H member. Moesel has been a member of the Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Dean’s Advisory Committee for more than 20 years, has served as Oklahoma 4-H Foundation president, and co-chairs the OSU Foundation agriculture fundraising committee. He is a graduate of the Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Program, Leadership Oklahoma City and Leadership Oklahoma. He also is one of two Oklahoma representatives on the National Council of Agricultural Research, Education and Teaching.
Diane Zune is the EU Government and Industry Affairs Manager at Corteva, where she leads engagement with the European Parliament and oversees public affairs across Northern Europe. With a strong background in agricultural policy, she previously served at Belplant, the Belgian Luxembourgish association for crop protection, where she advocated for science-based policies that deliver a toolbox as comprehensive as possible for farmers. Diane began her career in public service, working on participative democracy initiatives within the Brussels Regional Parliament and for a mayoral office in Alsace, France. Her academic background includes two master’s degrees: one in International Relations with a focus on the Middle East from Université Catholique de Louvain, and another in Crisis and Security Management from Leiden University, in the Netherlands.
The Honorable Michelle Bekkering is the Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she advances opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, and foresters in global markets. Raised on a family farm in Iowa, she has dedicated her career to international development and economic growth, overseeing U.S. investments that foster stability and open markets for American exports. Previously, she served as Assistant Administrator at USAID, where she launched the Agency’s Private Sector Engagement policy, forging over 300 partnerships and leveraging $4.5 billion in funding. She also played a key role in the White House’s Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative. Her earlier experience includes senior roles at the International Republican Institute, the National Security Council, and the U.S. House of Representatives. Michelle Bekkering lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and daughter.
Kendall is Senior Director, Biofuels at Corteva Agriscience. In this role, Kendall helps develop and implement Corteva’ s Biofuel Strategy. Kendall joined Pioneer Hi-Bred in 1992. During his 33-year career with the company, he has held several leadership positions in Global Seed Operations in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. In Europe Kendall led the European Seed Production and Supply Chain organization. Kendall grew up on a grain and livestock farm in Dysart Iowa and now resides with his family in Johnston, Iowa.
Born in Padua in 1967, she holds a degree in Public Relations from the IULM University in Milan and is the mother of two daughters. Since 1990, she has been active in the family business dedicated to agricultural machinery, first in Maschio then Maschio Gaspardo, with roles within group companies. These include Terranova spa and later, after the purchase in 1998 of Carraro F.lli spa, in Mascar spa established in the same year - a company in Grumolo delle Abbadesse (VI) specialising in haymaking and sowing machinery with a complete range of round balers, wrappers, pneumatic and mechanical seeders - of which she is currently Managing Director and Commercial Director. A director of FederUnacoma since 2018, she was appointed President of the Federation in July 2023.
Nicola Bertinelli, born on October 10, 1972, in Medesano (PR), is the CEO of the Bertinelli Farming Company, which has been operating in Medesano, in the hills outside Parma, since 1895, producing Parmigiano Reggiano DOP. He has a unique educational background: after earning degrees in Agricultural Sciences and Economics and Business from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Nicola Bertinelli moved to Canada to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the prestigious Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Guelph. He remained in North America for over three years, working as an assistant professor. Upon returning to Italy, Nicola Bertinelli took over the reins of the family business, alongside his father Gianni. On April 8, 2017, he was elected president of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium for the first time; his second term began on April 17, 2021. the third on April 15, 2025.
Commissioner Hansen has been actively working at EU level on issues relating to agriculture, the environment and trade, in various capacities since 2007. From 2018 to 2024, he was a member of the European Parliament. Prior to that, he worked at Luxembourg's Permanent Representation to the EU and the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, among others. In 2023, he was elected to Luxembourg's national parliament, where he served until the European elections in June 2024. Christophe Hansen was born in 1982 in Wiltz, Luxembourg. He holds a master's degree in geosciences, environmental sciences and risk management from the Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. Commissioner Hansen speaks Luxembourgish, English, French, German, Spanish and some basic Dutch.
Isabel van Zeller Basto has been an agronomist since 2004, after graduating from the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro in Portugal. In 2010, she was awarded a PhD by the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Piacenza, Italy, where her research focused on the agro-food system, with particular emphasis on varietal resistance to stress. She is currently the permanent representative in Brussels of Confagri – the Portuguese Confederation of Farmers’ Cooperatives, acting as both expert and liaison within Copa-Cogeca. In this role, Isabel actively promotes and defends the interests of agri-food cooperatives and farmers at European level.
Claudia Merlino is a senior professional with extensive experience in public affairs, institutional relations, and negotiation at both national and European level. She is currently National Head of Green Economy and Sustainability at CIA – Italian Farmers, where she coordinates strategies and best practices for 900,000 members. At EU level, she serves as a Member of the European Board for Agriculture and Food (EBAF) and President of GEOPA-COPA, representing agricultural employers in European social dialogue. She is also a Board Member and Chair of the Sustainability Committee at Unipol Assicurazioni S.p.A., and sits on the Board of the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces. Previously, Claudia was Director General of CIA Italian Farmers (2019–2022) and has held senior roles in labour relations, agricultural economics, and governance. She holds a degree in Philosophy from Sapienza University of Rome and is fluent in English and French.
As the third-generation on his family’s farm, Mayberry, 56, and his wife, Lynn, along with their three children, farm more than 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans as well as raise a herd of 200 beef cattle near Hurricane Mills. Their involvement in Tennessee Farm Bureau has been extensive. They first became involved through the Young Farmers and Ranchers program. Mayberry then began serving on the Humphreys County Farm Bureau Board of Directors in 1988 where he served as vice president and president. He was first elected to the Tennessee Farm Bureau Board of Directors representing District II in 2005 and then was elected vice president in 2015 where he has provided leadership for the past six years. As president of Tennessee Farm Bureau, Mayberry serves and represents more than 680,000 family members of the organization. He works with county, district, state and national leadership, partners in the agricultural industry, lawmakers and other decision makers to ensure agriculture and rural Tennessee remain prosperous and successful.
LUIS FERNANDO HARO ENCINAS is an Agronomist Engineer specialised in Phytotechnology, with advanced studies in Agribusiness and Senior Management. Over his career, he has held leadership roles across producer organisations, advisory boards, and strategic institutions within Mexico’s agri-food sector. A co-founder of the Mexican Wine Council and former President of Mexico Supreme Quality (2016–2018), he has also contributed regularly as a columnist and advisor on agricultural and business issues. Since 2010, he has served as General Director of the National Agricultural Council of Mexico, representing and promoting the country’s agricultural sector at the national and international level.
Renato Zaghini was elected president of the Grana Padano Protection Consortium on July 2, 2020, by the board of directors elected in April at the general assembly of producers of the world's most consumed protected designation of origin cheese, with over 5.2 million wheels produced annually. Sixty-nine years old, he is married and has two sons, aged 44 and 42, who now run the family business, a medium-sized dairy farm in Bagnolo San Vito, in the province of Mantua. Zaghini's life was soon divided between the livestock farm and the Caseificio Europeo, where his father worked as a laborer. He soon became passionate about the work of agricultural organizations, including Coldiretti, where he also held positions. This commitment, along with his cooperative work, saw him elected president of Caseificio Europeo Società Agricola Cooperativa in Bagnolo San Vito, a producer of Grana Padano D.O.P., in 1997, during one of the most delicate moments in the management of milk quotas in Europe. During those years, he worked intensely to reach agreements that reconciled compliance with the law with the protection of livestock farms.
