Prof. Aaron Cowieson hails originally from Scotland, having read for his PhD at the University of Aberdeen, completing in 2001.  From 2001-2010, Prof. Cowieson worked for two major biotechnology businesses where his research focus was feed enzymes, ingredient quality and amino acid and mineral nutrition of poultry.  From 2010-2013 Prof. Cowieson was Associate Professor of Poultry Nutrition and Director of the Poultry Research Foundation within the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Currently Prof. Cowieson is Senior Science Fellow and Head of Digital Consultancy & Solutions at DSM-Firmenich.  Prof. Cowieson has published more than 350 scientific articles including more than 200 in peer-reviewed journals, 7 book chapters and 18 international patents. Prof. Cowieson was the 2016 recipient of the Poultry Nutrition Research Award from the American Feed Industry Association and the 2019 recipient of the Life Mentor Award by the Poultry Science Association.  In addition to his role with DSM he is retained as Adjunct Professor of Animal Science at Purdue University in the United States and Honorary Governor of the Poultry Research Foundation at the University of Sydney.

Daniel Parker qualified from Cambridge University Veterinary School in 1983 and for a period worked in mixed practice.   He became involved with the poultry industry in 1992 whilst working for Intervet Technical Services. In 1996 he established Slate Hall Veterinary Practice and over the next 22 years led the growth from a single man practice with one location to a multi-centred and multi-vet practice which provides diagnostic services to a wide range of poultry producers in the UK and internationally. In 2018 he sold his shares in the practice but still remains as an emeritus director supporting the ongoing directors and veterinarians in the practices.

In addition to clinical work and other consultancy work Daniel is the veterinary advisor to the British Poultry Council, the trade body of the poultry meat sector in UK,  a board member of AHWBE, an external consultant to FAO  and visiting lecturer at Cambridge University Veterinary School. He has authored a number of scientific publications and been a guest speaker at numerous veterinary conferences.

Fifi Zaefarian works as a “Global Technical and Scientific Manager” at Adisseo company. Before joining Adisseo, she was a Senior Lecturer in Poultry Nutrition for Monogastric Research Centre, Massey University, New Zealand. Fifi graduated with PhD degree in Poultry Nutrition from University of Tehran, Iran.

She has published in top ranking Animal Science Journals and already has over 100 scientific communications, including over 45 peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters. As an invited speaker, Fifi has presented her work in a number of international conferences and industry seminars.

Fifi’s current interest is poultry nutrition focusing on nutrient digestion, feed additives and feed evaluation.

Adress :ELISE – European Laboratory of Innovation Science & Expertise; 20 rue Prosper Monnet, 69190, Saint Fons, France

Jordi Nicodem is a sales manager specialized in hatchery automation equipment. With over 13 years of industry experience, he currently oversees sales operations for Latin America, Turkey, Spain, and Portugal at Viscon Group.

After completing his commercial high school education, he pursued evening studies in engineering, combining technical expertise with commercial strategies to provide the most efficient solutions for customers. He possesses in-depth technical knowledge of In-Ovo sexing, hatchery automation, and In-Ovo technologies.

As an expert in machine automation, material handling systems, and industrial process optimization, Nicodem has advanced expertise in hatchery processes and automated hatchery management systems.

With a strong focus on advanced production technologies and supply chain management, Nicodem is committed to delivering innovative, customer-focused solutions that enhance efficiency. His robust technical background and international experience allow him to implement the latest industry trends and engineering solutions, helping businesses increase their competitiveness.

After graduating from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University in 2006, he went to the United Kingdom to pursue academic studies and enhance his clinical experience. After gaining two years of intensive experience, he returned to Turkey and began his career at Banvit A.Ş., one of the largest integrated poultry production companies in the country.

During his eight years at Banvit, he held significant responsibilities in various areas, including technical support, broiler and breeder production, hatchery, and laboratory management. In 2016, he joined Aviagen Ltd., one of the leading global companies in poultry genetics, as a Technical Manager responsible for Ross customers in Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa, providing technical support to poultry producers in the region.

In 2019, he returned to Turkey as the Technical Operations Manager of Aviagen Anadolu and, in 2021, was promoted to Technical Operations Manager for Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa (TMENA), taking on broader regional management responsibilities.

Currently, together with his dynamic and expert team, he continues to provide technical support to Aviagen poultry producers in the TMENA region, focusing on healthy, efficient, and sustainable poultry production processes.

Nadia Everaert obtained a Master in Bioscience Engineering at KU Leuven, Belgium in 2004. She finished her PhD at KU Leuven in 2008, on avian embryonic development. During her post-doctoral fellowship, she focused on birds as a model for fetal and nutritional programming.

From 2013 until 2021, she was an associate professor at Liège University (Belgium). She focused her research on nutrition and health in pigs and poultry, with an emphasis on the microbiota and intestinal health.

Since October 2021, she came back to KU Leuven as an associate professor, and is now heading the Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota EcoSystems (NAMES) lab. Her research group continues to study microbiota colonization, gut health and gut function in monogastric species using in vivo and in vitro models.

She has (co-) supervised 13 PhDs and is main promoter of 4 ongoing PhD students and has more than 150 peer-reviewed research papers.

In 2019, he returned to Turkey as the Technical Operations Manager of Aviagen Anadolu and, in 2021, was promoted to Technical Operations Manager for Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa (TMENA), taking on broader regional management responsibilities.

Currently, together with his dynamic and expert team, he continues to provide technical support to Aviagen poultry producers in the TMENA region, focusing on healthy, efficient, and sustainable poultry production processes.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: 

BS-Agriculture University of Tennessee-1981.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) University of Tennessee –1986.

Masters in Avian Medicine (MAM) University of Georgia-1988.

Diplomate, American College of Poultry Veterinarians (ACPV)-1992            .

PAST EXPERIENCE: 

Perdue Farms, 1988-1992-U.S. Integrator; worked with chickens and turkeys.

Arbor Acres [Now Aviagen] 1992-present.

Responsibilities included:  working with internal birds (all levels), company laboratories,

hatcheries and technical service [domestic and international].

1992-2000- Arbor Acres Veterinarian various positions

2000-2004- Intl Technical Services Veterinarian for Aviagen

2004-2006- Aviagen Regional Veterinary/Technical Services Manager- Asia

CURRENT TITLE/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Global Head of Veterinary Technical Services- responsibility over a team of 9 Aviagen veterinarians who perform veterinary technical services with customers around the world.

Professor Sjaak gained his veterinary qualification at the University of Utrecht in 1989 and completed a PhD degree concerning diagnosis and transmission of infectious bronchitis virus, in 1997 at the University of Utrecht. He is senior researcher at Royal GD and professor Integrated Poultry Health at the veterinary faculty of the University of Utrecht. Sjaak is also Professor of Integrated Poultry Health at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Utrecht University. In 2023 he became president of the World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) and in 2024 also senior Vice President of the European Federation of the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA). Since 2023, he is president of the World Veterinary Poultry Association.

He has been actively involved in applied and fundamental research related to the diagnosis and control of poultry diseases, especially viral diseases as infectious bronchitis virus, infectious bursal disease, Newcastle Disease, and Avian Influenza.

Professor Munir Iqbal is the Head of the Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease group at The Pirbright Institute and a visiting professor at the Royal Veterinary College, London.

He obtained degrees in Veterinary Medicine and MPhil in Pakistan, followed by a PhD in Biotechnology from Imperial College London in 1991. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool and the University of St Andrews before joining The Pirbright Institute in 1996.

Currently, he leads multiple research projects investigating how genetic changes influence the ability of avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses to evade immune responses, increase disease severity, and enable cross-species transmission. His work also focuses on identifying host factors that determine the replication fitness of avian-origin influenza viruses in mammalian species. Additionally, he is spearheading the development of novel multivalent vaccines and diagnostics to enhance the control of avian respiratory viruses, including avian influenza, Newcastle disease, avian adenovirus, and avian metapneumovirus.

Recently, his team developed an innovative targeted antigen delivery vaccine platform that selectively delivers vaccine antigens to chicken immune cells, inducing faster, stronger, and more durable immunity. His multivalent vectored vaccines—such as recombinant NDV, recombinant herpesvirus of turkey (rHVT), and recombinant duck enteritis virus (rDEV)—provide robust protection against multiple avian viral diseases. Additionally, his group has developed multivalent subunit vaccines produced in insect cells, offering protection against several poultry viruses. He has also pioneered a passive immunization approach to safeguard poultry from avian influenza viruses.

His recent studies have identified antigenic epitopes on the hemagglutinin proteins of H5, H9, and H7 avian influenza viruses that induce protective immune responses, with significant implications for vaccine strain selection. Furthermore, his team is developing novel, easy-to-use aptamer-based diagnostic tests that allow for rapid, sensitive, and reliable differential diagnosis of avian respiratory viruses at the pen-side or point-of-care.

Professor Munir Iqbal has secured research grants exceeding £20 million and has published over 100 papers in high-impact journals such as Nature and PLoS Pathogens. He is also an active member of several international scientific advisory committees, contributing to global efforts to enhance control measures against avian influenza viruses that pose threats to both animals and humans.

Chair of Biosecurity in Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

Qualifications

2018                    ECVPH diploma

2017                    PhD, Ghent University, Belgium

2008                Postgraduate certification, University of Thessaly, Greece

2007                Degree in Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece

Career

2022-present   Associate Professor, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University

2021-2022      Post-doctoral researcher, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University

2019-2021       Post-doctoral researcher, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

2017-2019       Post-doctoral researcher, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University

2013-2017       Pre-doctoral researcher, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University

Research Interests

• Biosecurity in animal production
• Antimicrobial use and resistance
• Health management in livestock
• One Health

Relevant experience

• Extensive field and research experience in veterinary epidemiology and public health
• Practicing veterinarian and consultant for animal and public health institutions
• Scientific director of the Horizon Europe project “Biosecure”, HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-01-03
• Vice-Chair of the EU-funded COST network “BETTER” on farm biosecurity
• Involved in numerous (>20) EU-funded and national research projects on biosecurity, antimicrobial resistance, and animal health management.

Expertise

• Quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Risk assessment and health management
• Project management and leadership
• Scientific writing and communication

Participation in Scientific Associations (a selection)

• Flemish Society for Veterinary Epidemiology & Economics (VEE)
• Veterinary Subcommittee (VETCAST) of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST)
• Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (SVEPM)
• European College of Veterinary Public Health (ECVPH)

Email: ilias.chantziaras@ugent.be

Dr Reza Abdollahi currently works as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Poultry Nutrition for the Monogastric Research Centre, at Massey University. He is also founder and president of “A2Z Poultry Feed DynamikZ”, an international independent research and consultancy firm based in France. Dr Abdollahi received his PhD from Massey University, New Zealand on the influence of feed processing on the performance, nutrient utilization, and gut development of poultry. He has published in top-ranking Animal Science Journals and already has over 200 scientific communications, including 91 peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters, to his credit. As an invited and keynote speaker, Dr Abdollahi has presented his work at several international conferences such as European Poultry Conference (EPC, 2014), European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition (ESPN, 2017), International Broiler Nutritionists’ Conference (2014, 2017, 2024), Asia-Pacific Poultry Conference (2018), Australian Poultry Science Symposium (APSS, 2019), First International Feed Technology Conference (IFTC, 2019), 2021 PSA Annual Meeting, and many international industry workshops and conferences. His research interest has a strong applied focus and is relevant to the poultry industry current challenges. His current interest is poultry nutrition focusing on feed processing, feed evaluation, and nutrient utilization.

Wolfgang Siegert is a professor of ‘Animal Nutrition Physiology and Resource Efficiency’ in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Göttingen, Germany. He obtained a diploma degree in Agriculture at the University of Applied Sciences in Triesdorf, Germany, and a master degree in Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, which included voluntary stays in Canada and France. In Hohenheim, he also completed his doctor degree and the degree of a graduated scientist with his habilitation in the field of farm animal nutrition.

His research focuses on long-term food security and reducing the environmental impact of farm animal husbandry by providing protein and phosphorus more precisely according to the needs of the animals. He is eager to increase knowledge on the nutrient supply with the feed and on the precise requirements of the animals. A broad interest in his research is exemplified by frequent invitations to international scientific conferences and industry workshops.

Professional Career

02.2025 – Present Freelance Consultant, Poultry Advisors, Turkey
Incubation Specialist, Ventilation Specilist, Technical Advisor for Breeders and Broilers

09.2023 – 02.2025 Contracted (Self employee), Aviagen Inc., USA, Incubation Specialist

01.2014 – 08.2023 Aviagen Ltd., UK, Incubation Specialist

11.2006 – 01.2014 Aviagen Anadolu Ana Damızlık AŞ., Turkey , Technical Service Manager

08.2000 – 11.2006 Ankara Poultry Research Institute, Turkey, Researcher/Expert

11.1994 – 08.2000 Ankara University Agricultural Faculty Department of Animal Science, Turkey
Research Assistant

Education

1997 – 2002 Doctoral work at the Natural and Applied Sciences Institute of Ankara University
Field of study: Animal Sciences

Doctoral thesis: “Investigation of egg production, internal and external quality characteristics of eggs and the relationships between them in 4 brown layer pure lines and their crossbreed parents”

2000 – 2003 M. Sc. Study at the Natural and Applied Sciences Institute of Ankara University
Field of study: Animal Sciences

M.Sc. thesis: “Different breeding methods in developing layer hybrid parents and comparisons among these methods”

1990 – 1994 B.Sc. Study of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Ankara, Faculty of Agriculture, Animal Science

Training
03.2016 ITC Level 1 Thermography Course
04.2014 Self-improvement for business “Understand, explain, negotiate”
04.2010 Pasreform Academy, Netherlands
01.2009 Petersime Academy, Belgium
06.2008 Aviagen School, USA
01.2002 Cochran Fellowship Program,NC State University USA
07.2001 Euro-Mediterranean Master Class, Italy

Dr. Muammer Göncüoğlu completed his undergraduate education at Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 1998. In 2003, he earned his doctorate from the Department of Food Hygiene and Technology at the same faculty. He is currently serving as a faculty member in the same department. His main research areas include food hygiene, foodborne pathogens, phenotypic and molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance profiles of pathogenic microorganisms, and bacteriophage studies for the biocontrol of pathogenic bacteria. He has contributed as an editor, chapter author, and researcher in various books, research articles, and review papers published in international and national journals.

Dr. Muammer Göncüoğlu has served on the National Food Codex Commission and has held positions as a member of the Advisory Board of the Healthy Chicken Information Platform, the Risk Assessment Committee for Genetically Modified Organisms or Products within the Biosafety Board, the Animal Health, Food, and Feed Research Advisory Committee of the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the COVID-19 Scientific Commission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Carlos F. Suárez Isaacs is the Director of Global Sustainability for the U.S. Grain Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of U.S. barley, corn, sorghum, and related products throughout the world.

Carlos has worked for over 18 years in the field of international affairs, managing and executing programs in the areas of commercial development, government relations, and partnership building for non-profits, as well as for the private and public sectors. Over the last 8 years his work has focused on sustainability, helping to develop and execute strategies to impact watershed conservation, foster sustainable cattle ranching, promote renewable energy, and biofuels in transportation. His current work focuses on addressing sustainability issues for corn, sorghum, and barley across global supply chains.

Prior to his current role, Carlos worked for the Council as a regional ethanol consultant for Latin America; served as the Associate Director for Business Development in Latin America with The Nature Conservancy; worked as a Specialist for the US Commercial Service; and as an Economic Specialist for the U.S. Department of State in Colombia.

He holds a BA in International Relations (Universidad del Rosario-Colombia), a Master’s Degree in Global Risk Management (Universidad Francisco Vitoria- Spain) and an MBA (HEC Montreal- Canada).

Full professor at the University of Bologna since 2018, his research encompasses several aspects of poultry and rabbit production and product quality. In particular, his contribution to the study of mechanisms and characterization of the growth-related meat abnormalities in poultry (white striping, wooden breast and spaghetti meat) is internationally recognized. He is involved in various research projects (INTAQT and DESTINY) and he collaborates with several laboratories and institutes in Italy and abroad. He has recently edited the books “Improving Poultry Meat Quality” (Burleigh Dodds) and “Poultry Meat Evaluation” (Elsevier). From 2024, he serves as President of the Italian Branch of World’s Poultry Science Association and Director of Organisational Unit of Cesena of the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences. He is also member of editorial board of “World Rabbit Science”, “World’s Poultry Science Journal” and “Meat and Muscle Biology” journals.

Link to personal page: https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/m.petracci/en

Dr. Clara Marín Orenga graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 2004 from CEU Cardenal Herrera University and completed her doctoral thesis at the Animal Technology Center, Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research, focusing on the epidemiology of Salmonella in poultry. She earned her Ph.D. in 2009 with European Mention and Summa Cum Laude honors. Dr. Marín then carried out predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships at the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency in the UK. In 2009, she joined CEU Cardenal Herrera University as a faculty member in Veterinary Medicine. Currently, she is a Full Professor and the lead professor for the Poultry Infectious Diseases course. Since 2014, she has been a European Diplomate with the European College of Poultry Veterinary Sciences and served as the Education Committee Coordinator from 2015 to 2021. In October 2023, she became the Vice President of the World Poultry Veterinary Association. Dr. Marín leads the research group “Development of Efficient Production Systems for the Control and Evaluation of Food Quality and Safety.” Her research focuses on the epidemiology of Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli in poultry and other animals. She has participated in several European and national projects, supervised 12 doctoral theses, and published 77 JCR-indexed articles. She is also an Expert Evaluator for the European Commission.

Antônio Mário Penz Junior graduated in 1972 as an Agricultural Engineer in Brazil, completed a Master’s degree in Animal Production in Brazil in 1976 and a PhD in Animal Nutrition at the University of California, Davis in 1980.

He was a professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul for 35 years, retiring in 2009. He has made a wide academic contribution with 492 conference presentations and 386 articles. In 1995, together with four colleagues, he founded Nutron Alimentos Ltda., which was later sold to the Provimi Group and Provimi was acquired by Cargill.

He has held various senior technical management positions at Nutron Alimentos, Provimi Latin America and Cargill. He has won many honors in Brazil and internationally, and is currently the Global Strategic Accounts Director at Cargill Animal Nutrition.