Éliane Ubalijoro, PhD, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), she spearheads groundbreaking research and innovation to tackle environmental challenges, climate resilience, and food security worldwide. With a career spanning academia, the private sector, and the non-profit and international development sectors, she started as a scientific director in the biotechnology sector working in molecular diagnostics at Warnex, later pivoting to focus on sustainable development as well as improving the lives of women and smallholder farmers in emerging countries. Her expertise in integrating scientific research with policymaking has positioned her as a key figure in shaping sustainable solutions for pressing global challenges.