Dr Karen Smyth has been appointed the new Program Director for SEBI-Livestock, the Centre for Supporting Evidence Based Decisions in Livestock.
Dr Smyth brings over 20 years of senior-level scientific research coordination and management experience to this role, including as Acting Executive Director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) in Stockholm, Sweden. Karen has worked primarily in the agricultural and environmental sector and has a PhD in Social Policy. From 2016 until 2023, she served as Deputy Director of SEBI-Livestock.
“I am honoured to take up this position and look forward to strengthening our efforts to empowering livestock sector decision makers, in particular those in low- and middle-income countries through better data and evidence,” said Dr. Smyth. “We will continue to collaborate with our extensive international network of partners to help address data challenges in the livestock sector.”
Established in 2016, SEBI-Livestock mobilises and improves data and evidence to help the livestock community make better investments that improve livelihoods for smallholders in low and middle-income countries. The Centre is based at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
Dr Smyth succeeds Prof Andy Peters, who will remain a member of the SEBI-Livestock team in an advisory role.