Dr. Monica Parker has a career spanning 20 years in agriculture and food systems development, with 13 years in the potato sector as a Senior Scientist with the International Potato Center (CIP) and as a consultant for various potato initiatives. She has led interventions and collaborated with diverse profiles of public and private partners at a global scale to support potato sector development throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Northern Africa, Middle East and Asia.

With CIP, she led the Potato Program for Africa, driving technology adoption and sector coordination through supporting official documentation, such as strategic planning and seed regulations. Recently, she served as Global Lead, Seed and Stewardship for USAID Global Biotech Potato Partnership led by Michigan State University and CIP, along with supporting the Government of Eritrea to develop a Roadmap for Potato Value Chain Development.

Seed system development being one of her focus areas, Monica has played a key role in supporting potato seed system development across tropical and sub-tropical environments. As a driver of the technology, Monica leads the WPC Thematic Group on Potato Rooted Apical Cuttings. The partnerships she developed over the years resulted in drawing 50+ members from 22 countries to the thematic group and growing, testament to the demand for RAC. Monica is excited to be a part of her 3^rd World Potato Congress, after Dublin and Adelaide.