IPNI Staff Additions Expand Southeast Asia Regional Program and Communications Group in Headquarters

February 6, 2015 – Peachtree Corners, Georgia, USA – The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) has added two new staff as of February 2015. Dr. Chin Kok Chua has joined as Regional Deputy Director for the IPNI Southeast Asia Program located in Penang, Malaysia. Ms. Abena Williams has also joined as Communications Specialist and will be located at IPNI Headquarters in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, USA.

“These announcements mark significant milestones for our organization as we place a new Deputy Directorship within the Southeast Asia Program and expand our capabilities within our Communications Group,” said IPNI President Dr. Terry Roberts.

The IPNI Southeast Asia Program is led by its Director, Dr. Thomas Oberthür. “Dr. Chua’s appointment will complement our existing regional staff, further strengthen our oil palm expertise, and accomplish much to support our goal of securing sustainable improvement in nutrient use within Southeast Asia,” said Oberthür.

“With the addition of Abena to the Communications Group, IPNI will gain an experienced journalist with a skill for developing stories,“ explains IPNI Vice President Communications, Dr. Robert Mikkelsen. “Finding the most effective ways to communicate our science to our wide range of audiences remains an important priority for our Institute.”

About Dr. Chin Kok Chua
Dr. Chua received his B.Sc. (2001) and M.Sc. (2004) from Universiti Putra Malaysia. His Ph.D. was completed in 2011 from the Universiti Terengganu Malaysia, where his specialization was in insect toxicology and entomology. Most recently, Dr. Chua led the Musim Mas Genetic Research Center for Breeding and Genetics as Principal Research Officer providing guidance and training on crop protection and agronomics within the oil palm sector.

About Ms. Abena Williams
Ms. Williams brings an extensive background in communications. Her training includes a B.A. in Journalism from California State University, Northridge. Abena comes to IPNI from the public health sector in Tennessee where she worked in media relations. Previous to that role Abena had six years experience in news, first as a television news reporter in Montana and Tennessee, and then as a writer at the University of Tennessee.

This story and more news from IPNI is available at: http://www.ipni.net/news

IPNI Contacts: Dr. Terry Roberts, IPNI President; Phone: 770.447.0335; e-mail: info@ipni.net; or Gavin Sulewski, IPNI Editor; Phone: 770.825.8080; e-mail: gsulewski@ipni.net.