Dr. Gregory Yep assumed the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Technical and Research Officer at CJ Cheiljedang Foods in September 2023, propelling the global leader in Asian and American foods, nutrition, and biotechnology into an unprecedented era of pioneering innovation. At the helm of the company's global research and development strategy, Dr. Yep is a visionary leader spearheading transformative initiatives, pioneering technological advancements, fostering impactful external collaborations, and steering the company's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. His strategic leadership is dedicated to delivering unparalleled new food products that not only captivate but also delight the global consumer, with iconic brands such as Bibigo and Red Baron.
Beyond his Company role, Dr. Yep is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As the executive sponsor for company initiatives, he actively engages in community service, shaping a future where inclusivity and social impact seamlessly intertwine.
Prior to his role at CJ, Dr. Yep served as the Chief Science Officer at IFF and held the position of Senior Vice President of Research and Development at PepsiCo. In these influential roles, he crafted enduring, science-based strategies for core ingredients, leaving an indelible mark on the realms of food, flavor, metabolism, and nutrition. Dr. Yep's impact is notably reflected in his leadership of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, a beacon of knowledge in sports nutrition and exercise science dedicated to enhancing the performance and well-being of athletes.
Dr. Yep's holds or has held directorial roles on the Board of Directors for J.M. Huber Engineered Materials Company, IFF Hong Kong, Asian Pacific Islander Tennis Association, and Will Ventures. He currently serves on multiple advisory boards, including the United States Tennis Association National Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Cornell University.
Recognized for his exceptional commitment to underserved youth, Dr. Yep received the prestigious Apex for Youth Inspiration Award. His expertise in flavor science has earned him accolades as a Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association Excellence in Flavor Science awardee.
Dr. Yep's academic journey commenced at the University of Pennsylvania, where his passion for taste, scent, and nutrition took root, culminating in a master's degree and a PhD in organic chemistry from The Johns Hopkins University.

Mark Post is an MD, PhD and professor of Sustainable Industrial Tissue Engineering at Maastricht University. His main research includes engineering of tissues for medical applications and consumer products, which has led to the development of cultured beef from bovine skeletal muscle stem cells. In August 2013, he presented the world’s first hamburger from cultured beef. He is CSO and co-founder of two companies, MosaMeat and Qorium that will commercialize cultured meat and cultured leather.

Jessica Fanzo, Ph.D., is a Professor of Climate and the Director of the Food for Humanity Action Collaborative at Columbia University’s Climate School in New York City. She currently leads the development of the Food Systems Dashboard and the Food Systems Countdown to 2030 Initiative. Fanzo serves as the co-Chair of the Executive Committee for the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement, and is a board member of the Integrated Partnership Board of the CGIAR, the International Livestock Research Institute, and the Alliance for Bioversity and CIAT.  Professor Fanzo became an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2024.
Before coming to Columbia in 2023, Professor Fanzo was the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Global Food Policy and Ethics at Johns Hopkins University. She has also held positions at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN), the UN World Food Programme, Bioversity International, the Earth Institute, the Millennium Development Goal Centre at the World Agroforestry Center in Kenya, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.  She has participated in various collective endeavors, including the Food Systems Economic Commission, the Global Panel of Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition Foresight 2.0 report, the Lancet Commission on Anaemia, and the EAT-Lancet Commissions 1 and 2. She was also the Co-Chair of the Global Nutrition Report and Team Leader for the UN High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Systems and Nutrition.
Professor Fanzo received a PhD in nutrition from the University of Arizona and Stephen I. Morse postdoctoral fellowship in Immunology in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.