Introducing Conversations in Development
By Ellen Wilson, July 11, 2013
BurnessGlobal introduces a new monthly series called Conversations in Development to feature interviews with fascinating people we have known or worked with over our 20+ years in the development space. Through these interviews, we’ll share fresh perspectives on a variety of issues, from agricultural development to global health to forestry, and hopefully spark a dialogue about the top development priorities in the world today.Jimmy Smith, director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), discusses the critical role of livestock and animal-sourced products to the development of the urban and rural poor. He grew up on a farm in the Caribbean, and his mother, who believed whole-heartedly in education for all her children, was Jimmy’s greatest inspiration.
Watch Ellen Wilson’s interview with Jimmy on his inspiration, livestock’s critical role in development and the world’s most pressing development priorities:
This project is dedicated to our colleague Jeff Haskins, who passed away suddenly in July 2012. He was a “big ideas” guy, always pushing those he worked with to think about the world differently. We know he would be proud of this project. Knowing how much Jeff loved Nairobi and his work with ILRI, among many other groups around the world, our first interviews took place here.
Watch a video of ILRI’s Susan MacMillan’s reflections on Jeff: