Knowledge Based Bio-Economy towards 2020

 

Mrs. FREWEN MELLA

Director General - CIAA, Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU

 

Biography

Mella Frewen’s previous positions include 5 years as Director for Government Affairs, Europe, Middle East & Africa, for Monsanto, dealing with issues including agricultural biotechnology, conventional agriculture and agri-chemistry.

 

Prior to that she was International Relations Director for Cerestar, then Europe’s biggest starch producer. From this role and her earlier ones in the Ferruzzi and Eridania Begin-Say Groups, stationed in Brussels, she has a wide experience of relations with the different Institutions of the European Union and trade associations within the food chain, as well as with the agricultural and chemical sectors.

 

Many other Food Industry related activities during this period include: Food Industry Member of the EU Commission’s Advisory Committee on Arable Crops, of the Commission’s Standing Committee on Renewable Energy and of the Commission’s Advisory Committee on Non-Food and Textile crops; Secretary General of the EBB (European Biodiesel Board) from 1997 to 2000.

 

Mrs. Frewen has worked in the Agri-food sector in Europe for 20 years. She has a Master of Science degree from the National University of Ireland, and completed a post-graduate course at the University of Brussels (ULB).

 

She also holds an INSEAD diploma on International Operations Management.

 

Mrs. Frewen, an Irish citizen, lives in Brussels with her husband and daughter.

 

Programme

Panel member, Part III Working together to address the needs - Session 3: Innovative Food Production