Media Release
Washington D.C., December 10, 2018 – The Micronutrient Forum (the Forum) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Saskia Osendarp, as its first Executive Director.
Dr. Osendarp, who holds an MSc and PhD in Nutrition from Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, will lead the Forum as it continues to serve as a global convener, advocate and technical resource on micronutrients.
Since winning the Young Investigator Award in the late 1990s from the American Society for Clinical Nutrition, she has earned an impressive record of academic, public health and private sector research and innovation achievements. She has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, scientific publications and book chapters, and has led cross-functional research teams on innovative products through public-private partnerships. Most recently, she led the NWGN, a multi-sectoral working group based in the Netherlands, to promote nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive approaches in evidence-informed development policies and strategies. In addition, Dr. Osendarp is Visiting Associate Professor Nutrition and Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries at Wageningen University.
“Her technical micronutrient knowledge, experience working in a variety of organizations, and multi-sectoral approach make her the ideal candidate to execute the Forum’s strategy,” said Forum Board Chair Dr. Howarth Bouis. “The recently released 2018 Global Nutrition Report highlights the need for the nutrition community to work in a more integrated fashion, and the Forum, under Saskia’s leadership, is well-positioned to foster collaboration within, and beyond the micronutrient community, as we all strive to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.”
“I’m excited to join the Forum at this pivotal point in the organization’s history,” said Dr. Osendarp. “The successes of the past conferences and consultations have established the Forum as a well-respected resource. As the only technical organization that works across the range of all vitamins and minerals, the Forum plays an important coordination role. I’m looking forward to working with an excellent Board of dedicated, world-renowned experts and to engaging all of our stakeholders as we continue to make demonstrable improvements in the lives of vulnerable populations.”
# # #
About the Micronutrient Forum
The Micronutrient Forum (the Forum) is a convening body that brings global experts together to address technical nutrition questions and propose ways forward for policy-makers, program implementers, and researchers. The Forum convenes a global conference and expert consultations to analyze and share evidence-based information, with the goal of scaling-up successful micronutrient programs. For more information please visit: https://mnforum.wpengine.com/
