The American Seed Trade Association is pleased to announce the hiring of Abigail Struxness as senior director of International Programs & Policy.
“We’re excited to welcome Abigail to the ASTA team,” says ASTA president & CEO Andrew LaVigne. “I have no doubt her strong experience in the global trade arena combined with her understanding of international policy and its impact on U.S. businesses will be an asset to the U.S. seed industry.”
Struxness comes to ASTA from the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) where she served as Policy & Program Manager since 2013. In her role at AgTC, Struxness represented member companies’ regulatory and legislative interests before government agencies, on Capitol Hill and among private sector stakeholders to ensure U.S. exports move competitively and efficiently to foreign markets.
Prior to her time at AgTC, Struxness worked at the Washington International Trade Association in Washington, D.C. and at Business Oregon’s International Trade Office in Portland. Struxness has a degree in International Political Economy from the University of Puget Sound.
“I am thrilled to join such a dynamic and longstanding association and build upon my past experience assisting U.S. agriculture exporters,” says Struxness. “I look forward to serving the ASTA membership, helping remove trade barriers and growing the American seed industry’s presence abroad.”
In her new role, Struxness will be responsible for managing ASTA’s strategic international programs and policy initiatives. This includes: ASTA’s United Export Strategy under the USDA Cooperator Program; ASTA’s international policy initiatives, including trade; and representing the U.S. through international and regional seed associations. Struxness started in her new role today, and is based in ASTA’s headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
