Mr. Nattapong Attinantachai is the co-founder and CEO of MK Aquatech (MKAT), a Thai startup pioneering sustainable land-based marine aquaculture. Founded in 2021, the company specialises in farming seafood—particularly crabs—using Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), which significantly reduce water usage and environmental impact. Their RAS technology, developed in collaboration with BIOTEC-NSTDA, enables up to 98% lower water consumption and discharge compared to traditional aquaculture methods.​

MK Aquatech's aquaculture model emphasises animal welfare, biosecurity, and premium-quality seafood. By maintaining full control over environmental factors such as water quality, feed, and contamination risks, the company ensures optimal growth conditions for their crabs. Their operations are chemical-free, antibiotic-free, and non-GMO, delivering live, fresh, and nutritious seafood to consumers.​

Mr. Panu Boonsong serves as the Aquaculture Sustainability Manager at Thai Union Group, where he is dedicated to enhancing the sustainability of Thai Union’s farmed shrimp supply chain in line with the company’s corporate sustainability strategy, SeaChange®. In his role, Panu engages with stakeholders at all levels to drive and implement sustainability initiatives. His efforts focus on decarbonising the shrimp supply chain and developing platforms to disseminate knowledge about sustainable shrimp farming practices. Panu also collaborates with industry partners, NGOs, and governmental bodies to ensure sustainability is embedded in the shrimp supply chain. Through these efforts, Thai Union aims to elevate industry standards and lead the way in sustainable shrimp aquaculture.

Mariska J. M. Bottema is a prominent researcher in the field of environmental governance, with a specific focus on aquaculture and marine governance in South-East Asia. She holds a Ph.D. in Aquaculture Governance from Wageningen University & Research, which she completed between 2016 and 2021. As a Senior Scientist and Team Lead, Mariska specialises in aquaculture and marine governance, seafood sustainability, environmental policy, research & analysis, strategy development, and stakeholder engagement.

Her research emphasises area-based modes of aquaculture governance, particularly in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Mariska's work is recognised for its contribution to understanding environmental risks in aquaculture and the importance of area-based approaches. Her research has been supported by organisations such as the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agrifood Systems (FISH).

Seasoned from the heart and essence of local Thai ingredients, Blackitch serves personalized and creative seasonal dishes defined as ‘Holistic Localized Artisanal Cuisine’. With each hearty meal, Blackitch emphasizes zero waste and promotes the importance of sustainability to the roots of the food value chain in every bite.

Tucked in the hub of Nimmanhaemin, the cozy and humble Blackitch elevates each local ingredient’s natural flavors by integrating culinary science that was inspired by traditional wisdom practices. Each thoughtful dish is crafted under the Good-Clean-Fair philosophy that ensures all elements are safe for the consumers, clean for the environment, and fair for everyone involved from farm to table.

Serving as a chef’s table format, Phanuphol “Black” Bulsuwan - the maestro behind Blackitch and his team takes this opportunity to educate guests about how each local ingredient is grown, carefully sourced, and made its way to their table. Driven by his love and passion for cooking, Chef Black hopes that his sustainable cooking philosophy will not only offer guests a comforting dining experience but will also change the food industry one meaningful spoonful at a time.

Soon, Blackitch will offer guests and food enthusiasts more than a tantalizing dining experience. The new ‘Local Craft Space’ will hold online and offline food workshops, a channel where foodies hunt for undiscovered local raw ingredients, and a space where new products from the community are discovered. These are just the beginning of what Blackitch has in mind to further drive their awareness for a sustainable food journey.

Patti is the Co-founder and Managing Director at Mana Impact. She is an experienced cross-disciplinary professional with a background rooted in economics and finance. Her sectors of expertise include access to finance, education, climate and nature.

She is passionate about mobilising investments for climate and nature as well as working with different stakeholders to scale business innovations to create a more circular and regenerative economy where there is a balance between people, planet and profit.

Patti is a native of Argentina and has working experience in Latin America, the United States, Asia, and Europe. She has a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Richmond and an MA in International Development and Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She speaks Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, and Danish.

Mr. Jittrapon Jirakulsomchok is an Innovation Developer at the National Innovation Agency (Public Organisation), or “NIA”. He works directly with SPACE-F, Thailand’s first dedicated international FoodTech incubator and accelerator program, where he supports budding entrepreneurs to develop their innovative products and grow their businesses by providing access to public and private funding, linkage to industry partners, universities, research and technology organisations (RTOs), relevant government agencies, and other ecosystem supporters. Moreover, he oversees the Thematic Innovation Granting scheme, where he scouts and screens high-impact innovation projects that contribute to the competitiveness enhancement of Thailand’s AgriFood industry.

Jittrapon has a master’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Tokyo, where he nurtured his deep curiosity in life science, and its extensive application on health and well-being. He later developed his interest in innovation financing and sustainable business development particularly in BioTech and FoodTech spaces. He strongly believes that innovation will be the key to sustainable development of the economy and society in the coming decades. The National Innovation Agency (Public Organisation) or “NIA”, under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, plays the leading role in the development of Thailand’s innovation ecosystem. takes a broad-based, multi-disciplinary and systemic approach in fostering, facilitating, and promoting the creation, utilisation, and adoption of both strategic innovation and industry innovation, which, in turn, will enhance national productivity, encourage economic restructuring and social development as well as promoting national competitiveness. NIA works closely with industrial clusters both at the policy and operational levels, promoting innovation culture and building up the national innovation system, with a broader aim to transform Thailand into an innovation-driven economy.

Kunn Kangvansaichol, Ph.D., is the CEO of Algaeba Company Limited, specialising in innovative aquaculture technologies. With a background in science, entrepreneurship, and AI-driven solutions, Kunn focuses on creating sustainable tools like SeaThru MOBILE and SeaThru CURRENT to transform the aquaculture industry. Passionate about scaling impactful innovations, Kunn is also active in international market expansion, startup pitching, and technology-driven education.

In addition to innovation, Dr. Kunn is a passionate mentor and coach, contributing to numerous university incubators and national startup programs across Thailand. With three patents pending and global exposure, including features on NHK and the Consumer Electronics Show, he continues to champion deep-tech innovation and inspire future science-based entrepreneurs.

Dr. Sizwile's portfolio at SEI includes diverse research programs on transboundary water resource management, agroecology and safe food systems, aquaculture, nature-based solutions, climate change adaptation, and resilience-building. In these projects, she provides technical guidance, advisory support, and capacity development to research teams on integrating gender equality and social inclusion throughout all project phases. Starting in 2025, Sizwile leads one of SEI’s three global Communities of Practice, GESEP (Gender Equality, Social Equity and Poverty). She has worked with local and international NGOs in the development sector in Zimbabwe and with diverse state and non-state actors in disaster risk reduction research and policy across Southern Africa. Sizwile holds a PhD in Disaster Risk Science from the North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Boripat Lebel is a Research Coordinator at the Unit for Social and Environmental Research (USER) based at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. He has coordinated projects involving research partners in the Mekong Region and co-authored academic journal articles on the topics of aquaculture, climate change adaptation, and development. Boripat is a member of the steering committees for the Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) and the Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network (MTT).

Mr. Jinnawat Mahalao, known as Guun, is an influential leader in Thailand’s aquaculture sector, serving as the Vice President of BoonSawang Farm — a prominent Asian seabass (barramundi) farm based in Bangpakong, Chachoengsao Province. As the second-generation manager, Jinnawat has been instrumental in enhancing the farm’s operations since he joined three years ago. Founded by his father, Suthi Mahalao, around 2014, BoonSawang Farm covers 31 hectares and produces about 700 tonnes of premium seabass each year. Under Jinnawat’s guidance, the farm has introduced advanced practices like juvenile grading and early weaning fingerlings onto pelleted feeds, leading to notable improvements in fish quality and growth performance.

BoonSawang Farm is widely recognised for producing seabass free from off-flavours — a common issue with pond-raised fish — making their products highly favored by premium restaurants and Japanese chefs in Bangkok for sashimi. The farm’s strong legacy is rooted in Suthi Mahalao’s pioneering work in Thai aquaculture, including inventing a grading bucket and advocating for the use of pelleted feeds, achievements that have earned him numerous awards and leadership roles. Dedicated to sustainable, chemical-free farming, BoonSawang Farm focuses on careful pond preparation, water quality management, and optimised feeding practices. Jinnawat’s commitment to innovation and excellence continues to position BoonSawang Farm as a leader in sustainable seabass farming across Asia.

Mr. Suthi Mahalao is a trailblazing entrepreneur in Thailand’s aquaculture sector and the founder of Boonsawang Farm, located in Bangpakong, Chachoengsao Province. Over the past decade, his farm has consistently produced over 700 tonnes of premium Asian seabass each year across 31 hectares of earthen ponds. While pond-raised fish are often associated with off-flavours, prompting many to favor sea-cage farming, Suthi mastered pond management techniques that eliminate these issues, ensuring outstanding taste and texture.

Suthi's aquaculture career began in 1992 with shrimp farming and feed distribution. His first attempt at seabass farming in 1995 faced setbacks due to feed and management difficulties. However, after gathering insights from around 300 farmers over eight years, he returned to seabass farming in 2004, this time achieving sustained success. He is known for inventing the grading bucket, now widely used across Thailand, and for partnering with Thai Union Feedmill to pioneer the use of pellet feed tailored to seabass feeding behaviors. Suthi strongly advocates for manual feeding, carefully observing fish responses to adjust feed size and quantity, while steering clear of auto-feeders to avoid overfeeding.

As chairman of the Thai Marine Fish Farming Association and recipient of over 20 awards — including Best Fish Farmer at the 2017 Royal Ploughing Ceremony — Suthi has made lasting contributions to the industry. Boonsawang Farm also exports seabass fry internationally, helping to advance aquaculture across the region. Dedicated to sustainable and chemical-free practices, Suthi continues to champion knowledge-sharing and responsible fish farming.

Rebecca is a Program Officer in IDRC’s Climate Resilient Food Systems division. She has research, practitioner, and teaching experience related to water, climate change, gender, and urban governance, especially in Latin America and Southeast Asia. Her graduate research investigated participatory water management in Venezuela and its links to state formation and citizenship.  Rebecca holds a PhD in Human Geography from the University of Toronto, a Master’s in International Development and Globalization Studies from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from Mount Allison University.

Entrepreneurial and creative professional that is passionate about turning innovative ideas into tangible results. Experienced formulating and executing strategic plans, creating ventures and investment vehicles, raising funds and developing business opportunities in emerging markets. Track record of launching multiple ventures and motivating teams of professionals to maximize impact and deliver success.

Mr. Somprasong Natetip is the visionary Founder and Director of Lukkungsetthi Company (LST), located in Amphoe Ban Pho, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. Since 2017, he has pioneered the commercial production of all-male giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) post larvae, addressing critical challenges in the Thai aquaculture industry, such as low survival rates, non-uniform sizes, and disease outbreaks. Under his leadership, LST became the only hatchery in Thailand consistently supplying high-quality, specific pathogen-free (SPF) all-male post larvae.

Driven by a mission for genetic improvement, Mr. Somprasong developed closed biosecure breeding systems (Pioneering Symbio-RAS system) to ensure pathogen-free, fast-growing prawns. Collaborating with Kasetsart University and leveraging neo-female technology, he successfully enhanced the Thai strain’s growth performance and survival rates. His commitment to innovation resulted in LST achieving a >90% male progeny success rate and increasing production capacity from 50 million to 300 million post larvae within just three years.

Beyond hatchery operations, Mr. Somprasong is focused on building a full-fledged genetic center, enhancing Thailand’s competitiveness in freshwater prawn farming. With plans for international export and continued R&D partnerships, he is shaping the future of sustainable aquaculture in the region, backed by a strong vision for quality, biosecurity, and growth.

Dr. Tipparat Pongthanapanich is an Aquaculture Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with a solid academic foundation and extensive experience in the field. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Southern Denmark University in Esbjerg, complemented by master's degrees in Agricultural Economics and a bachelor's degree in Aquaculture from Kasetsart University, Bangkok. Tipparat began her journey with FAO in Rome from 2014 to 2019, before transitioning to the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAORAP) in Bangkok, where she has been serving since 2019.

At FAORAP, Tipparat has been instrumental in leading transformative aquaculture projects across the region. She is the lead technical officer of various projects such as the transformation of aquaculture in Andhra Pradesh, India, the development of the seaweed farming sector in Indonesia, and the promotion of low-carbon aquaculture practices in Thailand. Additionally, she leads a regional project focused on developing national innovation and investment plans for aquaculture transformation and establishing a regional monitoring system. Collaborating closely with the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific and other partners, Tipparat is committed to driving sustainable and innovative practices in aquaculture, ensuring the sector's growth and resilience in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Fabian is the Director and Founder of HydroNeo, a pioneering tech startup that is revolutionising aquaculture through Smart Farming Technology. His journey in aquaculture began in 2005 when, during a high school exchange year in Australia, he developed a passion for the field by raising his own crayfish. After serving as an Officer of the Reserves in the military, Fabian completed his education at renowned international business schools in Germany and the United States, with additional experiences in Canada, Brazil, and China. Fabian’s early career in international management consulting deepened his interest in sustainable shrimp farming, initially sparking the idea of establishing a shrimp farm in Germany. However, as he explored the broader challenges shrimp farmers face, he recognised the potential of modern technology to address these issues.

Driven by a vision for innovation and impact, Fabian founded HydroNeo in 2020 to create IoT-based Smart Farm Management solutions tailored to the needs of aquaculture, particularly shrimp farming.

Today, HydroNeo is the market leader in Smart Farm Solutions in Thailand providing shrimp farmers with advanced tools to monitor water quality, optimise farm operations through digital management tools, and drive sustainable practices at the farm level. With a vision for the future, Fabian is expanding HydroNeo’s offerings by developing a comprehensive Farm Operations App designed to address the real needs of farmers. This expansion not only advances HydroNeo’s mission but also aligns with Fabian’s hands-on experience operating his own shrimp farm, bringing practical insights to the app’s development while fulfilling his long-time dream.

Dr. Vanvimon Saksmerprome is a Principal Investigator at the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand, where she leads the RNA-silencing platform for shrimp disease control at CENTEX Shrimp, a collaborative research unit with Mahidol University. She has received national and international grants, including a Newton Advanced Fellowship to develop antiviral technologies for shrimp aquaculture. Notable awards include the National Research Council of Thailand Awards in Agricultural Science and Biology for “Boosting shrimp health against viruses with environmentally-friendly microalgal biotechnology,” for “Management of Laem-singh virus-associated monodon slow-growth syndrome in black tiger shrimp using RNA interference technique,” and the Royal Society-International Collaboration Award for developing novel microalgal-based systems for shrimp disease control in Southeast Asia.

Benedict is Programme Director at Hatch Blue, a global aquaculture investment and innovation firm. Over the past six years, he has designed and led 17 venture development programmes across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, working with more than 160 founders and evaluating over 550 early-stage aquatech and ocean startups. Benedict currently leads CREST, Hatch Blue’s flagship accelerator, which scales next-generation aquaculture technology companies worldwide through investor networks, industry partnerships, and expert insights.

Hatch Blue is a global, impact-driven aquaculture investment and innovation company with offices in Singapore, the USA, Norway, Ireland, and Germany. Managing US$130M across three funds, we invest from pre-seed to Series A and run venture development programmes for startups at every stage with scalable, sustainable solutions for the aquaculture and ocean-positive sector. Our in-house consulting team and marketing agency also deliver bespoke and high quality products and insights for government agencies, corporations, and NGOs to develop an innovative and sustainable aquaculture sector.

Pang serves as Principal at ADB Ventures, the venture capital arm of the Asian Development Bank, focusing on early-stage tech startups driving significant climate impact in developing Asia and the Pacific. With over 10 years of experience in investment and business development across multiple sectors in Southeast Asia, Pang brings a wealth of expertise in supporting innovative solutions for sustainable growth.

Dr. Kallaya Sritunyalucksana is a renowned Thai scientist specialising in shrimp health and aquaculture. She serves as the Principal Researcher and Head of the Aquatic Animal Health Research Team at the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) in Thailand. With a strong academic background — including a B.Sc. in Medical Technology from Chiang Mai University, an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Mahidol University, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Physiology and Biotechnology from Mahidol and Uppsala University — Dr. Kallaya has made groundbreaking contributions to aquatic animal health.

Her research focuses on shrimp diseases, immunity, and host-pathogen interactions. Notably, she developed the AP4 PCR detection method for Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), a breakthrough that helped reduce disease outbreaks and supported the resilience of Thailand’s shrimp industry. Her work also extends to selective breeding for disease resistance and advancing understanding of shrimp immune systems. Recognised globally, Dr. Kallaya has received the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award (2007), the Newton Prize Chairman’s Award (2018), and is ranked among the top 2% of fisheries scientists worldwide. Her work continues to drive innovation in sustainable aquaculture, connecting science, policy, and industry to improve productivity and reduce disease-related losses.

UniFAHS  is a pioneer in the development of phage-based solutions to replace antibiotics with patented encapsulation technology tailored to combat serious bacteria that caused infections in animals health, aquaculture and contamination on food products. Dr. Kitiya Vongkamjan, CEO and Co-founder of UniFAHS is a global lead in phage research and applications as she has focused on this research area for over 15 years.

Dr. Kitiya received her her Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York where she has started her phage research. Dr. Kitiya’s expert in the phage-bioprocess allows UniFAHS to own one of the largest phage banks in Southeast Asia with a proprietary production platform and customized phage-based formulation and production for any industries in the near future where antimicrobial resistance (AMR) issues need to be resolved. This solution from UniFAHS has been promoted as animal health innovation to reduce the need for antimicrobials to achieve sustainable agriculture by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2024. Dr. Kitiya is an active contributor and advisor to government and private sectors with regards to food biotechnology, food safety and sustainability from farm to fork, one health and antimicrobial resistance elimination.

After closing a seed round in early 2024, UniFAHS has scaled its R&D, production and international sales team while expanding a wide range of innovative products to ensure animals health and food safety in over 7 countries. 

Neil drives meaningful change in aquaculture by empowering farmers and communities and fostering a sustainable, value-driven supply chain. He advances innovation, growth, collaboration, and market access across the sector, consistently balancing affordability, nutrition, and environmental stewardship.

With over two decades in aquaculture, Neil has deep expertise in innovative financing, digital platforms, feed and nutrition, health management, and genetics. His background spans leadership roles in multinationals, startups, impact organisations, all with a unique perspective from firsthand farming experience in East Africa.

Combining global insight, strategic intuition, and business acumen, Neil effectively engages diverse stakeholders and mobilises teams to drive large-scale impact. Whether shaping industry strategy or executing go-to-market plans, his goal is lasting, systemic improvement in the aquaculture sector.