Organising Committee
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Derek Donkin
Derek has 25 years’ experience in various positions in the South African avocado industry. He has been involved in organising many industry symposia including the following international events in South Africa: The International Macadamia Symposium in South Africa in 2009 and 2015, and the International Lychee Symposium in 2012.
Zelda van Rooyen (PhD)
Zelda has 23 years’ experience in avocado research. She has actively participated in all four of the previous World Avocado Congresses and has served on the Scientific Committee of WAC in Colombia. Zelda has chaired sessions at previous WAC events and is well known in the international research community. She has experience as a co-organiser of a previous international research meetings well-known globally having presented talks at many international avocado events as either an “Invited Speaker”, the chair of a session or as a speaker herself.
Donovan Lewis
Donovan has extensive marketing experience and has been involved in the avocado industry since 2013. He has organised many Maluma Symposia as done marketing research focusing on shipping, ripening and promotion of avocados. Donovan is currently a director of a packhouse and of an export company in the avocado Industry.