Alison Blay-Palmer, the UNESCO Chair on Food Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies, is the founding Director for the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and a Professor in Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. Alison collaborates with academics and practitioners across Canada and internationally including partners in Australia, Brazil, France, India, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda and the United States.

Alison has been a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists since 2016. She is the Principal Investigator on Food Learning and Growing (FLOW) that includes research and monitoring over 5 years in eight territorial food systems. Her research on sustainable food systems, biodiversity and community resilience builds on civil society engagement and innovative governance.

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.