An expert in the administration and management of development and research, international relations, agreements and fund raising, Mr Henri Carsalade is retired from the French administration where he was a member of the General Council for Agriculture, advising the Minister of Agriculture of France.

He is a former Director General of CIRAD in France and a former Assistant Director General of the Sustainable Development and Technical Cooperation departments in FAO.  From 1995 to 2000 he represented FAO as co-sponsor of the CGIAR.  He chaired Agropolis International, Montpellier, from 2006 to 2009 and is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Agropolis Fondation in Montpellier where he lives.

He is a former Chair of the Board of Trustees of ISNAR and WARDA and a former Board member of IFPRI. He chaired the Committee of Board Chairs of the CGIAR. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ICARDA and also member of the Board of AfricaRice.