Sylvia Wulf to Serve as Interim Lead of BIO's Agriculture & Environment Center of Excellence
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 25, 2024—Today, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announced the appointment of longtime biotechnology executive Sylvia Wulf to lead the Agriculture & Environment Center of Excellence (AECOE). The AECOE champions agriculture and environmental biotechnology innovations focused on resiliency and sustainability. In this interim capacity for up to a year, Wulf will devise and oversee strategies, investments, and plans to ensure BIO's continued growth and success in this critical area.
Wulf brings extensive industry experience to her new role with BIO, having amassed a distinguished career spanning several decades and across multiple industries – including consumer packaged goods, distribution, and agritech. She currently serves as the Chair of AquaBounty Technologies and sits on the board of 2Blades, a charitable organization that seeks to address the rising incidence of crop disease. She has served on the BIO Board of Directors since 2019 and as the chair of the organization's Agriculture & Environment Section Governing Board from 2019 to 2021.
Throughout her career, Wulf has demonstrated exceptional leadership in diverse environments, including start-ups, rapid-growth ventures, mature businesses, and traditional companies. Her strategic insight and operational prowess have driven major growth and enhanced market share for many well-known and respected brands, such as US Foods, Tyson, Sara Lee, and Bunge. In recognition of her achievements, Wulf was named one of the most powerful women in Illinois by the National Diversity Council in 2016.
"Sylvia's diverse experience working alongside some of the nation's leading brands and organizations within the agritech, nutrition, and sustainability industries makes her uniquely qualified to serve as the interim lead of BIO's ongoing efforts to accelerate the use of new biotechnologies that address societal challenges such as food security, animal health, and climate impact," said John F. Crowley, President & CEO of BIO. "I am deeply grateful that Sylvia has agreed to help us advance our efforts in this field over the next year. This will lay the foundation for our future leadership in this important area of biotechnology and will strengthen our efforts ahead for a permanent lead of this Center of Excellence."
"With a distinguished career encompassing executive-level positions across several sectors represented by BIO's diverse membership, Sylvia has long been regarded as a titan of the biotech industry," said Beth Ellikidis, Vice President of AECOE. "Her successful track record and commitment to innovation will build on the AECOE's regulatory and legislative achievements to date while strengthening our ability to continue communicating the unique value of biotechnology to some of the nation's most influential decision-makers."
Prior to accepting this new role, Wulf served as the President and CEO of AquaBounty Technologies, where she led the commercialization and growth of the world's first genetically engineered animal approved for food – AquAdvantage salmon. Under her leadership, the company broadened its investor base and strengthened its financial position through capital raises in preparation for domestic and international expansion.
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About BIO
BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial, and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. Good Day BIO is the only daily newsletter at the intersection of biotech, politics and policy. Subscribe here.
