Council of Advisors
The World Food Prize Foundation maintains a Council of Advisors, comprised of distinguished leaders and experts providing the Foundation Board and staff with insights and advice on advancing the mission of the organization and Dr. Norman Borlaug’s vision for the World Food Prize Foundation.
Appointed by the World Food Prize Foundation Board of Directors, the Council members include former heads of state and government ministers, and leaders in public and private food and agricultural science, education, research and policy. The Council advises on the development of the World Food Prize, the Borlaug Dialogue and the Foundation’s varied and growing number of Youth Programs.
Foundation Board of Directors
The World Food Prize Foundation Board of Directors assures the financial integrity of the Foundation by adopting the Foundation's budget and assuring that the Foundation's activities conform to the budget. The Board also selects the members of the Council of Advisors and Foundation officers.
Chief Executive Officer
Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, is the Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack will focus on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
President
Mashal Husain is President of the World Food Prize Foundation, leading the organization’s mission to elevate global food security and agricultural innovations. Her appointment to this role underscores her extensive leadership experience and deep commitment to advancing the Foundation’s legacy. Since joining the Foundation in 2008 as Director of Development and Finance, Mashal has held multiple leadership positions, including Vice President, Senior Vice President and most recently, Chief Operating Officer.
President Emeritus
Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn assumed the leadership of the World Food Prize Foundation on January 1, 2000, following his retirement from the State Department after a 32 year career in the Foreign Service. Amb. Quinn retired on January 3, 2020 from the Foundation.