Eden appoints global head of biology and development
Eden Research (@EdenResearch), the AIM-quoted company focused on sustainable biopesticides and plastic-free encapsulation technology for use in crop protection, animal health and consumer products industries, has announced the appointment of Dr. Aoife Dillon to the role of Head of Biology.
Aoife joins Eden from Plant Health Care, a leading provider of scientifically proven biological products for the agricultural industry, where she has been Technical Director for the EMEAA Region for the past three years. During her tenure, she drove the R&D agenda across the region, influencing key stakeholders to create confidence in the Plant Health Care brand and generate market pull for the product portfolio.
She was previously Chief Technology Officer at Exosect, a formulations company focused on the targeted delivery of biological and synthetic compounds used in Agriculture, where she oversaw the granting of four key patents for the company.
At Eden, she will undertake global responsibility for developing the Company’s product pipeline from a biology standpoint, working closely with a growing R&D team. Her appointment follows the opening of Eden’s new laboratory, where the company will conduct in-house processes for developing and screening new products.
Aoife will be heavily involved in assessing the efficacy and safety of new formulations and running commercial scale trials focused on plant biology for the environment and sustainability. Aoife will also work closely with Eden’s commercial partners in order to support their efforts and ultimately grow the list of authorised uses for Eden’s product portfolio.
Aoife has considerable regulatory affairs experience in plant protection products and biostimulants, as well as experience running coordinated crop trials internationally for over 20 years.
During her career, she has had roles at BASF, Horticultural Development Company and Coillte and has a PhD in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a Diploma Project Management (PMBOK) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Biological Crop Protection.
CEO Sean Smith commented: “We are pleased to welcome Aoife to Eden. She brings an impressive range of senior executive experience and the ability to engage with and influence key stakeholders in the development and commercialisation of biocontrol products.
“Aoife has a track record of driving change, as well as developing and delivering on sustainability standards, which are at the core of Eden’s proposition. Her presence at our new laboratory facilities will be integral as we ramp up our in-house capabilities to develop our product pipeline.”