The EPMR Panel expresses its sincere thanks to the Board, Senior Management and all staff of IRRI for their support and assistance during the review. In particular, the Panel wishes to thank Ron Cantrell, IRRI’s Director General, Mike Jackson, the Director for Program Planning and Coordination and Ren Wang, the Deputy Director General for Research and their staff for helping the Panel in the organisation and implementation of the review and providing technical assistance. The Panel is also grateful for the Board Chair, Angeline Kamba at the time, and the Board members for taking take their time to interact with the Panel representatives who attended the Board meeting. We also thank Ron and Pam Cantrell for their warm hospitality during the review.
The Panel Chair was fortunate to have the opportunity to exchange ideas with Dr. Francisco Nemenzo, President of the University of the Philippines, Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo Jr., Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, and Senator Franklin Drilon, President of the Senate of the Philippines.
Two Panel members visited IRRI’s regional partners in Vietnam and Laos. These trips were most efficiently organised by Mark Bell and his colleagues, whom the Panel members thank warmly. The Panel members wish to recognise the kind assistance of Ms. Huyen in Vietnam and Dr. Karl Goeppert in Laos.
Thanks are due to all the IRRI research professionals and managers who were willing to spend time with the Panel members to provide information and insight. Many IRRI staff at the Headquarters contributed to helping the Panel during its stay in many ways and making its work most enjoyable. All of them deserve our warmest appreciation. We owe special thanks to the kind and cheerful staff at the IRRI Guesthouse who attended to the Panel’s needs at all times.
It is the Panel’s pleasure to thank the SC Secretariat, especially Sirkka Immonen, who assisted the Panel throughout the review. Thanks go to the CGIAR Secretariat, especially to Selcuk Özgediz and Manny Lantin for providing documentation and support to the Panel. The Panel also thanks Irmi Braun-Castaldi and Oksanna Hatalak-Cocuzzo from the SC Secretariat for travel arrangements and other assistance.
