Segenet Kelemu

Early life

Segenet Kelemu was born in Finote Salem, Ethiopia. Her parents had the foresight to send their daughters to school, where Dr Kelemu, though exuberant; prone to challenging and contradicting teachers, demonstrated self-determination and, above all, impressive academic prowess. She was also fortunate to have dedicated teachers who recognised and nurtured her potential and apparent destiny for great heights.

Like many other children in her village, Dr Kelemu was expected to help out with farming chores. Moreover, from an early age, she displayed a strong sense of responsibility, and as a result, her mother assigned her the task of selling farm produce in the market; certain that she would negotiate the best prices and keep the money safe. Thus, Dr Kelemu learnt the hard truths about agriculture: its back breaking labour − especially for women, as well challenges to productivity, which placed people in her community in a constant struggle to meet minimum households food needs; but amidst all, the sector's potential. As a result, she felt a calling to seek solutions for agricultural constraints. Therefore, though an all-round top grade student, Dr Kelemu decided to dedicate herself to science and agriculture.

Education

In 1974, Dr Kelemu became the first woman from her region to join Addis Ababa University – where she was one of five girls in a class of 200 – graduating, on top of her class, with a Bachelor's degree in 1979. She then proceeded to Montana State University USA, where she earned an MSc in plant pathology and genetics in 1985, before joining Kansas State University, for a PhD in molecular biology and plant pathology in 1989. Her PhD thesis was titled Molecular cloning and characterization of an avirulence gene from Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae. Kelemu undertook postdoctoral research on the molecular determinants of pathogenesis at Cornell University from 1989 to 1992.

Career

Between 1992 and 2007, Dr Kelemu worked at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia, first as a Senior Scientist, and later Leader of Crop and Agroecosystem Health Management. Her research focused on elucidation of molecular determinants of host-pathogen interactions, development of novel plant disease control strategies including genetic engineering, biopesticides, pathogen population genetics and dynamics, endophytic microbes and their role in plant development. In August 2007, Dr Kelemu decided to return to Africa, determined to contribute her experience in applying cutting-edge science to developmental issues, towards resolving the continent's problem. She accepted a position as the Director of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub. Under her leadership, the BecA initiative was transformed from a contentious idea into a driving force that is changing the face of African biosciences. BecA’s research capacity, staff, facilities, funding, partners and training programs have expanded at an ever accelerating pace. She has assembled and inspired a scientific and technical team bound by a common passion for using science to enhance Africa’s biosciences development. In 2013, Kelemu joined the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) as Vice President for Programs for about a year. In November 2013, Kelemu became the Director General of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Africa's only institution dedicated to research on insects and other arthropods, which is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. She is the fourth chief executive and the first woman to head the institution.

Personal life

Kelemu is married to Dr. Arjan Gijsman and has a daughter named Finote Gijsman. They reside in Nairobi. She enjoys reading biographies.