b'ASSOCIATION NEWS testing by electrophoresis, in collaboration withgenetically modified organism (GMO) Proficiency the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),Tests (PT), as well as the PT 19-02 Brassica napus. the Asia Pacific Seed Association (APSA), andAdditionally, her laboratory provides mixture others all over the world. Under the frameworksamples which are sent out as reference material of the Indo-German Cooperation in Science andfor laboratories participating in ISTA PTs.Technology, Andrea held a webinar on purity testing. Throughout her career, she was alsoBeginning with the ISTA Congress in Angers active in VDLUFA (the Association of Germanin 2001, she has participated in most of the Laboratories in Agriculture), for which she wasISTA Annual Meetings and Congresses. Since part of the steering committee for several years. the meeting in Cologne in 2010, she has been a member of the Purity, Germination and GMO Part of Andreas scientific work in 2007 at theCommittees. Andrea became Vice-Chair of the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural TechniquePurity Committee six years ago, and has now (Potsdam) was the growing of Fusarium-infestedtaken over the position of Chair during this seeds for the development of an eNose to detectyears Congress in Christchurch. Andrea is happy Fusarium species in cereals. By becoming Headto have two Vice-Chairs at her side to support of the seed testing station Karlsruhe in 2008, herthe Committees work: Sue Cousins (NZ) and laboratory continues to organise most of the ISTAShankara Naika (NL).Marie-Claude GagnonVariety CommitteeMARIE-CLAUDE GAGNON IS HEADIn her role as Head of the Genotyping/Botany OF THE GENOTYPING/BOTANY ANDand Seeds Units (since January 2016), she SEEDS UNITS OF THE CANADIAN FOODexplores the important subjects of invasive plant INSPECTION AGENCY (CFIA) in Ottawa,identification, genetically modified organism Canada. The mission of the CFIA is to safeguard(GMO) detection and variety verification, in a food, animals and plants, enhancing the healthdiagnostic and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited setting.and well-being of Canadas people, environment and economy. Marie-Claude has been a member of the Variety Committee since 2020 and became Vice-Marie-Claude has a Masters degree and aChair in 2022. She is honoured to have been PhD in molecular biology, with a focus on theelected as Chair of the Committee for the next development of markers for different types oftriennium and looks forward to continuing the living organisms. She joined the CFIA in 2012 as acollaboration of the Committee with the overall postdoctoral fellow working in plant pathology. ISTA goals.Hulya IlbiVariety CommitteeHULYA ILBI IS A FULL PROFESSORseed companies and for researchers, to introduce DOCTOR AT EGE UNIVERSITY AT IZMIR,them to vigour and vigour tests.TRKIYE in the Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture. Her research areasHulya also organised an ISTA/FAO workshop on are in seed science and technology, seed qualityElectrophoretic and PCR Techniques for Variety and vigour, molecular genetics and geneticVerification and GMO Detection in 2006 and an diversity. ISTA workshop on Statistical Aspects of GMO Detection in 2007 at Ege University.She was first introduced to the concept of seed quality in 1993 during an international course onShe led the establishment of the Masters Seed Science and Technology in the Netherlands.programme on Seed Science and Technology at In 1998, she completed her PhD thesis on ageingEge University and was head of the programmeactivity for the Committee as Vice-Chair since mechanisms and repair via priming in onionfrom 2012 to 2021. She also coordinated2010. Hulya thanks the previous Committee seeds. She participated in the ISTA Vigourthe Erasmus-Mundus Joint Masters DegreeChair, Dr Alison Powell for all her contributions workshop in 2003 in Parndorf and organisedProgramme on Plant Breeding at Ege Universityand activities in leading the Committee. ISTA Seed Vigour workshops at Ege Universitybetween 2017 and 2021. She was Director of theShe looks forward to continuing a vigorous in 2007 and 2013. Additionally, in collaborationSeed Technology Centre between 2018 and 2021. collaboration with the new Vice-Chairs, with Dr Alison Powell and Dr Stan Matthews,Marie-Hlne Wagner and Dr Mohammad Hulya has organised several local workshops inIn 2006, Hulya became a member of the ISTAKhajeh-Hosseini, as well as all of the Committee Trkiye on seed vigour for technical personnel inVigour Committee, and has continued hermembers.22 SEED TESTING INTERNATIONAL www.seedtest.org'