Meet the Speakers

Speakers Biographies for Asia-Pacific Lecture Tour

Dr. T. Pearse Lyons, President, Alltech Inc., USA
Dr. Pearse Lyons is founder and President of Alltech, a company that employs over 1,800 people in 91 countries. Dr. Lyons received his B.S. and M.S. from University College Dublin, Ireland. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham in the UK, he worked in the alcohol industry in Ireland, the UK and the USA. He founded Alltech in 1980, and today the company is a leading animal health company with group sales approaching $400 million. He has authored over 20 books and many research papers in scientific journals. Dr. Lyons has recently been awarded Honorary Doctorates for his contribution to science from the following universities: University College Dublin, the University of Plymouth and Herriot - Watt University, Edinburgh.

Dr. Kate Jacques, Alltech Inc., USA
Dr. Kate Jacques is Alltech's director of nutrition and serves as part of the research group located at Alltech's North American Bioscience Center in Kentucky, USA. A native of Kansas, Jacques received an M.S. in range management and a Ph.D. in animal science from Kansas State University, USA. She moved to Kentucky in 1986 when she joined Alltech. Jacques' research focus is on trace mineral form and function in diets for all species, from food animals to horses and humans. By taking the approach of examining minerals as they exist in plants and grains, the goal is to find 'nutrient forms' of the elements, thereby maximizing storage and availability for immune and reproductive functions.

Dr. Fernando Rutz, Pelotas Federal University, Brazil
Dr. Fernando Rutz currently lectures in physiology and nutrition of monogastrics and develops research on organic minerals for poultry at the Pelotas Federal University in Brazil. Rutz has conducted research on reproduction management of male breeders, nutritional management of laying hens under thermal stress, physical forms of broiler diets, and levels of calcium and phosphorus in laying hens submitted to forced molt.

He graduated from Pelotas Federal University, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with an M.S. in poultry nutrition (1983), where he based his thesis on the “Use of canola meal and other ingredients in broiler chick diets.” Rutz also holds a D.Sc. in Poultry Nutrition from the University of Kentucky, USA.

Paul Groenewegen, Alltech Canada
Paul Groenewegen has worked with Alltech for over three years and he was recently appointed as the global product manager for NuPro®. Previous to this Groeneweegen was the Canadian technical manager, where he provided sales support, research and registration responsibilities in Canada. Prior to Alltech, Paul was employed by a major feed supplier in Ontario for 15 years as a swine specialist responsible for sales and technical support to large farrow to finish operations in Ontario, Canada. Paul has provided consultative services to clients in Venezuela, the USA and across Canada.

Paul attended the University of Guelph were he obtained a B.S. in agriculture, majoring in animal and poultry science and then completed a M.S. in nutritional physiology.

Duane Kristensen, Chief Ethanol Fuels Inc, USA.
Duane Kristensen is vice president of operations/general manager for Chief Ethanol Fuels, Inc. Chief Ethanol is a 62 million gallon facility located in Hastings, Nebraska. Duane has been involved in the ethanol industry since 1986. Kristensen graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a B.S in Agriculture Economics.