Dr. Margaret Karembu (MBS) is the Director of ISAAA-AfriCenter (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications – Africa region and pioneering chair, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB – Kenya chapter). She is a senior level environmental science management specialist with extensive experience in technology transfer, environmental impact audits and modern biotechnology applications on small-scale agriculture. A science educator and communication trainer, Margaret has actively been involved in strengthening capacity for science communications and policy outreach for informed choices on modern biosciences in Africa. She has significantly contributed to the biotechnology discourse through presentations in many international fora and working papers on modern biotechnology, including the Convention on Biological Diversity Biosafety COP-MOP negotiations (2010-2018).

She is also the principal convener of the Africa Biennial Biosciences Communication symposium (ABBCsymposium), Editor in chief of DrumBeat, a monthly e-newsletter on Africa Bioscience Trends and founding chair of the African Women for Biosciences and Africa Association for the Advancement of Synthetic Biology (AAASynBio). These platforms provide stakeholders an opportunity to share experiences on modern biosciences and policy implications of emerging bioscience trends. She is very passionate about science and a strong believer in the power of innovations for transforming African agriculture into efficient and competitive enterprise for women and small-holder families. In 2020, Margaret’s efforts were recognized with a conferment by Kenyan President with a State Honour – Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS). She previously served as Council chair and vice-chair of the Cooperative University of Kenya and Meru University of Science and Technology respectively. Margaret holds a PhD degree in Environmental Science Education from Kenyatta University, where she taught for more than 10 years prior to joining ISAAA.