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The World Food Prize Foundation announced today that Meghna Ravishankar has joined the Foundation as the new Director of Planning.
In making this announcement, World Food Prize President Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn expressed his great pleasure in having Ms. Ravishankar undertake this critically important responsibility.
“From her time on our staff as a George Washington Carver Intern through her current role as a member of the United Nations Development Programme staff in New York, Meghna Ravishankar has consistently displayed an acute intellect, an engaging personal manner in dealing with people and a sharp focus on details. When combined with extensive international experience and exceptional organizational skills, these qualities will make her an exceptional Director of Planning. I am so pleased that Meghna has decided to join our team once again,” said Amb. Quinn.
As Director of Planning at the World Food Prize Foundation, Ms. Ravishankar will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the major programs and activities that are directly related to World Food Prize events such as the annual Laureate Announcement Ceremony and the Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a team of inspiring and driven people. Being able to play a part in showcasing innovations in the field of global food security and agriculture is very exciting and humbling,” said Ravishankar.
Prior to her new position, Ms. Ravishankar worked at the United Nations Development Programme in New York on the Global Programme on Nature for Development. Her work was focused on supporting multi-stakeholder approaches to promote the role of nature for development, climate change mitigation and adaptation. She also was a World Food Prize George Washington Carver Intern in 2015 and 2016, and served on the World Food Prize Board of Reviewers.
Ms. Ravishankar grew up in Bangalore, India, and moved to Iowa in 2013 to attend Grinnell College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Global Development and Entrepreneurship. During her time at Grinnell, she spent a semester in the Netherlands studying the European refugee crisis as well as social policy around gender, trafficking and prostitution. She will graduate with a Master of Arts in Sustainable International Development with a focus in knowledge management from the Heller School for Social Policy at Brandeis University in May.
Ms. Ravishankar is replacing Morgan Day, who has accepted a new position at the Foundation in December 2018.
You may contact Ms. Ravishankar by email at mravishankar@worldfoodprize.org.
Press Contact:
Nicole Barreca, Director of Communications and Events
515-245-3735, or by email at nbarreca@worldfoodprize.org
ABOUT THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE: The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. The Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, the World Food Prize has honored 48 outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions throughout the world. The World Food Prize annually hosts the Borlaug Dialogue international symposium and a variety of youth education programs to help further the discussion on cutting-edge global food security issues and inspire the next generation to end hunger.
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