Dr Claudia Canales Holzeis obtained her DPhil in Plant Sciences from the University of Oxford in 2001. She has a near-decade experience in plant genetics research, and eleven years’ experience in projects related to rural development in Asian, African and Latin American countries. Since 2012 she has been a part-time consultant for the European Academies' Science Advisory Council’s Biosciences Programme. She was a consultant for the IAP Project on Food and Nutrition Security and Agriculture and is currently involved in IAP's Climate Change and Health Project. Claudia was appointed to the role of Chief Executive of the Kirkhouse Trust in 2020 and leads the charity’s Senior Management Team.