Our Advisors

At NarraHarvest, collaboration is at the heart of how we work. We don't believe in delivering reports that sit on a shelf. Instead, we bring together international and regional expertise, local insight, and practical experience to help clients develop strategies, build relationships, and achieve meaningful results across Southeast Asia.

Regional & National Advisors

Our in-country advisors live and work across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. More than market observers, they are experienced professionals with deep knowledge of local policy environments, trusted stakeholder networks, and the cultural understanding needed to navigate complex regulatory and business landscapes.

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    Duke Hipp

    Managing Director

    Duke Hipp serves as Managing Director at NarraHarvest Advisors. He brings an extensive background in public policy, government relations, communications, and agricultural advocacy, with early career service in the U.S. spanning the United Fresh Produce Association, Capitol Hill, the White House, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    Duke went on to lead advocacy and stakeholder relations as Director of Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships for CropLife Asia across the Asia-Pacific region for over a decade. At NarraHarvest, he steers the firm’s strategic vision, bridging global partners and policy frameworks across Southeast Asia’s food, feed, fiber, and biofuel systems.

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    Sonny Tababa

    Senior Advisor - ASEAN & Plant Biotechnology

    Sonny Tababa serves as Senior Advisor – ASEAN & Plant Biotechnology at NarraHarvest Advisors. She brings extensive regional leadership in agricultural biotechnology, regulatory affairs, and technology adoption across Asia. Having served as Director of Plant Biotechnology Affairs at CropLife Asia, Sonny led regional advocacy for plant science innovations, gene editing, biosafety frameworks, and product stewardship.

    She works closely with governments, research institutes, and smallholder farming networks across ASEAN to advance science-based regulatory policies that strengthen regional food security, climate resilience, and agricultural productivity.

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    Jirawat Poomsrikaew

    Senior Advisor - ASEAN Food, Agriculture & Digital Policy

    Jirawat Poomsrikaew serves as Senior Advisor – ASEAN Food, Agriculture & Digital Policy at NarraHarvest Advisors. He brings over two decades of distinguished leadership spanning government relations, public policy, and trade strategy across Southeast Asia.

    Jirawat has held senior corporate affairs and policy roles at global industry leaders including PepsiCo, Google, Coca-Cola, and DuPont, alongside foundational service as a civil servant with Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce negotiating WTO and FTA agreements. Currently Secretary General and Advisor at the Thailand Digital Trade Platform Association, he brings a unique cross-sector perspective bridging agricultural supply chains, food regulations, and digital trade policy. At NarraHarvest, Jirawat helps clients navigate evolving regional frameworks, digital transformation, and market access across ASEAN.

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    Dr. Nipon Lamsupasit

    Senior Advisor – ASEAN & Seed Innovation

    Dr. Nipon Iamsupasit serves as Senior Advisor – ASEAN & Seed Innovation at NarraHarvest Advisors. A leading expert in genetically modified crops and genome editing, he currently serves as President of the Biotechnology Alliance Association (BAA) and Manager of the Seed Association of Thailand. Dr.

    Nipon holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the University of Queensland and is a key figure in advancing Thailand's agricultural innovation through science communication and regulatory policy development. At NarraHarvest, he leverages his deep expertise in CRISPR technology, biosafety standards, and seed system management to help clients navigate regulatory frameworks and adopt climate-resilient agricultural technologies.

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    Midzon Johannis

    Senior Advisor - Indonesia

    Midzon Johannis serves as Senior Advisor for NarraHarvest Advisors in Indonesia, bringing nearly four decades of leadership in the national agricultural industry. He most recently served as the Head of Business Sustainability for Syngenta in Indonesia. A graduate of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB University), Midzon has held diverse executive roles spanning marketing, R&D, corporate affairs, and agricultural sustainability.

    Notably, as the former Chairman and Senior Advisor to CropLife Indonesia, he championed ethical governance and product stewardship. His extensive expertise remains dedicated to driving sustainable agriculture, enhancing farmer welfare, and building resilient farming communities.

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    Johannes Welan Karundeng

    Senior Advisor - Indonesia

    Johannes Welan Karundeng serves as Senior Advisor for Indonesia (Biofuels) at NarraHarvest Advisors. He brings over 30 years of experience within international energy and engineering companies - much of it with ConocoPhillips and 15 years in executive leadership roles. Johannes has an extensive global footprint, having worked across Indonesia, the US, UK, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, where he successfully managed complex offshore projects and large-scale logistical and supply chain organizations.

    He also has deep expertise in strategic alignment, conflict resolution, and serving as a primary external liaison to governments, media, communities, and NGOs.

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    Nurhafiza Aziz

    Senior Advisor - Malaysia

    Nurhafiza Aziz serves as Senior Advisor at NarraHarvest - Agricultural Regulatory Affairs and Stewardship Specialist with over 18 years of unique experience in Malaysia- serving as a national Senior Advisor with NarraHarvest Advisors.

    Her deep expertise, much of it gained while with Corteva Agriscience and DuPont, spans product registration, regulatory compliance, and product stewardship for pesticides, biopesticides, biologicals, and biotechnology products. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Nurhafiza effectively guides local, regional and international organizations through complex Malaysian regulatory frameworks, managing dossier preparation, and import/export requirements. She acts as a critical liaison, driving successful regulatory authority engagement and compliance throughout the entire product lifecycle.

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    Dr. Annamalai Sivapragasam

    Senior Advisor - Malaysia

    Dr. Annamalai Sivapragasam (Dr. Siva) serves as Senior Advisor – Malaysia at NarraHarvest Advisors. He brings over 45 years of distinguished expertise in tropical agriculture, crop protection, and sustainable plant health systems. Dr. Siva previously served as Regional Director for Southeast Asia at CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International) and held senior research leadership positions at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI).

    A recognized authority in Plant Health, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), biosecurity, SPS, value chain and biopesticides, he has spearheaded major regional agricultural initiatives and regulatory engagements across ASEAN. At NarraHarvest, Dr. Siva leverages his deep scientific and policy background to guide clients through complex agricultural frameworks, biosecurity, and market sustainability in Malaysia.

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    Jenny Panopio

    Senior Advisor - Philippines

    Jenny M. Aguiero-Panopio, MS, JD serves as Senior Advisor for the Philippines at NarraHarvest Advisors, specializing in food, feed, and agriculture policy, regulatory and public affairs, and strategic stakeholder engagement. With over 25 years of experience across government, academia, international organizations, and the private sector, she has led regional initiatives in plant science regulation, product registration, stewardship, technology transfer, and science-based policy advocacy throughout Southeast Asia.

    Her work focuses on enabling responsible innovation, strengthening regulatory systems, and building partnerships that advance sustainable agriculture, food security, and resilient agri-food value chains.

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    Sathin Kunawasen

    Senior Advisor - Thailand

    Sathin Kunawasen serves as Senior Advisor for Thailand at NarraHarvest Advisors, bringing a wealth of expertise in biotechnology, seed regulation, and agricultural policy. Most recently, he spent over 20 years with Syngenta Seeds Limited as Regulatory Affairs Manager (Seeds), where he guided regulatory strategy and compliance in one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic agricultural markets.

    Earlier in his career, Sathin served as a Technical Officer on Biosafety at Thailand's National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). He holds a Master of Science in Food and Nutrition for Development (Food Microbiology) from Mahidol University.

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    Nongnuch Yokyongsakul

    Senior Advisor – Thailand

    Nongnuch Yokyongsakul serves as Senior Advisor – Thailand at NarraHarvest Advisors. Following a distinguished career at Bayer CropScience in Thailand as Regulatory Science Manager leading food chain partnerships, she brings deep expertise in agrochemical regulations, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), climate-smart agriculture, and ag-tech adoption.

    Nongnuch has worked extensively with Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to align local production with international food safety and market access standards. At NarraHarvest, she leverages her regulatory expertise and stakeholder network to help clients navigate Thailand’s policy landscape, advance sustainable agricultural technologies, and build resilient, market-ready value chains.

Subject Matter & International Advisors:

While our National Advisors provide on-the-ground market intelligence and local relationships, our Subject Matter & International Advisors contribute deep technical expertise and global perspective. Drawing on experience with leading organizations across Asia-Pacific and globally, they help clients understand evolving regulatory environments, emerging technologies, sustainability expectations, and international best practices that influence ASEAN markets.

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    Bruce Blakeman

    Senior Advisor – US Relations & Agribusiness

    Bruce Blakeman serves as Senior Advisor – US Relations & Agribusiness at NarraHarvest Advisors. He brings extensive executive experience across global agribusiness, international trade, and public policy, having served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Cargill in the Asia-Pacific region. In this role, Bruce led government relations, stakeholder management, corporate communications, and sustainability initiatives across Asia.

    A former Chair of the US-ASEAN Business Council Food & Agriculture Committee, he also served as a U.S. presidential appointee in the Department of Commerce - including three years in Beijing as the Secretary’s Special Envoy to China. Bruce brings a unique blend of corporate and public sector leadership to NHA.

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    Khalil Manaf Hegarty

    Senior Advisor - Trade Policy & Market Access

    Khalil Manaf Hegarty serves as Senior Advisor – Trade Policy & Market Access at NarraHarvest Advisors. With over 15 years of experience advising governments and corporate leaders across Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific, Khalil is a recognized expert in international trade policy, agricultural supply chains, and market access dynamics.

    He has provided trade counsel to the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, specializing in non-tariff trade barriers, environmental regulations (such as EUDR), and biofuel policy dynamics. Khalil empowers organizations to overcome complex market entry hurdles and seamlessly align with evolving regional trade frameworks.

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    Martina Bianchini

    Senior Advisor - Global Industry & Intergovernmental Affairs

    Martina Bianchini serves as Senior Advisor – Global Industry & Intergovernmental Affairs at NarraHarvest Advisors. She brings over 25 years of executive leadership bridging global trade associations, intergovernmental policy, and international regulatory strategy across the chemical, agricultural, and consumer goods sectors.

    As former President of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and senior corporate public affairs leader at Dow Chemical and Monsanto, Martina has extensive experience directing global industry coalitions. She has led high-level policy engagements with intergovernmental bodies including the UN, OECD, ICC, and EU institutions. At NarraHarvest, Martina advises clients on multi-stakeholder governance, international regulatory frameworks, and intergovernmental advocacy.

  • Dr. Arnd Nenstiel

    Dr. Arnd Nenstiel

    Senior Advisor – EU Policy & Sustainable Agriculture

    Dr. Arnd Nenstiel serves as Senior Advisor – EU Policy & Sustainable Agriculture at NarraHarvest Advisors. He brings deep expertise in European regulatory frameworks, international agricultural policy, and corporate sustainability, having recently served as Senior Project Lead for the EU Green Deal at Bayer Crop Science.

    His executive career at Bayer also includes roles as Global Head of Agricultural Policy & Stakeholder Affairs and Global Head of Asset Management Herbicides. Having spent part of his career in Asia, and currently serving as Chairman of the OAV – German Asia Pacific Business Association, Dr. Nenstiel holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and excels at bridging European policy realities with Southeast Asian agricultural dynamics. 

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    Rey Santella

    Senior Advisor - Diplomatic & Government Relations

    Rey Santella serves as Senior Advisor – Diplomatic & Government Relations at NarraHarvest Advisors. A retired diplomat with over 25 years of leadership in the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Rey brings extensive international trade and agricultural policy expertise across Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific.

    Throughout his career, he served as Agricultural Counselor and Attaché in key regional markets, including Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Australia. Rey specializes in navigating complex regulatory environments, resolving trade barriers, biosecurity negotiations, and building strategic government-industry partnerships that expand market access and facilitate international agricultural trade.

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    Dr. Steven Webb

    Senior Advisor - Global Food Security & Canada Relations

    Dr. Steven R. Webb serves as Senior Advisor – Global Food Security & Canada Relations at NarraHarvest Advisors. Based in Canada, he most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan, following a 23-year tenure in executive R&D leadership at Corteva Agriscience (formerly Dow AgroSciences).

    Dr. Webb brings to bear a wealth of international expertise in agricultural biotechnology, precision transformation, and sustainable ag-tech. At NarraHarvest, he bridges Canadian and global agricultural innovation with Southeast Asian opportunities, helping clients build resilient food systems, navigate technology commercialization, and advance sustainable agriculture.

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    Suriya Prabha Padmanaabhan

    Senior Advisor - Supply Chain Integrity & Intellectual Property Policy

    Suriya Prabha Padmanaabhan serves as Senior Advisor – Supply Chain Integrity & Intellectual Property Policy at NarraHarvest Advisors. She brings over 15 years of experience in policy and regulatory governance, trade integrity, and intellectual property.

    As Director of Programs at TRACIT, Suriya leads policy advocacy with ASEAN, WTO, the OECD, WIPO and other UN agencies across sectors including protecting agricultural supply chains and agro-chemical trade integrity. Previously a Policy Advisor at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, she holds an LL.M. in IP & Technology Law from the National University of Singapore. At NarraHarvest, she guides clients through supply chain risks, trade governance, and complex regulations across Southeast Asia.

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    Raju Kapoor

    Senior Advisor – South Asia Corporate Affairs

    Raju Kapoor serves as Senior Advisor – South Asia Corporate Affairs at NarraHarvest Advisors. With over four decades of leadership in the agriculture and chemical sectors, Raju brings deep expertise across crop protection, fertilizers, seeds, and animal health. He has held prominent executive roles, including Director of Public & Industry Affairs at FMC India and Leader of Corporate Affairs for South Asia with Corteva and Dow AgroSciences.

    At NarraHarvest, Raju leverages his extensive corporate network to assist South Asian agribusinesses in navigating market access, adopting ag-tech, and overcoming complex regulatory and policy frameworks to successfully scale their operations across Southeast Asia