I joined IDRC in 1981 as a Program Officer in the Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Sciences Division, based in Bogotá. In 1989, I was promoted to Associate Director, remaining in Bogotá until our relocation to Montevideo in 1990. In 1993, I was transferred to IDRC headquarters in Ottawa, where I later served as Chief Scientist in Food Security until 1997. That year, I took a secondment to the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Ethiopia, where I became Resident Director and Director of the Sustainable Production Systems Program.
Some of my fondest memories come from being part of an exceptional organization, surrounded by inspiring supervisors and colleagues such as Hubert Zandstra, Joe Hulse, Greg Spendjian, Geoff Hawtin, Nicolas Mateo, Ed Weaver, and Bill Edwarson, amongst others. The supportive and empowering environment allowed us to grow professionally with considerable autonomy. We were encouraged to identify and support innovative projects and build strong regional networks.
One of our most significant achievements was supporting the Tropical Pastures Network, coordinated by CIAT, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. Over time, the promotion of improved pasture systems in Latin America led to millions of hectares being converted, enabling more intensive livestock production on smaller land areas and freeing up space for crops like soybeans and maize. This initiative contributed meaningfully to the so-called “Cerrados miracle” in Brazil, which has since become a leading global exporter of beef, poultry, and soybeans.
After leaving ILRI in 2000, I joined the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima as Deputy Director General, working once again with Hubert Zandstra. In 2007, I moved to the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank as a Senior Finance Officer. In 2009, I relocated to Washington, DC, to serve as Deputy Representative of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. From 2011 to 2017, I held the position of Executive Secretary of FONTAGRO, based at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington.
Since 2018, I have been back in Lima, where I’ve taken on a part-time role as CATIE’s Representative in Peru, along with working as an international consultant. This flexible arrangement has given me the opportunity to reconnect with family and old friends, enjoy golf, and contribute to social causes. I currently serve on the board of INSPIRA, a shelter that supports children with cancer, a wonderful initiative founded by my cousin, Dr Ricardo Pun, who was honored as a CNN Hero in 2018.
Bulletin 78
October 2025