Meet the Team
Senior Staff
Tony Vallance
I have worked for major berry importers and fruit marketing companies as a Technical Manager since 1998. My previous roles have included compliance management, due diligence, variety trials, and working with plant breeders and growers to introduce improved new varieties to the market. I joined Meiosis in May 2017 as Senior Technical Manager with overall responsibility for the technical function in Meiosis and the Nuclear Stock Association.
Rodney Aidoo
I am responsible for finance and administration functions and supporting the CEO in all non-technical aspects of the business. This involves interaction with all legal and reporting authorities, oversight of all aspects of internal control systems and their improvement, financial and management reporting. My role also comprises communicating financial implications of plans and decisions and contributing to the strategic direction and growth of the business.
Myriam Mannering
I have worked for Meiosis for 20 years, previously as the Office Manager. In my new position I will provide focus to key varieties from NIAB EMR and international breeding programmes. My French and Spanish language skills and experience in the industry enables me to negotiate and build good relationships with our international partners
Administration Team
Laura Amos
I have worked for Meiosis for 10 years and an important part of my job role is to ensure the smooth running of the office along with working closely with our CEO and our Company Accountant/Secretary. Further aspects of my role involve producing and distributing propagation and sales licences and when required also trial licences, for the growing and evaluation of our soft fruit varieties. I work with other staff members to provide a good service to breeders, propagators and growers as well as managing the office calendar, organising travel/trips, meetings, exhibitions worldwide and responding to queries daily.
Alicja Borkowska
I assist the Office Administrator and Programmes Manager in manifold aspects of the smooth running of our office. I make arrangements for foreign travel and exhibitions, interpret and translate to and from Polish and screen for illegal sales and propagation.
Yasmin Muttiah
My role involves processing financial transactions for the company and working with colleagues to support the CEO and Company Accountant to ensure the smooth running of the company.
Technical and NSA Team
Dr David Taylor
I provide technical support to the Chief Executive Officer and other members of staff. Other aspects of my role include writing technical reports, variety description leaflets and promotional literature, preparation of, reviewing and editing licence documents. Compiling and arranging applications for Plant Variety Rights and other forms of intellectual property protection. Working with other colleagues to arrange the maintenance, propagation and supply of plant material for trials worldwide.
Sarah Troop
Working at Meiosis since 1999 I have been involved in technical matters associated with the development of new breeding selections and cultivars including trial plant propagation and supply, monitoring of trials, the collation and dissemination of trials data and royalty auditing. I also have close involvement with the work of the Nuclear Stock Association Ltd, which provides the highest health planting stocks to the fruit industry. My current part-time role within the technical team continues my involvement in variety development and high health plant production.
Erica Losada
My role is to support the technical team which involves processing trials plant orders and collating results, preparing applications for legal protection of varieties and keeping everyone up to date with trade news including producing the Associate Member’s Newsletter. Other aspects of my role are auditing, visiting trial sites and assisting with stock maintenance and disease testing for the NSA.
Monika Gronowska
My role involves supporting the administration of the Nuclear Stock Association, including liaising with propagators, tissue culture laboratories and the high-health plant production team to facilitate the production and distribution of plant material in an accurate and timely manner. I am also responsible for the administration of the Fruit Propagation Certification Scheme and I am also assisting in the management of trials licences.
Kirsty McLeary
Kirsty joined Meiosis in 2017 and spends most of her time at the NSA high health facility in Kent. Kirsty’s responsibilities include the testing, maintenance and production of the highest health Pre-Basic stocks for supply to the soft fruit industry.
Christine Lewis
Christine assists at the NSA high health facility in Kent. Christine’s specialties include pathogen testing and maintenance of the Pre-Basic stocks for supply to the soft fruit industry.
Officials
Mr Christopher Woods – Chairman
Dr Paul Walpole – Director
Mr Jeremy Darby – Director