Yvonne Pinto currently is the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) Programme Manager, working with the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) based at United National Food and Agriculture organization (FAO). At the same time she is ramping up to a full time role as the Director of the Agricultural Learning Initiative (ALINE). Prior to this she was a senior programme officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation working with the largest strategic intermediary of the Foundation, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and initiatives in seed systems, integrated pest management and horticulture. She worked as Africa Executive for the Gatsby Charitable Programme, directing the grant making initiatives in 9 countries in enterprise, microfinance, agriculture and to a limited extent education. She established 3 new institutions in East Africa and managed another 4.

Yvonne did her BSc at the University of Reading and MSc and PhDs at Imperial Colleage at Wye. She has worked in the CGIAR in IRRI, ICRISAT and ILCA and in agricultural development for 20+ years.