ICRISAT Welcomes New Board Chair Ms Cathy Reade and Pays Tribute to the Transformative Leadership of Prof. Prabhu Pingali
Media Release
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is honored to announce the appointment of Ms Cathy Reade as Chair of its Governing Board.
Ms Reade steps into her role at a defining moment for global development, where the world faces the profound challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and land degradation—but also holds the promise of transformative action to build a future that is more sustainable, just, and resilient for all.
Her appointment comes as ICRISAT intensifies its mission to transform the drylands of the semi-arid tropics through frontier science, innovation, and strategic partnership for lasting impact.
Ms Reade brings to ICRISAT a legacy of distinguished leadership in international agricultural research, policy engagement, and development communications, and a proven track record of governance at the nexus of science, policy, and public engagement.
For over three decades, she served as Director of Outreach at The Crawford Fund in Australia, where she helped shape national and international discourse on food security and agricultural innovation.
Her extensive experience in strengthening institutional partnerships, advancing capacity development, and shaping global agricultural agendas positions her uniquely to guide ICRISAT’s governance at a time of growing global demand for sustainable and inclusive innovation in food systems.
As we welcome Ms. Reade, we also express our deepest appreciation to Prof. Prabhu Pingali, whose tenure as Chair of the Governing Board over the past five years has been marked by extraordinary intellectual leadership and institutional transformation.
Prof. Pingali is an internationally renowned economist and thought leader in global agriculture, food systems, and nutrition and will continue to provide strategic advice.
He serves as Professor of Applied Economics at the Charles H Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, with joint appointments in the Division of Nutritional Sciences and the Department of Global Development.
He is also the founding director of the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition (TCI), a pioneering center dedicated to advancing evidence-based solutions at the intersection of agriculture, nutrition, and poverty reduction.
During his tenure as Board Chair, Prof. Pingali brought unmatched academic rigor, policy insight, and strategic vision to ICRISAT.
He steered the Institute through a period of challenge, renewal, and repositioning—elevating its scientific excellence, expanding its global partnerships, and sharpening its focus on systemic resilience and equity.
His leadership strengthened ICRISAT’s standing as a global thought leader in dryland agriculture and development.
Reflecting on the transition, ICRISAT Director General Dr Himanshu Pathak said Prof. Prabhu Pingali had served ICRISAT with distinction and extraordinary foresight and looked forward to Ms. Reade's institutional stewardship.
“Prof. Pingali's global leadership in agricultural economics and development has deeply influenced our strategic direction and strengthened our capacity to drive real-world impact. We are indebted to him for his exemplary service and vision.
“We are honored to welcome Ms Cathy Reade as Chair of the Governing Board. Her lifelong dedication to development, her powerful voice for equity and inclusion, and her strategic clarity will help guide ICRISAT into a new era of relevance and impact.
"On behalf of the ICRISAT Leadership Team and our dedicated staff across regions, we look forward to working closely with the incoming Chair and the Board to advance our shared vision.
“Together, we will ensure ICRISAT remains at the vanguard of dryland agricultural transformation—guided by science, partnership, and an unwavering commitment to the communities we serve,” said Dr Pathak.
Photo Credits: Renerose Tan Ng (ICRISAT Governing Board Secretary)
Ramon Peachey