Dr. Gareth Johnstone has been appointed as the next Director General of WorldFish. Dr. Johnstone, formerly the Country Director of Myanmar for WorldFish, will begin his new role on 1 January 2018.
Dr. Johnstone brings more than 25 years’ experience in natural resource management with an emphasis on livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and small-scale fisheries and aquaculture.
In accepting the appointment Dr. Johnstone said: “I am proud to be stepping up to this leadership position at a very exciting moment in WorldFish history. We have a strong strategy that has been well received by our partners and that provides the driving principles for our work in the next few years. Additionally, we have launched the FISH research program that provides a solid bedrock from which we can launch new partnerships and initiatives that will enable us to pursue an evidence base that will inform the development of aquaculture and small-scale fisheries to reduce poverty and increase food and nutrition security.”
Current Director General Dr. Blake Ratner said: “We are in a challenging time for all players in global development. In his work in Myanmar and elsewhere Gareth has shown impressive skill in being able to build successful programs by focusing on the development of robust partnerships. His ability to frame the role of fisheries and aquaculture as a source of innovation to drive entrepreneurship, build rural livelihoods, strengthen climate resilience, and increase gender equality will be key to realizing the ambitious goals we’ve laid out in our strategy. I look forward to working with Gareth on a successful handover and wish him every success in his new role.”
During his time in Myanmar, Dr. Johnstone was responsible for leading and building the WorldFish country program resulting in partnerships that have shaped a sustained presence and an integrated fisheries and aquaculture research program that addresses Myanmar, WorldFish and CGIAR shared goals, builds research and development capacities, and strengthens the institutional and partnership capabilities across the sector.
