Matt Clifford is the Co Founder & COO of Barnana. A certified B-Corp, Barnana sustainability up-cycles organic bananas to reduce food waste and provide healthier snacking options to the community. Barnana has been featured in Forbes, Inc Magazine, New York Times, and Mens Journal for its unique approach to tackling food waste. Before starting Barnana, Matt was the SVP Finance at Events.com and Merger and Acquisition analyst at Bainbridge Capital. Matt was named Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2016 and Top entrepreneur in San Diego by both SDBJ and Locale Magazine. Matt Graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Diego State University with a Bachelors of Science in Finance, and holds a certificate of professional studies from Oxford University, England.
Pete Nelson is the President and Executive Director of AgLaunch, a joint initiative of Memphis Bioworks Foundation and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. In first 2 years, 18 companies have been assisted including Cowlar, Skycision, and Kilimo. Previously, Pete worked to facilitate projects related to value-added crops, new markets, and efficiency-improving technologies. He has worked with companies such as KWS, Monsanto, Chevron, and Case IH and many startups to create and manage commercial-scale farm trials. Pete has organized entrepreneurial farmers to create new business opportunities. Working with Battelle and other consulting groups, Pete has led regional strategic approaches to stimulate new investment into agriculture. Recently, he supported Innova, USDA, and eight Farm Credit banks to conceive and raise a $31 million investment fund focused on early-stage agtech investment under USDA’s Rural Business Investment Company initiative.
William Rosenzweig is an internationally recognized entrepreneur and educator and an avid gardener. Will has spent over 25 years cultivating thriving startups while teaching and mentoring mission-driven entrepreneurs around the world. Will serves as a Senior Advisor to Generation Investment Management, a public and growth equity practice chaired by Al Gore. Will was founding CEO (and Minister of Progress) of The Republic of Tea, an award-winning specialty tea company. Will is co-author of The Republic of Tea: How an Idea Becomes a Business, which was named one of the 100 Best Business Books of All Time. Will has served on the professional faculty of the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, since 1999 where he is a Social Impact Fellow. Will was honored with the 2010 Oslo Business for Peace Award, which represents “the highest distinction given to a businessperson for outstanding accomplishments in the area of ethical business.”
Sarah has 20 years’ experience working in international development in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. She held a range of roles at the UK Department for International Development culminating in the position of Country Director for Southern Africa responsible for a £390m programme portfolio. Immediately before joining The Power of Nutrition Sarah was the Director of Strategy and Special Initiatives at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the UK’s second largest private foundation, where she led on organizational strategy, humanitarian aid and child slavery. Before her international development career Sarah worked as a Commercial Manager for Kvaerner Energy a.s. in the Norwegian oil sector. She has an MBA from the Norwegian School of Management.
Vice President - Government Affairs at Campbell Soup since 2002, and based at the company's world headquarters in Camden, NJ. Former U.S. Secretary of the Senate, with 12 years of public service as congressional staff and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. Serves on the board of several non-profit organizations, including the Congressional Management Foundation, Canadian American Business Council and the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution. Graduate of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, attended graduate school at Georgetown University. Resides in Newtown Square, PA.
Cheryl R. Mitchell, Ph.D. is recognized worldwide as a food entrepreneur in the processing of grains, nuts, and seeds, spending the last 35 years creating commercially wholesome ingredients utilizing unique food processing methods that preserve and maximize the nutrients in plant based ingredients and consumer products. Her expertise in the metabolic functionality and composition of foods as well as the aseptic stabilization of foods has made her a significant leader in the advancement of plant forward food and beverages. Dr. Mitchell holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Texas A&M University and is a contributor to a variety of Food trade magazines, technical journals, symposia, and books as well as providing guest lecture to major Universities. Currently Dr. Mitchell is Senior Vice President, Ingredient Manufacturing, Steuben Foods, Elma, NY.
Hugh C. Welsh is the President & General Counsel of DSM North America a global leader in Life & Material Sciences. Traded on the Amsterdam stock exchange with 24,000 employees world wide and $10 billion in annual sales, DSM develops, manufactures and sells nutritional and food ingredients, biomedical materials, specialty plastics and resins, fibers and renewable energy. Mr. Welsh currently serves on several DSM global management teams and has responsibilities in DSM’s nutrition and food specialties business as well as legal, government affairs, communications and other shared services. Hugh currently serves on the Board of Directors of, Partners in Food Solutions, Chairman of the Board of the US Chamber of Commerce Corporate Citizens Center, Chairman of the Board of the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, BIO, Patheon, the Board of Governors of Union County College and Africa Improved Foods.