She is an advocate for sustainable food systems, science-based policy, and funding for food research.
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 04, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Maria Velissariou, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Velissariou is a former Fortune 100 executive in the food industry and currently an advisor and entrepreneur. She has dedicated more than 30 years to her profession enabling consumers around the world to access delicious, nutritious, safe, and affordable food. Throughout her global career as a Research and Development (R&D) leader, she focused on translating science and technology opportunities into innovative solutions. She is an advocate for sustainable food systems, science-based policy, and funding for food research. Dr. Velissariou is motivated by business value creation combined with human, societal and environmental outcomes.
Dr. Velissariou is the founder and CEO of Maria Velissariou Consulting LLC (established in 2023) and an entrepreneur in food circularity with a focus on (re)inventing the future of sustainable food at the intersection of Food, Climate and Health. She tackles some of the most pressing issues by bringing together interdisciplinary experts and integrating diverse technologies. She is a Senior Fellow with The Conference Board at the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center (Europe), sits on the board of the Institute on Science for Global Policy (ISGP), and is a member of the advisory board of Solmeyea, a climate and biotechnology company.
Prior, Dr. Velissariou served as the Global Corporate R&D Vice President and Chief Science Officer for Mars. She led R&D's enterprise-wide approach for Quality and Science, equipping the function with new digital capabilities and agility to drive innovation, efficiencies, and future-proof the business. Before Mars, Dr. Velissariou held several senior leadership positions including Chief Science and Technology Officer at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), and VP Global Nutrition R&D and VP Quaker Foods North America R&D at PepsiCo. Additionally, Dr. Velissariou served in various roles at the former Kraft Foods (Europe, USA) and Dow Corning Europe.
Her academic background includes a Doctorate and a Master of Science in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham (UK), and a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece). She completed the Economics of Mutuality Executive Education at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and received certifications in Executive Leadership, High-Performance Leadership & Digital Leadership from Cornell University.
Her civic affiliations include being a board member of the Chicago Council for Science and Technology (C2ST), a founding member of the 2Blades Sustainability Council, Steering Committee member of the Nourish Movement, Endeavor Global Mentor and Advisor, and Advisory Council for Diverse Leadership at the Women Business Collaborative (WBC). She has been a long-standing advocate for women in STEM with a focus on the underserved. Under her leadership/sponsorship, Million Women Mentors (MWM), a signature program of STEMconnector®), was rolled out internationally and, in 2015, she became a MWM award recipient for introducing it to Mexico.
One of the most significant highlights of Ms. Velissariou's career is her ability to inspire individuals to think expansively. Often, when people present a problem, they tend to seek a straightforward answer to a closed question. She believes that by transforming closed questions into open-ended ones, it is possible to uncover new perspectives and more effective solutions. She also promotes ambidexterity, a dynamic mindset, which enables organizations and individuals to perform and transform at the same time.
Born in Larissa, Greece, Dr. Velissariou lived in her native country until she moved to the UK for graduate studies and in 2005, she and her family moved to the US. In addition to Greek, she holds USA and UK citizenship and currently lives in Washington, DC. Dr Velissariou enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and the arts. Looking ahead, she aims to advocate for change in the food system through her commercial and non-profit activities. Additionally, she plans to share her life story and mentorship to inspire others with her dedication to innovating with a purpose.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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