Her Excellency Ambassador Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, born on 20 February 1966 in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, currently serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Italy and as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations Agencies in Rome. In this capacity, she holds the position of Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and Vice-Chair of the FAO Programme Committee, reflecting her deep commitment to global food governance and multilateral diplomacy. Ambassador Jezile’s distinguished career spans both national and international arenas.

In 2023, she chaired the African Regional Group in Rome, and between 2021 and 2023, she served as an Alternate Member of the CFS Bureau. Her leadership extended to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme in 2022 and the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization from 2021 to 2023. Within South Africa, she led the Directors-General Cluster for International Cooperation, Trade and Security in 2020, and previously chaired the Committee of the Whole at the UNCCD COP 13.

Throughout her career, Ambassador Jezile has represented South Africa at numerous global conventions and conferences, including those focused on climate change, biodiversity, endangered species (CITES), and sustainable development. Her expertise was further recognized through her membership in the OECD Environmental Policy Committee in 2019 and the Council of the Global Environmental Facility. She has also served on the governing boards of key national institutions, including the South African National Biodiversity Institute and the South African Tourism Board. Ambassador Jezile has played a pivotal role in South Africa’s international environmental reporting, overseeing country reports on the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements such as the Basel and Stockholm Conventions, the UNFCCC, the Convention on Biological Diversity and its protocols, and the UNCCD. As a focal point for the Global Environment Facility, she has led country evaluations and contributed to strategic environmental planning. Her publications include foundational national strategies such as the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), the National Adaptation Plans under both UNCCD and UNFCCC, the Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Strategy, and South Africa’s first version of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

She has also contributed to the development and amendment of South Africa’s National Environmental Management Laws up to 2020. Ambassador Jezile’s public service journey includes twelve years as Director General of the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, later restructured as Environmental Affairs and subsequently Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. Her tenure was marked by visionary leadership in policy development, innovation, and evidence-based program implementation.

She played a formative role in advancing Agenda 21 and the Millennium Development Goals, and under her stewardship, South Africa adopted the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She was instrumental in inscribing additional World Heritage Sites under UNESCO and in negotiating international agreements to combat desertification and improve agricultural productivity. Her leadership also enabled the successful hosting of UNFCCC COP 17 in Durban, a milestone event that paved the way for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Academically, Ambassador Jezile holds a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Biochemistry and Physiology from the University of the Western Cape, where she also earned a Higher Diploma in Education with distinction in Physical Science and Geography. She has pursued advanced studies in management and leadership, including certification in total quality management and organizational leadership, and completed the prestigious Advanced Management Program (AMP188) at Harvard Business School. Her academic journey began at Nyanga Senior Secondary School, where she matriculated in 1984 with senior certification for university entrance. Ambassador Jezile’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to environmental stewardship, sustainable development, and international cooperation, making her one of South Africa’s most respected voices in global diplomacy.

Edith Heines is the Director of the Programme, Policy and Guidance Division which provides strategic, normative and technical guidance and support to WFP regional bureaux and country offices needed to effectively design, integrate, and im-plement programmes across the diverse set of contexts in which WFP operates, from emergencies to protracted crises. Prior to taking up her current assignment, Ms. Heines led the Cash-Based Transfers Division, overseeing the development and approval of WFP’s Cash Policy.

Throughout her 25-year ca-reer with WFP, Ms. Heines has served in various roles, includ-ing as Country Director and Representative, in operations in Rwanda, Somalia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, DPR Korea and Ne-pal. Prior to joining WFP, she worked with “Education for De-velopment” (VVOB) in Gabon and Vietnam. Ms. Heines, a Belgian national, holds a Masters in Psychology from the Catholic University of Leuven, and completed a Post-graduate Programme in Behavioural Therapy in Antwerp. She is married with two children.

Mr Conor Elliott is a Senior Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and serves as Team Leader of the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) initiative within the Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER). Before assuming his current role at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Mr Elliott served as Senior Liaison Officer at the FAO Office in New York, where he acted as the focal point for the GNAFC. In this capacity, he played a key role in advancing global recognition of the importance of agriculture in food crisis contexts, strengthening humanitarian policy support for anticipatory action, and promoting humanitarian–development–peace (HDP) nexus approaches to address acute food insecurity.

He also helped to position FAO’s technical expertise and engagement within key intergovernmental fora, including the UN Security Council. From 2017 to 2019, Mr Elliott worked with FAO’s Emergency and Rehabilitation Division (TCE) in Rome and across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, contributing to the advancement of FAO’s emergency and resilience agenda. Prior to joining FAO, he held various positions in the international non-governmental sector and the private sector, with extensive experience in humanitarian programme design, operations management in food crisis settings, donor relations, and technical assistance.

H.E. Major General Salem Abdullah Al-Socotri has been serving as Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries in the Government of Yemen since December 2020. He was born and raised in a rural farming and fishing community on the island of Socotra, one of the world’s most unique biodiversity hotspots, which shaped his early awareness of the importance of natural resources and the need to preserve and develop them. He has extensive experience in leadership, administration, and public service, having held several senior positions in the state, most notably as Governor of Socotra, where he contributed to advancing local development and managing natural resources. In his ministerial role, he leads government efforts to develop and regulate the agricultural and fisheries sectors, reform irrigation systems, and enhance national food security and production efficiency.

He has actively participated in the design and implementation of national strategies in partnership with international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as the European Union and the World Bank, to support stability and sustainable development. H.E. Al-Socotri represents Yemen in regional and international forums and conferences on climate change, food security, water resource sustainability, and the development of agriculture and fisheries. He holds the rank of Major General and is recognized for his leadership and ability to manage major national portfolios with responsibility and transparency. He strongly believes in the importance of building effective international partnerships to achieve sustainable development. Minister Al-Socotri places particular emphasis on the issue of food security and nutrition in protracted crises, making him an active participant in the Global Thematic Event during CFS 53.

Mr Fakhri is a professor at the University of Oregon School of Law where he teaches courses on human rights, food law, development, and commercial law. He is also the director of the Food Resiliency Project in the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center. He was appointed Special Rapporteur on the right to food by the Human Rights Council in March 2020 and assumed his functions on 1 May 2020.

Tanguy Stehelin a été nommé Ambassadeur, Représentant permanent de la France auprès des Nations Unies à Rome, à compter du 13 mars 2025. Il a pris ses fonctions le 29 avril 2025. Diplomate de carrière, il a occupé de nombreuses fonctions multilatérales et juridiques. Tanguy Stehelin est diplômé de l’Ecole Supérieur de Commerce de Paris (1999), de l’Institut d’Etudes politiques de Paris (2002) et de l’Ecole Nationale d’Administration (promotion Romain Gary, 2005). Entré au Quai d’Orsay en 2005, il rejoint la Direction des affaires juridiques où il est notamment consultant juridique au sein de la sous-direction du droit international public en charge des questions de droit international humanitaire/ONU (Moyen-Orient) / questions industrielles, de défense et nucléaires. De juillet 2009 à décembre 2010, il est détaché auprès du Ministère de l'Economie et des Finances en qualité de chargé d’affaires (Réseau Ferré de France, Air-France/KLM) à l'Agence des Participations de l'État (APE), en charge de la définition de la politique de l’Etat actionnaire dans les entreprises publiques, et de la gestion patrimoniale des participations publiques. De décembre 2010 à septembre 2014, il est chef de bureau opérateurs de transport – secteur ferroviaire à l’APE (Air-France/KLM, SNCF, RATP, RFF, SNCM). Il exerce les fonctions de membre du Conseil d’administration de Réseau Ferré de France (RFF), du Conseil de surveillance de la SNCM, et du GEIE ARTE. En octobre 2014, il réintègre le Ministère des affaires étrangères pour occuper jusqu’en décembre 2016, le poste de conseiller juridique, Chef de pôle droits de l’homme/élections/francophonie/réforme de l’ONU à la Représentation permanente de la France auprès des Nations-Unies à New York. Il exerce à cette occasion comme conseiller juridique pendant la COP 21 sur l’accord de Paris, auprès du Ministre des affaires étrangères et Président de la COP, M. Laurent Fabius. De janvier 2017 à octobre 2019, il est Conseiller personnel du Secrétaire Général des Nations-Unies, M. Antonio Guterres au sein du Secrétariat général de l’Organisation des Nations-Unies (ONU) à New York. D’octobre 2019 à avril 2025, il est directeur adjoint en charge des affaires européennes au sein de la direction des affaires juridiques du Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires Etrangères. Il exerce comme chef de délégation française en mars 2023 pour la conclusion aux Nations-Unies du Traité BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction). Parallèlement à ses activités professionnelles, il a été auditeur au Collège des hautes études de l'Institut diplomatique (cycle 2019-2020) Il est également diplômé de l’Université Paris-X Nanterre maîtrise de droit privé général et d’une licence de philosophie à l’Université Paris-IV Sorbonne.

Tanguy Stehelin was appointed Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in Rome as of 13 March 2025. He took office on 29 April 2025. A career diplomat, he has held numerous multilateral and legal positions. Tanguy Stehelin is a graduate of ESCP Business School (1999), Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) (2002) and the French National School of Public Administration (ENA) (“Romain Gary” year, 2005). After arriving at the Foreign Ministry in 2005, he joined the Legal Affairs Directorate, where he was legal adviser at the international public law department responsible for international humanitarian law/UN issues (Middle East)/industrial, defence and nuclear issues. From July 2009 to December 2010, he was seconded to the Ministry of the Economy and Finance as chargé d’affaires (Réseau Ferré de France, Air-France/KLM), at the French Government Shareholding Agency (APE), responsible for defining shareholder state policy in public-owned companies, and the asset management of state holdings. From December 2010 to September 2014, he was head of the transport operators office – APE rail sector (Air-France/KLM, SNCF, RATP, RFF, SNCM). He was a member of the board of directors of RFF, and of the supervisory board of SNCM and the ARTE European Economic Interest Grouping. In October 2014, he re-joined the French Foreign Ministry until December 2016, holding the position of legal adviser, head of the human rights/elections/Francophonie/UN reform unit at the Permanent Representation of France to the United Nations in New York. During that period, he was legal adviser during the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP President, Mr Laurent Fabius. From January 2017 to October 2019, he was personal adviser to United Nations Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres, at the United Nations Secretariat in New York. From October 2019 to April 2025, he was Deputy Director for European Affairs within the Legal Affairs Directorate at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. In March 2023, he was Head of the French delegation for the conclusion of the UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. In parallel with his professional activities, he was auditor at the Diplomatic Institute’s College of Advanced Studies (CHEID) (2019-2020 cycle). He is also a graduate of Paris X Nanterre University (master’s in general private law) and holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Paris IV Sorbonne.

Joanna Francis is a Senior Adviser at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), where she leads on global nutrition policy and programming. Over the past eight years at the FCDO, she has served as a Food and Agriculture Adviser for the Sahel and Nigeria, and more recently has shaped the UK’s nutrition portfolio from headquarters. Prior to joining the FCDO, Joanna spent five years as Senior Adviser for Food Security and Nutrition at Concern Worldwide, working across humanitarian and development contexts. She holds an MSc in Environmental Change and International Development.