BOARD chair, Simone pedrini
Chair Elect, OLGA KILDISHEVA
SECRETARY, WILLIAM MARTIN
TREASURER, LEAH PRESCOTT
DIRECTOR AT LARGE, Geângelo Petene Calvi
DIRECTOR AT LARGE, Victor Otieno
DIRECTOR AT LARGE, STEPHANIE FRISCHIE
DIRECTOR AT LARGE, KARIN KETTENRING
DIRECTOR AT LARGE, EMMA LADOUCEUR
PAST Chair (2020-2022), NANCY SHAW
PAST Chair (2018-2020), Rob Fiegener
PAST CHAIR (2016-2018), KINGSLEY DIXON
Simone Pedrini is a senior lecturer at Curtin University (Perth, Australia). He is specialised in plant species conservation and reintroduction. His main focus is on optimising the native seed supply chain for ecological restoration, from seed collection and production, seed processing, quality testing, dormancy treatment, seed enhancement, and seed use in the field. Simone obtained a Bachelor of Science (2005-2008) and a Master of Science degree (2008-2011) in "Natural Sciences" from the University of Pavia (Italy). He was co-founder and managing director of the first Italian native plant nursery and seed supplier, Flora Conservation, (2012 to 2015). He then obtained a Ph.D. in "Seed enhancement technology application to native seeds" from Curtin university (2015-2019). Simone is a certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner and board advisor of the European Native Seed Producers Association.
E-mail: smnpedrini@gmail.com
Olga Kildisheva is a restoration ecologist, passionate about native seed, in the broadest sense, from improving seed use efficiency to increasing native seed supply. Currently, she manages the Innovative Restoration Project at The Nature Conservancy, where she coordinates teams working across 6 western US states, builds partnerships, and guides R&D of seed technologies to improve the restoration of the sagebrush biome. Olga holds a Ph.D. from the University of Western Australia where she evaluated novel methods to enhance seed-based restoration of native plant communities in the western U.S. and Australia. She also has an M.Sc. from the University of Idaho and a B.S. from Purdue University, both focused on applied natural resource management. Olga is thrilled to rejoin the board and contribute to building a global community of practice where scientists and managers can come together to explore challenges and develop solutions to improve restoration outcomes.
Alison is a PhD candidate with Dr. Elizabeth Leger studying native seed mixes for use in restoration. Prior to this, she worked as the regional program coordinator for the Great Basin Institute where she mentored and managed 110+ personnel, including other experienced biologists implementing wildland monitoring programs. Alison is a highly effective communicator with a passion for connecting diverse stakeholders to the latest evidence-based restoration strategies. Her experience preparing technical documents, conducting ecology research, working with diverse audiences, and coordinating complex projects has prepared her well for this role as the INSR Secretary.\
I am a Ph.D. student at the University of Nevada, Reno where I am studying seed ecology and restoration. I graduated from the College of Wooster with a BA in Biology & English and a minor in economics. I worked as a Conservation Land Management intern with the Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming before moving to Washington D.C. to work with the BLM National Office. From 2018 to 2020 I worked as the Seeds of Success National Curator where I managed a database of over 25,000 native seed collections. I am currently analyzing the SOS dataset to uncover the geographic distribution of seed size.
Email: lprescott@nevada.unr.edu
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Geângelo P. Calvi is a technician at the Seed Laboratory of the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), in Manaus (Brazil). His main research focus is native seed technology and testing, with special attention to desiccation-sensitive seed storage. Since 2022, he has been vice coordinator of the Technical Committee of Forest Seeds of the Brazilian Association of Seed Technology (ABRATES), of which he has been a member since 2015. He also is a member of the Forest Tree and Shrub Seed Committee from the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). He holds a degree in Forestry Engineering from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (2001-2006) and a Master of Science degree (2006-2008) as well as a PhD (2011-2015) in Tropical Forest Sciences from the National Institute for Amazonian Research. He has developed studies about the current situation of the Amazonian Seed and Seedling supply and Amazonian native seed production and testing.
Mr. Otieno is the Resource Manager at the Centre for Ecosystem Restoration Limited, in Limuru, Kenya and has over 14 years experience in plant genetic resources conservation and sustainable use. His current projects include ‘Seed Conservation and Distribution-Terraformation Projects’, ‘Conservation of Kenya’s Central highlands threatened tree species through community participation and integration into planting programmes-Franklinia Foundation’ and ‘Construction of a Micro- and Mist-propagators for use in Exceptional species propagation-Botanical Gardens Conservation International. Previously, he worked as a Technical Manager at Agropen Limited, Consultant at African Forest, Consultant at World Agroforestry Centre-ICRAF and a project officer at Kenya Forestry Research Institute. His professional interest focuses on seed biology, technology and trade.
He holds BSc. (Biochemistry/Chemistry) and MSc. (Seed Technology and Business Management) both from the University of Nairobi. He is a member of the International Society for Seed Science, Botanical Society of America and Nature Kenya.
Based in northwest Indiana, Stephanie provides pollinator habitat expertise to farms in Canada and the central U.S. as the Agronomist/Native Plant Materials Specialist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. She works with the native seed industry and researchers to plan and develop seed supply of important plant species for restoration of insect habitat. Before joining Xerces, Stephanie conducted her PhD research on the potential of native cover crops in Spanish olive orchards at Semillas Silvestres, S.L. through the NASSTEC (NAtive Seed Science, TEchnology and Conservation) project. Previously she was Plant Materials and Conservation Programs Manager for eleven years at the Nature Conservancy's Kankakee Sands Restoration. Seeds are plants too and are a very key part of restoring vibrant natural communities and their ecosystem services.
I am a Professor of Wetland Ecology and Restoration at Utah State University in the U.S. My research focuses on (1) the ecology, genetics, and management of wetland invaders, (2) seed ecology of native wetlands plants, with implications for wetland revegetation, and (3) restoration genetics for sustainable, functioning wetland restorations. Some of my current projects with my students include seed-based restoration of Great Salt Lake wetlands and Suisun Marsh in the San Francisco Bay-Delta with a focus on seed traits and improving seeding outcomes in restorations. I am excited to be a part of the INSR network and to bring a stronger emphasis on seeds in aquatic ecosystems.
E-mail: karin.kettenring@usu.edu
Twitter @KarinKettenring.
I am currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), working with the Biodiversity Synthesis and Physiological Diversity groups in Leipzig, Germany. I am leading the Global Restore Project (GRP) which is aiming to understand patterns of success in ecological restoration globally. Before joining iDiv I conducted my PhD research on species selection for restoration seeding treatments in the Alps at the Museo Delle Scienze (MUSE), in Trento, Italy through the NASSTEC (Native Seed Science, Technology and Conservation) project. Previous to that I was in Australia studying an MSc in Conservation Biology at University of Queensland, and practicing, researching and monitoring seed and planting-based restoration in human-disturbed and post-mining landscapes with many cool partners and collaborators.
I am a research botanist (emeritus) with the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, with 35 years of experience in restoration of riparian and terrestrial disturbances in semi-arid lands of the western United States. Prior to retirement, I led the Great Basin Native Plant Project, an interdisciplinary program to develop native plant materials, seed production practices, and restoration technology for this region. The project involved collaboration with federal and state agencies, universities, seed regulatory organizations, and the private sector native seed industry. I am currently contributing to efforts that inform and strengthen native seed conservation and use at levels from local to international. Through the INSR we have a valuable tool for sharing information on the effective and efficient use of native seeds in and beyond the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
I am the Director of the Native Seed Network and creator of the National Native Seed Conference. I began work in seed-based restoration as a seed collector in Yosemite National Park over 20 years ago. I holds a Master of Science degree in Ecology from the University of California, Davis and have worked at the Institute for Applied Ecology since 2002, where I conducted research on seed transfer zones, developed the Institute’s Habitat Restoration Program, and since 2010 have been producing the National Native Seed Conference, bringing researchers, seed producers, land managers, and restoration professionals together.
I am a restoration ecologist and conservation biologist, Professor and Director of a major newly funded Centre for Mining Restoration with 30 years experience in restoration focused on minesite and urban interface restoration and conservation practice. I am the Chair of SER’s Australasian chapter and a passionate believer in the social, economic and environmental values of restoration particularly in a world facing the need for carbon drawdown when restoration will become a major focus for all nations. My interests in native seed span the same time period and I have published over 70 papers on the subject. I see native seed use and methods to improve functionality and efficiency as key to delivering cost effective, landscape-scale restoration on a planetary scale. I look forward to taking the INSR to a truly connected global network.