FFTC Welcomes New Director

2008-12-18

FFTC looks forward to the dynamic and innovative leadership of its new Director, Dr. Jen-Chyuan Lee, to spearhead the Center into greater heights of achievements. Director Lee is one of Taiwan's leading research and development (R&D) managers whose professional commitment is the scientific and technological advancement of the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the Asian region. His professional experience speaks well of his technical and managerial excellence, having been in public service in various capacities for 35 years, most notably as Deputy Minister of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taiwan for 11 years, from May 1997 to May 2008.

At the COA, Director Lee played a central and instrumental role in promoting agricultural development in Taiwan. He was actively involved in crafting major policies on agricultural development following the country's WTO accession, restructuring for the development of knowledge-based agriculture, advancing innovative ideas to strengthen farmers' welfare, reforming for sustainable development of rural villages, and social marketing for Taiwan's New Agriculture Movement. He also had vast experience and exposure in international agricultural technical cooperation, having been instrumental in the success of many COA bilateral programs with various countries.

In addition to serving as Deputy Minister of COA, Director Lee also held other key positions, namely: Chairman, Overseas Fisheries Development Council (1997-2008); Associate Professor, National Taiwan University (1982 to present); Professor, National Taiwan Ocean University (2001 to present); Secretary General, COA, Executive Yuan (1996-1997); and Director/Deputy Director, Fisheries Department, COA, Executive Yuan (1984-1996). He completed his doctoral degree from the Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture, Auburn University, Alabama, USA, and his masteral degree from the National Taiwan University (NTU).

For his technical and managerial excellence, he garnered several prestigious awards throughout his professional career, some of which are: Highest score of the first-grade National Civil Servant Examination (1981); Award for best civil service, Executive Yuan (1985); Outstanding alumni of the Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture, Auburn University, USA (2004); Outstanding alumni of Auburn University, USA (2004); Outstanding alumni of the National Taichung Second High School, Taiwan (2007); and Outstanding Alumni of the National Taiwan Normal University (2008).

Director Lee envisions to provide the leadership required in fulfilling FFTC's mandate to address the needs of small-scale farmers by promoting modern and practical information and technology toward contributing to the creation of a genuinely interdependent regional sustainable agriculture in the ASPAC region.

Index of Images

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  Figure 1 New FFTC Director, Dr. Jen-Chyuan Lee