Aquatic is co-organised by VIV Worldwide and International Aquafeed, taking place on March 11, 2024 at BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand. Aquatic is the bridge in forging the connections between knowledge and opportunities that helps to enhance key areas of the biosciences in relation to fish, shrimp, nutrition, health and more.
For more information on the speakers look below:
Roger Gilbert
Mr Roger Gilbert was the Secretary General of the International Feed Industry Federation, which he co-founded in in 1987. In that time, he saw the federation rise from humble beginnings, to represent more than 85% of all compound feeds produced globally. He initiated the industry’s NGO representation with Codex Alimentarius and set up one of the first Memorandum of Understandings between an industry and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Today, Mr Gilbert is the publisher of International Aquafeed and Milling & Grain magazine: two international magazines translated into several languages to promote aqua and terrestrial protein production.
Rizky Darmawan
Rizky Darmawan is the CEO of Delta Marine Group, a pioneering aquaculture company specializing in sustainable shrimp production, distribution, and processing. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences from the University of Washington, Seattle, Rizky combines education with innovation to reshape the shrimp industry.
As the President of Petambak Muda Indonesia since its inception in 2015, Rizky Darmawan is dedicated to educating and fostering solidarity among young aquaculturists. His leadership shines through the annual “Shrimp Aquaculture Conference” in Bali, a cornerstone event for knowledge-sharing and collaboration in the field.
Rizky’s impact extends globally through speaking engagements at prominent conferences. Notably, he is driving sustainability initiatives within the shrimp industry, exploring eco-friendly approaches to farming practices and harnessing shrimp wastes such as chitin to be processed further for various applications. With a dynamic role in Shrimp Club Indonesia and active participation in APINDO, Rizky is committed to elevating the aquaculture community and championing sustainable practices.
Dr Ram Bhujel
Ram C Bhujel began his career as Research Associate in 1995 and since 2005, he has been teaching and supervising MSc & PhD students. In 1994 he completed his MSc before achieving his PhD from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand in 1999, where he serves as Research Associate Professor and Founding Director of Aqua-Centre. Then in 2000-2001, he was a post-doc visiting fellow at the University of Stirling, UK and at the University of Montpellier III, France in 2012. Currently, Dr Bhujel also serves as Team Leader/Coordinator for an EU funded project to develop MSc curricula for ‘Sustainable Seafood and Nutrition Security’.
Dr Farshad Shishechian
Dr. Farshad Shishehchian, Ph.D. in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology, serves as the CEO and founder of the Blue Aqua International Group, a conglomerate headquartered in Singapore with a global presence across 14 countries. Blue Aqua stands as a comprehensive solution provider for the aquaculture industry, offering a diverse range of specialty products and services. Driven by innovation, the company strives to provide holistic solutions to empower customers to maximize profits while promoting sustainable business practices.
Blue Aqua operates a self-owned super-intensive farm, hatchery, and shrimp breeding center in Singapore, ensuring a fresh supply of seafood to local grocery retailers and specialty restaurants throughout the island. Anticipating further growth, Blue Aqua plans to launch the Blue Aqua Trout farm (3000 MT/Yearly) and Feed Mill (10,000 MT/Yearly) in 2024, solidifying its position as the front- runner for food security in Singapore.
Beyond his role at Blue Aqua, Dr. Farshad is the Founder and President of the Asian Aquaculture Network (AAN), a non-profit organization committed to informing and inspiring new generations by sharing knowledge and resources. A prominent figure in the industry, he served as the President of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS), Asia Pacific Chapter, from 2013 to 2016. Additionally, Dr. Farshad holds an active position on the board of the Aquaculture Engineering Society (2019-2023), boasting an extensive network cultivated over 30 years across the world’s leading aquaculture- producing countries. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Global Aquaculture Industry Award in 2021.
Dr. Farshad Shishehchian’s academic background includes a Ph.D. in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology, complemented by the completion of the Senior Executive Management Program at the Kellogg School of Management.
With over 30 years of dynamic, hands-on experience managing aquaculture farms and hatcheries globally, Dr. Farshad has proven expertise. Notably, he is the inventor of the highly acclaimed MixotrophicTM System, a super-intensive shrimp farming system patented in eight countries. His commitment to knowledge dissemination is evident through his participation in seminars and conferences worldwide, where he shares his profound understanding of innovative aquaculture practices.
Brandon Hanson
Brandon Hanson is the Export Manager of POET, the world’s largest producer of bioethanol and distillers grains. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business, International Agriculture, and Economics from Iowa State University. Combined with his professional experience, Brandon has become an expert in global agricultural trade and economic analysis.
At POET, Brandon’s principal objective is to help aquafeed companies meet their nutrient requirements with high-quality ingredients while increasing sustainability and improving profitability. In 2023, Brandon marketed 380,000 tonnes of dried distillers grains and corn fermented protein across 8 different countries in East and Southeast Asia.
Prior to POET, Brandon led the US domestic poultry and swine growth strategies for corn fermented protein at Flint Hills Resources.
Dr May Myat Noe Lwin
Dr. May Myat Noe Lwin works as a business development manager for the Aller Aqua Group (Danish group) and Sales director for Aller Aqua Myanmar Feed Company in Yangon. She received her Ph.D. in Aquatic Animal Nutrition from Auburn University in the U.S. Noe Noe also serves as the Country Manager for the U.S Soybean Export Council Myanmar (USSEC). She worked for both private companies and aquaculture projects funded by NORAD, USAID, GIZ as their consultants in the Myanmar and Southeast Asia region. Noe Noe started her career as a soft-shell mangrove crab farming and seafood trading businesswoman in Thailand and Bangladesh later as aquaculture consultant and director of the feed company. She is the founder of Dr. Noe Noe’s scholarship. This scholarship supports underprivileged Myanmar students to study at Yangon University’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Department and Pathien University’s Marine Science Department in Myanmar.
Dr. Metta Makhanon
Metta Makhanon holds a Masters in Business Administration from Ramkhamandhang University and a Ph.D on Veterinary Pathobiology at Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University. Makhanon has over 36 years of experience in the Asian animal health industry, she won the Life-Time Achievement Award in 2022 from Thai Swine Veterinary Association and Outstanding Alumni on the 48th Year Anniversary of Satriwitthaya 2 School. Previously working as the Regional Swine Veterinary Services Manager for Ceva Animal Health, she now works freelance as an Animal Health Consultant and as the Thai Swine Veterinarian Association President.
Dr. Loc Tran
As well as being the founder of ShrimpVet, Dr Loc Tran is also one of the key researchers behind the discovery of the causes of Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) in shrimp. It all began for him during the late 80s or early 90s. At the time he had a love of swimming creatures, which is what he credits as being his main reason for gaining his education in aquaculture. He then graduated from Nong Lam university in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, where back in 2006, he earned his undergraduate degree in aquaculture for shrimp farming. He also earned a PhD in shrimp pathology, shrimp disease from Arizona, USA.
Katherine Hawes
With over 25 years of proven legal and business experience, Katherine Hawes is a Legal Consultant and Solicitor at Aquarius Lawyers, the law firm for assisting businesses working in the marine environment with all their legal issues. She have a Master of Laws in International Law and Legal Studies, and specialises in providing advice and representation in areas such as fisheries and aquaculture, cargo and shipping, maritime security, and marine resources management.
Leo Wein
At Protenga, we are Making Insects Work for You. We develop data-driven Insect Technology that enables a circular, regenerative, economy all along the food supply chain and produces best-in-class, sustainable Insect Products for pet food. Prior to Protenga, Leo led product and software engineering in a Singapore data science company. Inspired to realize a vision of food in balance with nature, Leo shifted from software bugs to real bugs, combining data-driven systems engineering with biology through Protenga’s Smart Insect Farm. He holds degrees in both science and business from Amsterdam University College and the Free University of Amsterdam.
Dr. Pichet Plaipetch
Pichet Plaipetch is a Biologist for the Department of Fisheries in for the Chonburi Aquatic Animal Feed Research and Development Centre in Thailand. His current field of interest is in fish nutrition, water quality, fish and shrimp breeding, and aquatic resources management.
Pichet has experience in conducting nutritional research on various aquatic species, and a number of roles such as university faculty, external examiner for a master thesis student, DoF course trainer, seminar speaker, and has been an international and national paper reviewer for both journals and conferences. Pichet has 5 international papers in fish nutrition, as well as 15 national papers and 7 review papers.
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