Ansa Van Vuuren
Pretoria
Summary
Passionate about development and innovation in agriculture to increase food production sustainably. Experienced in both government and private sector agricultural research and development areas in a wide range of crops and disciplines. Detail-orientated, results based focus and analytical thinker with excellent communication and problem solving skills. Good understanding of management of support functions, such as finance, supply chain, facilities, OHS. legal, HCM and IP within a research environment and business unit.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Research Manager
Agricultural Research Council
04.2016 - Current
- Provide scientific leadership on all research and development initiatives on plant health.
- Ensure availability of expertise to translate research results into products and solutions.
- Oversee, monitor, evaluate and communicate the status of implementation of all research and development initiatives.
- Ensure the effective functioning of the business unit, including support functions.
- Manage business risks by identifying and developing appropriate risk management strategies, including compliance.
- Provide scientific and high quality leadership in various aspects of agricultural development and technology transfer on plant health.
- exhibit knowledge of and, where applicable involvement in collaborative research with other institutions across the range of disciplines relevant to the work of the ARC.
Regulatory Science Project Coordinator
Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc
08.2013 - 03.2016
- Source and co-ordinate CRO's to provide support for implementation of regulatory field trials according to RSA requirements for new and existing regulated genetic events in maize and soy.
- Ensure contractual obligations were met by CRO's.
- Assist with trial planning, design and protocol development.
- Oversee planting, manage and maintain multiple regulatory field sites during the season and ensure data were collected according to the protocols.
Senior Plant Breeder
Starke Ayres Seed (Pty) Ltd
01.2009 - 07.2013
- Manage can co-ordinate all aspects of a commercial tomato and pepper breeding program in the categories of indeterminate, determinate, fresh, processing and niche, focusing yield, quality and disease resistance, utilizing conventional breeding technologies and incorporating MAS.
Agricultural Research and Development Manager
Peppadew International (Pty) Ltd
06.2003 - 12.2008
- Identify and address critical research areas in the complete value chain of agricultural production and agro-processing of Capsicum baccatum var. Piquante.
- Breeding program (80%) and sub-contracted research projects (20%).
General Manager
Du Roi Multiplant (Pty) Ltd - R & D
10.1999 - 05.2003
- Identify research focus areas and design program with milestone deliverables to commercialize process for production of clonal papaya plants (SPII - Support Programme for Industrial Innovation - IDC).
- Developed infrastructure for implementation of the program.
- Manage financial aspects of SPII project.
- Manage commercial aspects of Multiplant.
Temporary Teacher
Merensky Agricultural High School
09.1998 - 09.1999
Seed Production Manager
Lonrho Cotton
08.1995 - 08.1998
- Imported cotton varieties for evaluation in various areas in SA.
- Management of all aspects relating to multi-locational trials.
- Management of all aspects relating to cotton seed production.
Plant Breeder
Agricultural Research Council
01.1994 - 07.1995
- Management of nematode resistance breeding program for air-cured tobacco with with special reference to the development of selection techniques.
Assistant
University Of Free State
01.1992 - 12.1993
- Student assistant to wheat breeder.
- SDS-PAGE analysis of high molecular weight protein in wheat in support of PhD study.
- Planting of annual wheat breeding evaluation trials.
- Assisting with artificial hybridization in greenhouse.
Education
Ph.D. - Plant Breeding
University of Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa2008
Master of Science - Plant Breeding
University of Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa1999
BSc Agric Honors Cum Laude - Plant Breeding
University of Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa1993
BSc Agric - Agronomy And Plant Genetics
University of Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa1992
Skills
- Strategic thinking
- Problem solving
- Multi-disciplinary project management
- Integrated disciplinary approach of projects
- Good communication and presentation skills
- Financial management of business unit
- Management of support functions
Accomplishments
- Obtained USA PVP registration for Capsicum var Juanita (SA Piquante) in 2005 following the abandonment of the application by the USDA.
Timeline
Senior Research Manager
Agricultural Research Council
04.2016 - Current
Regulatory Science Project Coordinator
Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc
08.2013 - 03.2016
Senior Plant Breeder
Starke Ayres Seed (Pty) Ltd
01.2009 - 07.2013
Agricultural Research and Development Manager
Peppadew International (Pty) Ltd
06.2003 - 12.2008
General Manager
Du Roi Multiplant (Pty) Ltd - R & D
10.1999 - 05.2003
Temporary Teacher
Merensky Agricultural High School
09.1998 - 09.1999
Seed Production Manager
Lonrho Cotton
08.1995 - 08.1998
Plant Breeder
Agricultural Research Council
01.1994 - 07.1995
Assistant
University Of Free State
01.1992 - 12.1993
Ph.D. - Plant Breeding
University of Free State
Master of Science - Plant Breeding
University of Free State
BSc Agric Honors Cum Laude - Plant Breeding
University of Free State
BSc Agric - Agronomy And Plant Genetics
University of Free State
Similar Profiles
Marcia VriesMarcia Vries
Data Editor at Agricultural Research CouncilData Editor at Agricultural Research Council
JARPAN BHUJELJARPAN BHUJEL
Research assistant at National Agricultural Research Council (NARC)Research assistant at National Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
PREETI GABA NAGPALPREETI GABA NAGPAL
Office Coordinator at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), IARI PusaOffice Coordinator at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), IARI Pusa