Invited Speakers

Jimena Laporta is an Associate Professor of Lactation physiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Dairy Science from UW-Madison (2014) and was on the faculty at the University of Florida before returning to Madison in 2020. Her research focuses on how environmental and nutritional factors influence mammary gland development, lactation, and long-term performance in dairy cattle, with an emphasis on perinatal programming, epigenetics, and early-life interventions in dairy calves for heat stress resilience.

Dr. Ermias Kebreab is Associate Dean at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis. He holds the Sesnon Endowed Professorship in Sustainable Animal Agriculture. A global leader in climate-smart livestock systems, he has worked in more than 25 countries to advance sustainable agriculture through research, policy, and capacity building. He contributed to the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines on enteric methane emissions, chaired two expert committees for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and currently serves on the U.S. National Academies’ Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources. His pioneering research on livestock methane mitigation has shaped global policy and practice, earning recognition as a 2025 World Food Prize Top Agri-Food Pioneer and one of Business Insider’s Top 30 Global Climate Leaders.

Chris developed and led Equine Orthopaedic research at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre a multidisciplinary research program combining microstructural analysis, histopathology, biomechanics, epidemiology and mathematical modelling, dedicated to developing preventative training and management protocols for racehorses. He has published over 90 peer reviewed papers and contributed to 16 book chapters.

Chris trained as a specialist equine surgeon at the University of Sydney, Australia, gaining Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Equine Surgery by examination in 1995. He also completed a PhD at the University of Sydney in 1998. He has worked at The University of Melbourne since 2004.

Alex leads an independent research group focused on applied animal behaviour and welfare assessment, with a particular emphasis on understanding emotional states in animals, especially the identification of positive welfare indicators. Her current projects span species and settings, aiming to improve welfare outcomes through evidence-based approaches. She is particulary interested in the use of AI to capture behavioural data on animals to inform modelling around animal welfare state.

With experience in welfare science and animal law, Alex frequently contributes to multi-disciplinary collaborations that bridge science, ethics, and policy and sits on a number of state and national commitees influencing law reform around animal use. 

Lauren is the Director of the Animal Welfare Science Centre at the University of Melbourne. Her research program focuses largely on animal welfare assessment, the effects of human-animal interactions and the human-animal relationship on animal welfare, the effects of the social and physical environment on animal welfare, and human behaviour change to improve animal welfare. This research is across animal species and animal use settings, with evidence-based outcomes aiming to improve fundamental knowledge, and inform policy and standards, industry practices, and training programs for animal users to improve the welfare of domestic and captive animals. 

​Associate Professor Sonia Liu is a poultry nutritionist from the University of Sydney, Australia. Her research focuses on reduced protein diets, digestive dynamics of nutrients, amino acid nutrition in layers and broilers and feed grain quality. Sonia has more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific publications. She is the recipient of 2015 Australian Department of Agriculture, Science and Innovation Award for Young People, 2018 The Australia Awards - Endeavour Research Fellowship and 2019 Australia Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award. She is currently an Australia Research Council Industry Fellow and College of Experts Member.

In Search of Greener Pastures: Insights on Water, Carbon,      and Biodiversity Pathways from Subtropical Beef Systems​

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Elizabeth Boughton, Ph.D., is the Director of Science and Program Director of Agroecology at Archbold Biological Station in Florida, USA. 

She investigates how grazing landscapes can be managed to enhance biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem services, and improve climate resilience.

She conducts much of her research at Buck Island Ranch, a full commercial scale cow–calf operation that serves as a platform for long term ecological studies aimed at balancing cattle production with environmental stewardship. She holds a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology from the University of Central Florida and completed post doctoral research in the Florida Everglades Headwaters, examining trade offs and synergies in a payment for water services program on ranchlands with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Dr. Boughton collaborates widely across major research networks, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network, AmeriFlux, and the Nutrient Network. She leads multidisciplinary initiatives that bring together land managers, ranchers, scientists, industry, and conservation organizations to translate ecological research into practical, on the ground solutions.

Dr Crisp has over 25-years’ experience in agricultural research including plant pathology, entomology and acarology with a particular focus on Biosecurity and Sterile Insect Technologies (SIT).

Current formal responsibilities and accountabilities are as Program Leader with SARDI Entomology, part of the crop sciences group. The Entomology group includes three subprograms, Fruit Fly and Biosecurity, IPM (includes Blow Fly SIT) and a Grains Snail and slug Group. Dr Crisp has been invited to partake in international research programmes initiated by an FAO/International Atomic Energy Association to improve the quality and efficacy of SIT.

Major projects have included the development of the Sterile Insect Facility in Pt Augusta and supporting the Kangaroo Island Sterile Insect research program investigating the potential management or eradication of Sheep Blow Fly.  Contribution to these projects has ranged from facility design, improved rearing to development of new strains that improve efficacy and reduce costs.

Dr. Crisp has also developed strong links with several Aboriginal groups within South Australia, Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga communities, and is currently part of a 3-person team developing and Aboriginal Engagement policy for SARDI. In addition to this he is working with Aboriginal Elders and Communities to develop sustainable horticultural enterprises in remote and regional communities.

Joel is a senior researcher at the School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, and at the Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (Biopolis–CIBIO) in Portugal.

Trained as a biologist and working within an archaeological setting, he operates at the interface of the natural and social sciences. His research uses DNA from contemporary, historical, and archaeological sources to explore how human activity and environmental change have shaped species and populations over time.

His work addresses questions ranging from the genetics of biological invasions and adaptation to novel habitats to the origins and spread of domestic animals.

Alongside his research, he serves as the Head of the Strategic Projects and Innovation Lab at Biopolis–CIBIO, where he leads initiatives designed to strengthen institutional capacity and foster collaboration across academia, industry, civil society, and the public sector.