Plenary Speakers Norelle Daly
Norelle Daly, PhD, FQA, is a Professor of Structural Biology at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine at James Cook University. She was awarded her PhD from The University of Queensland. Her studies involved using NMR spectroscopy to determine the structure of domains of the LDL receptor; a receptor critical for the control of cholesterol levels. Following these studies, she was involved in establishing a new field of research involving plant derived cyclic peptides. This work resulted in several granted patents and the establishment of a small biotechnology company associated with The University of Queensland. Norelle relocated to James Cook University in 2012 and has established structural biology and peptide chemistry facilities. She has published more than 200 journal articles, 3 book chapters, held NHMRC Industry, Queensland Smart State and ARC Future Fellowships, and was a co- founder of a JCU spin out company. Professor Umezuruike Linus Opara Professor Umezuruike Linus Opara is a Distinguished Professor at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, where he is also the South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technology, and the founding Director of the Africa Institute for Postharvest Technology. He graduated with degrees in Agricultural Engineering (First Class Honours) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and PhD from Massey University, New Zealand. He has published over 320 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and conference papers, and graduated over 70 MSc and PhD students in universities in South Africa, Sultanate of Oman, and New Zealand. He was recognised in 2019 and 2021, respectively, as a “Highly Cited Researcher” by the Web of Science Group, which distinguishes the “world’s most influential researchers of the past decade”. With current H-Index of 54 (Scopus) and 61 (Google Scholar), Prof. Opara is also the leading global individual researcher on pomegranates. Among his many international, continental, and national awards for his sustained research productivity and impact, has was honoured as Laureate of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Award for Life and Earth Sciences – Africa’s highest research award for senior researchers, Winner of the Impact Research and Science in Africa Award for “excellence in research & building Africa’s human resources capacity”, Distinguished Researcher Award by Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman. In 2019, Stellenbosch University bestowed its higher honour on Prof. Opara – the Chancellor’s Award, for his “sustained excellence in research”. He was the founding President of the Pan African Society for Agricultural Engineering, founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, past Executive Secretary of the International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, and past President of the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. His ongoing activities focus on building Africa’s research capacity in engineering and biosciences for agri-food systems transformation and wealth creation.
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