Meet our experts

Mirte leads GFI Asia Pacific as Managing Director. Prior to GFI, she founded various social enterprises, worked as a management consultant to startups, and as a researcher in humanitarian logistics. She brings experience in entrepreneurship, international development, and philanthropy. Mirte holds a Master’s in International Development Studies from Wageningen University & Research and is a graduate of the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme.

Mirte lives in Singapore.

Wasamon is GFI APAC’s SciTech Manager, focusing on plant-based protein. She has more than five years of experience working at multinational food companies, through which she gained expertise in food proteins and their applications. Before joining GFI APAC, she spent two years working in academia and industry developing new talents for the food industry in Thailand. Wasamon holds a Ph.D. in Food Science from University of Massachusetts Amherst and a BSc. in Biochemistry from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

Wasamon lives in Thailand.

Dean provides scientific and technical expertise for GFI APAC, focusing on cultivated meat. He holds a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology with a focus on poultry muscle development and a bachelor’s in Animal and Veterinary Bioscience, both from the University of Sydney. Dean has experience working for the Australian Federal Government both as a scientific assessor for food safety regulations and as an international policy analyst focusing on the Asia Pacific region.

Dean lives in Sydney.

Maanasa is GFI APAC’s SciTech Specialist for cultivated meat. Prior to joining GFI, Maanasa worked as a scientist at Ivy Farm Technologies in the UK, spearheading research into multi-species cultivated meat products. Maanasa is passionate about science communication and has volunteered for various initiatives aimed at increasing engagement between researchers and the general public. She holds a Ph.D. in stem cell glycobiology from the National University of Singapore and a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Sheffield. 

Maanasa lives in Singapore. 

Arin leads GFI APAC’s efforts to expand the community and scientific talent pool in Asia’s alternative protein sector. Combining his passion for science, education, and visual communication, Arin builds effective resources and pathways for those who want to enter and grow in this emerging industry.

Prior to joining GFI, Arin worked in biomaterial startups for over four years developing scaled-up products, patents, and publications with applications in alternative plastics, textiles, and food. Arin holds a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Tufts University.

Arin lives in Singapore.

Jennifer is GFI APAC’s Corporate Engagement Manager, working to widen and deepen engagement and partnerships across the alternative protein supply chain. Prior to joining GFI, Jennifer was a strategy consultant for over five years in the Netherlands and Singapore focused on sustainability, social impact, and agriculture. She has worked with multinationals, SMEs, agribusinesses, governments, financial institutions, and nonprofits in the agriculture sector and beyond to design sustainability strategies, develop inclusive supply chains, and forge multi-stakeholder partnerships for systems-wide change. Jennifer holds an MSc in Corporate Social Responsibility and an MA (Hons) in International Relations.

Jennifer lives in Singapore. 

Divya works to widen and deepen corporate engagement and partnerships across the alternative protein supply chain. Prior to joining GFI, Divya worked in consulting and strategy for eight years. She has experience working with governments and donor partners—including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank—on large-scale strategic and project implementation advisory engagements.

She has designed and implemented multiple campaigns for government and non-government entities, and her professional experience spans a wide variety of countries, including Cambodia, India, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Togo, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Divya lives in India.

Samuel works closely with governments and civil society to establish an enabling regulatory and policy environment for the alternative protein sector. Prior to joining GFI, Samuel worked for over nine years in government affairs and public policy, including at the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), where he developed national policies to safeguard food safety and security. Samuel holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of Queensland and a bachelor’s in microbiology from the Queensland University of Technology.

Samuel lives in Singapore.

Ankur works closely with national and sub-national governments, and civil society to catalyse a movement to create a more secure, sustainable, and just food system. Prior to GFI, Ankur was a Program Editor at The Economist, working with partners to enable research, drive programmes, and support the formulation and execution of Fortune 500 clients’ business strategies. He also co-founded an e-counselling platform—Medimonk—that was acquired in 2016. He has a master’s degree in public policy from the National University of Singapore.

Ankur lives in Singapore.  

Ryan leads GFI’s communications and programs for the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining GFI, he was working as an international consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), based in Hanoi, Vietnam, where he focused on sustainable food systems and dietary change. Huling also previously served as an international director in the animal protection field and his work has been featured by major news outlets around the globe, including The Nikkei, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, The Bangkok Post, CNN, Fox News, NBC News, USA Today, Business Insider, and WIRED.

Ryan lives in Los Angeles.

Thiru maximises GFI’s impact and influence across Asia Pacific through digital content marketing for social media and other online platforms. Prior to joining GFI, Thiru worked at Acumen Academy Malaysia, overseeing the selection and recruitment process for their Fellowship Programme. In addition to her digital marketing experience, Thiru holds a master’s degree in geoscience and is a trained laboratory chemist with a passion for science publication and outreach.

Thiru lives in Singapore.

Victoria leads the finance control, legal compliance and human resources for GFI APAC. Victoria brings in over 15 years of experience in nonprofit and management roles to her work. For the past decade, Victoria has worked for a multinational nonprofit organization and been dedicated to advancing corporate responsibility and sustainability in helping children and their families.

Victoria lives in Hong Kong.

Athirah is responsible for ensuring GFI’s operational excellence in finance, HR, and legal compliance for the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining GFI APAC, Athirah gained experience working in operations in the tech and e-commerce industries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business and environmental science from James Cook University Australia.

Athirah lives in Singapore.