Prof. Jaap Seidell is a well respected Dutch Professor in nutrition and head of the Nutrition Department of the Free University in Amsterdam. He has a special interest in public health promotion and obesity and was the former head of the National Department for Chronic Diseases Epidemiology at the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment in The Netherlands. Additionally he was Rapporteur and member of the WHO/FAO Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases.

Prof. Ricardo Uauy is a renowned Chilean professor of nutrition and pediatrics at INTA (Institute of Nutrition University of Chile) and at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He has served as President of the Chilean Nutrition Society is past President of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences IUNS. He has participated as an expert in various WHO/FAO Expert Consultations notable chaired the WHO/FAO consultation on Diet Nutrition and Physical Activity Prevention of Chronic Diseases (TRS 916). Prof. Uauy has served on the board and task forces of various health and nutrition organizations and has contributed over 250 scientific publications on various aspects of human nutritional needs in health and disease with and has co-edited five books. Present research interests include: obesity and other nutrition related NCDs, international health and nutrition.

Prof. Barry M. Popkin has a Ph.D. in economics and is the Chamblee Distinguished Professor of Global Nutrition, a professor in the division of nutrition epidemiology, and Director for the University of North Carolina of the Interdisciplinary Obesity Center. He developed the concept of the nutrition transition and his research is focused on dynamic changes in diet, physical activity and inactivity, and body composition with an underlying interest in the factors influencing these changes in behaviour. He is lead scientist of several longitudinal studies in the US, China, Russia and elsewhere that investigates determinants and consequences of dietary and body composition change in all age groups. Dr. Popkin serves on several scientific advisory organisations and is Chair of the Nutrition Transition Committee for the International Union for the Nutritional Sciences. He has published more than 305 journal articles in addition to a number of book chapters. He is the author of “The World Is Fat: The Fads, Trends, Policies, and Products that are Fattening the Human Race” (Penguin Publishing).

Dr. Nelia Steyn is working at the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa as chief research specialist. Her areas of research are related to the field of chronic diseases of lifestyle, particularly type 2 diabetes and other issues relating to a healthy lifestyle. Another of her main research areas involves the double burden of diseases and food insecurity, particularly when incurring in the same household. Dr Steyn has published more than a 100 peer reviewed research articles and chapters in scientific textbooks. Her research findings have been presented at 62 conferences, of which 12 were international. She currently serves as a board member of Public Health Nutrition and served on The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition as a Board member for 10 years. She is the Chairperson of the Education Committee of the Professional Board for Dietitians in South Africa and serves on the executive committee.

Prof. Srinath Reddy is an acclaimed Indian cardiologist and trained epidemiologist. He has committed his career to preventive cardiology and public health promotion and is currently the president of the Public Health Foundation of India. He has served on many WHO expert panels and was Chair of the Scientific Council on Epidemiology of the World Heart Federation (2003-2006). He is now President of the Advisory Council of this Federation. Reddy has collaborated in many large global and local studies on risk factors for heart health. He has published more than 250 scientific articles in international and Indian peer reviewed-journals.