Jelle is an agricultural engineer with a PhD in biosystems modelling, and over a decade of experience in agricultural research for development in Latin America. He currently serves as Associate Director for Latin America of CIMMYT's Sustainable Agrifood System Program, leading research initiatives aimed at building pathways towards resilient food systems and long-term rural development. Jelle has ample expertise in scale-appropriate mechanization from smallholder farm solutions to precision agriculture applications, has actively progressed to work in innovation systems thinking, and in addition he serves CIMMYT as representative for Latin America in which he focusses this line of work to establish impactful partnerships and innovative business models. Further, as an international expert for FAO with activities in Speaker, Advisory Board Africa and the Asian Pacific, and part of a think tank on disruptive innovation for social entrepreneurship in the primary health sector in Belgium, Jelle is an example of a young leader who contributes to communities around to globe building a more inclusive, sustainability and equitable world.