Program Director CIMMYT Global Wheat Program, CGIAR

Alison Bentley is currently serving as the Program Director of the Global Wheat Program at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center at the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.

Previously, as Head of Genetics and Breeding at NIAB, Alison lead a team of 40+ scientists, working on a range of applied crop science projects.

An agricultural science graduate from The University of Sydney in Australia, where she also completed her PhD, Alison has a strong interest in the genotype x environment interactions controlling complex traits and in the application of genomics in the breeding of high yielding, climate resilient cereals. Alison is a strong proponent of the use of breeding technologies to accelerate the genetic improvement of arable crops and regularly interacts with industry on future technology applications. Dr Bentley is currently chair of the UK MonoGram small grain and grasses community and has been involved with the Wheat Initiative, an international partnership of private and public organisations engaged in global wheat research.