Patrick Sorgeloos has a PhD in marine biology and set up the Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center at Ghent University in Belgium. Until his retirement as emeritus professor in 2013 over 350 Master (from > 50 countries) and 70 PhD alumni (from > 20 countries) graduated at Ghent University in the field of aquaculture. As Past-President of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) and co-founder and board member of the European Aquaculture Technology & Innovation Platform EATIP, Patrick is a strong promoter of international networking in aquaculture and is still involved with many international aquaculture organizations. He was co-founder of the Ghent University spin off company Artemia Systems which is now operating under the name of INVE Aquaculture and belongs to Benchmark Holding. He received honorary awards in China, Egypt, Greece, India, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam.
Professor Jianguo He, a distinguished marine and aquatic biologist at Sun Yat-sen University, has been a leading figure in aquatic disease prevention since earning his Ph.D. in 1990. Promoted to professor in 1994, he has received numerous accolades, including the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. He serves in several national leadership roles, such as Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Chief Scientist for China’s shrimp and crab industry technology system. His pioneering work includes developing disease-resistant shrimp strains, establishing ecological models for viral disease control, and advancing global research on aquatic viruses like WSSV and ISKNV. With over 300 publications, 20 patents, and top national science awards, his innovations have significantly advanced sustainable aquaculture worldwide.
Krishna R. Salin is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Aquaculture Program at AIT, Thailand, with nearly 30 years of academic and industry experience. He has served as President of the World Aquaculture Society Asian-Pacific Chapter (WAS-APC) and as the Honorary Director of NEDAC, Bangkok. A Visiting Professor at Shanghai Ocean University, his research focuses on cleaner aquaculture and the health, nutrition, and welfare of aquatic animals. Through AIT’s Sustainable Asian Aquaculture platform, he offers customized training and consulting services globally. Salin holds a PhD in Mariculture (CIFE, India), a Master’s in Aquaculture, a Bachelor’s in Fisheries Science (KAU, India), and a postdoc in genomics (QUT, Australia).
Dr. Sheng Luan is Deputy Director of the Breeding Division at the Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, where he spearheads cutting-edge research on genetic breeding of aquatic animals and multi-trait composite breeding systems. Since earning his Ph.D. in Marine Biology from Ocean University of China in 2006, he has developed China’s first web-based aquatic genetic evaluation platform, identified exploitable indirect genetic effects in shrimp, and integrated genomic BLUP with phenotypic and pedigree data to overcome simultaneous trait-selection bottlenecks. These innovations have yielded five nationally certified aquaculture varieties—such as the fast-growing “Huanghai No. 2” shrimp and disease-resistant “Renhai No. 1” Pacific white shrimp—enhancing growth, survival, and disease resistance by up to 30 percent across multiple species and producing more than 10 billion high-quality larvae. A recipient of top honors including the National Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Harvest Award (First Prize, 2019) and Shandong Technology Invention Award, Dr. Luan has published over 100 papers, secured 17 patents, attracted more than CN¥11 million in competitive funding, and mentored over 20 graduate students, solidifying his reputation as a leading innovator in aquaculture genetics.
Researcher Zhang Haiqi is the Director of Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, and serves as the Chief Expert in the field of freshwater seed industry for Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. He also holds the position of Director at Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. With a long-term commitment to research on germplasm improvement and selective breeding of aquaculture species, his breeding technologies are recognized as internationally leading. His pioneering work includes:(1) Leading research on disease-resistant selective breeding of Macrobrachium rosenbergii and spearheading national joint breeding initiatives and key technology development for the entire industry chain of giant freshwater prawns. (2) Pioneering the establishment of a selective breeding technology system for major aquaculture species in Zhejiang Province, resulting in the province's first national new aquatic variety. (3) Overseeing more than 20 scientific research projects, publishing over 60 papers, obtaining 9 patents, formulating 6 provincial-level local standards, and authoring 7 books. (4) Receiving 7 provincial and ministerial-level awards, including the China Industry-University-Research Collaboration Innovation Award and the Fan Li Science and Technology Award from China Society of Fisheries.00 papers, secured 17 patents, attracted more than CN¥11 million in competitive funding, and mentored over 20 graduate students, solidifying his reputation as a leading innovator in aquaculture genetics.
Dr Jie Huang is currently a Senior Researcher at Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute (YSFRI), Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS). He finished his five-year term serving as the Director General of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) (2019-2024). Before May 2019, He served as a Chief Scientist on Disease Control in CAFS, a Designated Expert of World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Laboratories on White Spot Disease and Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis, the Vice President of WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Standards Committee (2012-2015), and an Expert of Iridoviridae and Roniviridae Study Groups of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. During his term at NACA, Dr Huang was responsible for coordinating regional intergovernmental cooperation and communication in aquaculture. As a scientist at YSFRI, He has been engaged in diagnosis, epidemiology, pathogenic mechanism, prevention and control technology of aquatic animal diseases, and aquaculture biosecurity for more than 30 years. Dr Huang has published more than 420 papers (190 as the corresponding author), among which 140 have been included in SCI citation journals (75 as the corresponding author), obtained 60 patents (14 as the first inventor), published 45 national and industry standards, participated in the compilation of 21 books, and won 14 national and provincial awards. He was awarded with more than 10 national and provincial talent honorary titles.
Bindu R. Pillai is currently working as a Principal Scientist at the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. After completing the masters in Mariculture and Ph.D (Maine Sciences) from ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi she joined ICAR-CIFA as a scientist in 1993. Since 2007 she has been working on genetic improvement of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (scampi) through selective breeding. In 2020 the new fast-growing strain of scampi developed through selective breeding was registered as ‘CIFA-GI Scampi®’ and she is now actively involved in the dissemination of the new strain through multiplier scampi. hatcheries. Besides this, she is also involved in another collaborative project with WorldFish. on ‘Life cycle analysis’ of major freshwater fish production systems in India and performance evaluation of genetically improved fish and prawn. She has published more than 80 research papers in national and international journals.
Somprasong Netthip, CEO of Lukkungsetthi Co., Ltd. (LST Farm), is a highly experienced aquaculture hatchery expert with over 20 years of experience in breeding black tiger shrimp, Pacific white shrimp, and giant freshwater prawns. He has developed a process for producing all-male prawn seed in a closed system (SPF) and has improved the polyculture model for giant freshwater prawns along with short-cycle white shrimp. He is the 2021 national champion for freshwater prawns farming model farmers and the runner-up of the 1st place National Outstanding Farmer in Freshwater Aquaculture in 2022. He is also the current President of the Eastern Thai Shrimp Farmers Association.
Kua Beng Chu has been a Research Officer since 1996 and is currently a Deputy Senior Director of Research, Fisheries Research Institute under Department of Fisheries Malaysia. She obtained a Bachelor of Fisheries Science (Aquaculture) and Master of Science (Fish Health Management) from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 1993 and 1996 respectively. She completed her PhD in fish parasitology from University of Science, Malaysia (USM) in 2002. Over the past 27 years, she has been involved in research on fish health, focusing in fish parasite, pathology, disease prevention and management. She has been a Project Leader for more than 10 grants and has written more than 80 technical papers. She has patented six innovations and one of them has won the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards in 2021. She has written a book on Ectoparasites in Aquaculture to assist farmers to overcome the ectoparasite problems, and children’s books on fisheries with the purpose of creating awareness to the younger generation.
Dr. Kabir Chowdhury, born and trained in Bangladesh, with further education in Thailand and Canada, brings over 30 years of expertise in aquaculture and aquaculture nutrition on a global scale. After earning PhD and completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Guelph, Canada, he joined Ja leading Canadian provider of non-medicated feed additives as Global Technical Director for aquaculture, and later as Sales Director for South Asia. His extensive knowledge includes the evaluation of novel plant proteins and the impact of anti-nutrients on nutrient utilization in aquatic animals. Dr. Chowdhury has conducted comprehensive research on the effects of various functional feed additives in fish, crustaceans, and poultry. He has an impressive publication record, with over 100 research articles, including 39 peer-reviewed papers, and has authored a book on Environmental Assessment Guidelines for Coastal Aquaculture. Dr. Chowdhury is also a prominent speaker, having presented at numerous industry-leading meetings and conferences. In 2011, he founded Professional Aquaculture Nutritionists (PAN), a LinkedIn-based networking organization that has grown to more than 8,000 members from over 110 countries worldwide. As of January 2024, he has taken on the role of Senior Editor for the Taylor & Francis (UK) journal, Critical Insights in Aquaculture. Recently, Dr. Chowdhury established Maverick Innovation, a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to exploring novel ideas and sustainable technologies for farmed animal production. Under his leadership, the organization has launched several cutting-edge projects, such as the Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) based Golda (freshwater prawn) farming technology to boost prawn production in Bangladesh by addressing challenges like water quality control, biosecurity, and disease prevention.
Lam My Lan is an Associate Professor at Can Tho University (CTU), College of Aquaculture and Fisheries. She holds a BSc in Aquaculture (1995) from CTU; an MSc in Aquaculture (1999) from AARM, AIT, and earned her PhD in Aquaculture/Biology in 2006 from University of Manur, Belgium. She joined CTU as a researcher in 1995 and has served as a lecturer since 2000 and advanced senior lecturer since 2014. Her research focuses on developing freshwater fish and giant prawn farming systems and culture techniques for high valued indigenous freshwater fish. She has researched on the development of a sustainable giant prawn – rice culture systems for both freshwater and brackishwater areas in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam as well as intensive pond culture model of giant prawn.
Professor Ikhwanuddin is an expert in the field of aquaculture in Malaysia. Since 2018, he was appointed as the Director of the Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP) at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), which has been accredited as a Higher Institution Center of Excellence (HICoE) by Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education. As the founding Director of this HICoE, Professor Ikhwanuddin has positioned AKUATROP as Malaysia’s leading institution in food security related to aquaculture. A globally recognized authority in Portunid crabs, Marine shrimps and Freshwater prawns breeding and culture, he has led over 110 national, international, and industry-funded projects, including more than 50 international grants, with total funding exceeding RM 20 million. Since 2021, he has been ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in fisheries for four consecutive years.
Professor Dileepa de Croos is a distinguished academic and leading expert in aquaculture, fisheries management, and marine biodiversity, based at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. With a strong academic foundation, B.Sc. (Hons) in Zoology (University of Colombo), M.Sc. in Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (University of Kelaniya), and a Ph.D. in Population Genetics applications in Fisheries (University of Iceland), his work bridges science and real-world application. He currently serves as the Sri Lankan Country Leader for the prestigious ACIAR-funded project, “Improving the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of culture-based fishery for finfish and giant freshwater prawn in Sri Lankan reservoirs”, which brings together over 30 researchers from Sri Lanka and James Cook University, Australia. A prolific researcher and mentor, Professor de Croos has authored over 60 refereed publications, secured three patents, attracted over USD 1.5 million in competitive funding, and supervised more than 20 postgraduate students. He is also the Editor of the Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences.
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Nadiah Wan Rasdi is an Associate Professor at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s (UMT) Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science. She holds a BSc in Marine Biology (2009) and an MSc in Aquaculture (2010) from UMT, and earned her PhD in Aquaculture/Planktonology Live Feed Culture from Flinders University, Australia in 2016 under UMT’s Academic Staff Training Scheme. She joined UMT as a tutor in 2011 and has served as a senior lecturer since 2016. Her research focuses on plankton as "living capsules" for nutrient delivery in larval fish and shrimp, including the effects of climate change on plankton biology. Her work supports improved live feed nutrition, aquaculture productivity, and food security. She has a WoS and Scopus H-index of 16 with 837 citations. Nadiah has presented her research at both national and international conferences and has held leadership roles, including Head of the Aquatic Research Programme (2020–2022) and Academic Club Coordinator (2020–2023). She aspires to be a recognized leader in Planktonology Live Food Culture through research, knowledge sharing, and mentorship.