IRRI’s New Strategic Appointments To Advance Integrated Research And Global Impact

04 August 2025, Philippines: The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is proud to announce two key leadership appointments that reflect a bold step toward a more impact-driven and globally responsive research model: Dr. Michael Quinn as Research Director for Rice Breeding Innovations and Dr. Jerry D. Glover as Chief of Staff.

Dr. Michael Quinn, Research Director for Rice Breeding Innovations

Dr. Michael Quinn brings to IRRI a wealth of global experience in crop improvement, innovation systems, research management, and has worked extensively with both hybrid and fixed-line crops. As IRRI’s new Research Director for Rice Breeding Innovations, he will lead efforts to integrate cutting-edge science and systems innovations to strengthen the impact and reach of rice breeding across Asia, Africa, and beyond.

Prior to joining IRRI, Dr. Quinn served as Director for Breeding Innovation and Modernization at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), another CGIAR center, where he led the modernization of CGIAR and NARES breeding programs, across 22 crops and eight CGIAR centers, through the CGIAR Accelerated Breeding Initiative (ABI) and the CGIAR Excellence in Breeding (EiB) Platform. His leadership in these capacities has tackled all aspects of breeding including setting objectives, partnership models, innovation management and breeding methods which enhanced CGIAR’s collective capacity to deliver improved crop varieties more efficiently and at scale.

His work has been instrumental in modernizing breeding pipelines to become more data-driven, gender-responsive, and market-oriented, ensuring that improved varieties reach farmers faster and with greater impact.  

Before joining CGIAR, he was Principal Wheat Breeder and R&D Manager for Eastern Australia at InterGrain, a leading cereal breeding company. There, he led commercial varietal development tailored to farmer and industry priorities, with direct responsibility for product development, germplasm strategy, and cross-functional team leadership across diverse agroecological zones. Dr. Quinn has a deep background in the commercial development and release of germplasm and R&D management, having led teams across diverse agroecological contexts.  

Dr. Quinn holds a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding from the University of Adelaide and has worked at the intersection of public and private sector R&D. He brings to IRRI not only deep technical expertise, but also a collaborative and mission-driven leadership style that emphasizes partnership, accountability, and impact. Dr. Quinn officially joins IRRI on October 1, 2025.

Dr. Jerry D. Glover, Chief of Staff

Dr. Jerry D. Glover joins IRRI as Chief of Staff, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience in agricultural sustainability, research strategy, and global development. He most recently served at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as Deputy Director of the Center for Agriculture and Lead for Agricultural Research Strategy and Budget. There, he managed an annual portfolio of over $150 million, supporting more than 40 U.S. universities and numerous global partners, including CGIAR centers, national research organizations, and private sector collaborators.

An internationally recognized thought leader, Dr. Glover has led multi-disciplinary teams across agriculture policy, soil science, genetic innovations, market systems, and climate-smart agriculture. His leadership is rooted in purpose-driven accountability, inclusivity, and coalition-building, having worked across more than 20 countries partnering with organizations such as the World Bank, FAO, the African Union, and the Crop Trust.

Dr. Glover holds a Ph.D. in Soil Science from Washington State University. He is an elected Fellow of four leading scientific societies and a National Geographic Explorer known for making complex scientific ideas accessible to broad audiences.  

As Chief of Staff, he will serve as a strategic advisor to the Director General, ensuring cohesive institutional operations and alignment of priorities across IRRI’s global network. Dr. Glover officially joins IRRI on August 25, 2025.  

Dr. Quinn and Dr. Glover join Dr. Virender Kumar, IRRI’s Research Director for Sustainable Impact through Rice-based Systems, in advancing IRRI’s integrated research agenda. Their combined leadership supports the institute’s 10-year vision and 2025–2030 Strategy, unifying the strengths of IRRI’s research and operational departments to deliver a more impactful, efficient, and demand-driven innovation portfolio for rice-based agri-food systems. 

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