Alex O. Awiti is a Principal Scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF. Awiti is a trans-disciplinary scholar with over 25 years of research and professional experience in agriculture, food systems, higher education leadership, curriculum design and public policy. Before returning to ICRAF, where he started his research career, he served in various executive and senior leadership roles, including Vice Provost, Dean, Director and Professor at the Aga Khan University. As a public intellectual, he has written over 800 opinion articles for leading Kenyan newspapers and international publications, including the International Policy Digest and The Conversation. He regularly comments on public policy and governance on news networks in East Africa and international media such as CNBC, CGTN, Bloomberg News, and Al Jazeera TV. He sits on the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Board, a Crown Corporation of Canada. Awiti is an alumnus of the prestigious CSC Leaders program, a global leadership program for exceptional senior leaders and holds a PhD in Ecosystem Ecology.