Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Educationcertification
Professional Highlights
Awards
Publications
Timeline
Generic

DIANA-ABASI UDOH

WINNIPEG,CANADA

Summary

As a seasoned Agric Policy Advisor in Agriculture/Agri-environment with extensive experience providing strategic, policy, and technical guidance in agriculture and food systems. At Global Affairs Canada, I excel in advising on key issues like climate change and gender equality, supporting international development projects, and building strategic partnerships. I am adept at representing Canada in high-level forums, developing evidence-based knowledge products, and mentoring junior staff to foster professional growth and enhance team performance.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

Agric Policy Advisor

Global Affairs Canada
Ottawa, Canada
05.2024 - Current
  • Providing strategic & policy advice on agriculture, and related sub-themes, in particular related to climate change and gender equality
  • Providing technical agronomic and agri-environmental advice, expertise and advisory services to support global, geographic, and partnerships international assistance programming, including the review of international development project documents
  • Developing professional networks, partnerships and build alliances with agriculture partners, including within the Department, interdepartmentally, development networks, global organizations, research institutes, and professional bodies working in their theme/sector
  • Representing Canada and delivering policy and technical positions on agriculture in both domestic and international events related to international agricultural development, including multilateral negotiations, bilateral government meetings, and knowledge events
  • Developing evidence-based knowledge products, drawn from economic, socio-economic or agronomic research and analysis.

Customer Relations Specialist (CSR)

Canada Life
Winnipeg, Manitoba
10.2022 - 12.2023
  • Provide courteous, accurate and timely responses to incoming benefit inquiries
  • First point of contact for plan members with questions
  • Partner closely with other departments in ensuring our members feel valued and appreciated
  • Provide accurate responses to plan members, medical and dental providers, and plan administrators, while maintaining the highest level of customer service.

Assessment, Accounts & Benefits Processing Clerk- Term position

Winnipeg Tax Centre, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
05.2023 - 10.2023
  • Examination and correction of tax and information returns
  • Processing of applications for social benefit programs
  • Assessment and/or adjustments of individual client tax returns
  • Validation and review if income and deductions claimed
  • Updating and entering data into mainframe systems or personal computers
  • Validation of returns and requests for refund
  • Providing technical support to team members and review examined tax returns.

Dulux – Store Sales Specialist/ Assistant Store Manager

PPG Industries
Calgary, Alberta
06.2021 - 10.2022
  • Assess customer needs and offer solutions
  • Tint and match paint products
  • Ensure store is clean and well stocked
  • Lift, move, and stock store product while following safety guidelines
  • Work in a retail store environment with store and occasional driver responsibilities.

Sales Agronomist Representative for North America market

Quinoa Quality ApS
Calgary, Alberta
10.2021 - 07.2022
  • Developed the crop-scouting program still in use today including the soil-sampling program and a cost-sharing program between growers and property owners
  • Increased total agricultural input sales by over 75% including an 80% increase in seed sales
  • Develop cropping plans based on the company’s business plan
  • Implement cropping plans by issuing crop depending on the region-specific agronomic standards
  • Develop crops for domestic and overseas markets
  • Implement farm certification standards
  • Design greenhouse structure for crops using high quality materials
  • Supervise R&D on crop-cultivar selection
  • Evaluate new production locations and recommend appropriate crops per climatic conditions.

Customer Service Representative/ Cashier

Walmart Canada
Calgary, Alberta
06.2019 - 06.2021
  • Provide customer service with a warm and always inviting attitude, notified appropriate personnel immediately of large crowds/sales and special issues for optimum customer satisfaction
  • Handled POS transactions, customer service, and inventory order
  • Trained cashiers, managing their cash limits and always guaranteeing quality customer service
  • Ringing up sales on computerized cash registers
  • Handling returns and answering questions about merchandise, store policies, and ongoing promotions
  • Meticulously handled high volume customers/sales of 800 transactions daily
  • Resolve customer complaints and provide expert knowledge regarding products
  • Developed reputation for prompt, efficient service with high level of accuracy, receiving top ratings over 3 months in the store.

PhD Researcher – Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN)

University of Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark
08.2013 - 05.2016
  • Conducted field trials, trial design and statistical data analysis on a wide collection of sorghum genotypes from ICRISAT and a private Dutch breeder for resistance to Striga hermonthica in Denmark and Nigeria
  • Studied the biofuel prospects and nutritional qualities of sorghum genotypes in Denmark and Nigeria
  • Worked on different research projects regarding a wide range of crops, such as sorghum, millet, soybean, rice, wheat, sugarcane, corn, in collaboration with extension agents in National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi Nigeria
  • Took charge of crop management by monitoring crop growth while utilizing remote sensing tools
  • Educated students on crop field trial procedures and experimental designs
  • Facilitated discussion, solved problems, and addressed students’ grievances
  • Assisted with administration and grading of sessional exams
  • Delivered presentations during press conferences and other events
  • Trained interns and assisted them in documenting research results.

Agricultural Advisor to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture

Benue State Ministry of Agriculture
Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
09.2009 - 07.2010
  • Advise the Commissioner for Agriculture on Policy matters and implementation
  • Assist in drafting new policies and implementation strategy
  • Coordinate meetings with international donor agencies and with rural farmers and stakeholders
  • Provide seed and fertilizer advice in relation to research and production of crops directly to the farmer
  • Provide advice regarding crop husbandry and crop rotation
  • Responsible for making agronomic related decisions regarding production activities
  • Develop and implement long term agronomic plans and practices to support organization/farm plans and budgets to maintain maximum production
  • Develop and implement regional agronomic marketing plans to support organization plans and budget
  • Responsible for marketing specific products and agronomic services to farmers such as fertilizer, chemicals and/or seed
  • Develop and maintain close customer relations with key clients by providing professional agronomic service and advice
  • Arrange and coordinate various technical and marketing activities, these may include field days, farmer meetings, demonstration trials and trial sites
  • Maintain industry awareness regarding technical developments via networking, personal development, and training
  • Organize or act as the liaison between the ministry and farmers to organize trial programs and assist with analyzing and reporting results.

Biology Teacher – High school teacher

De-wis College
Calabar, Nigeria
01.2009 - 08.2009
  • Coordinating laboratory activities
  • Coordinated procurement of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment
  • Designed units on cell meiosis, genetics, and plant anatomy
  • Utilized cell models to make presentations more engaging for hands-on and visual learners
  • Assessed students learning using Pre and Post testing
  • Maintained positive relationships with parents through frequent communications regarding their child’s progress
  • Made appropriate disability accommodations as needed
  • Chaperoned field trips where students studied aquatic life, wildlife, and practical field mechanized agriculture
  • Coordinated and set final year biology examination for over fifty (50) students
  • Help guide the students to achieve high grades in their A’ level examination.

Skills

  • Technical report writing
  • Oral communication skills
  • Team player
  • Presentation skills
  • Work independently
  • Policy analysis
  • Program Management
  • Policy Implementation
  • Research skills
  • Policy Interpretation
  • Decision-Making
  • Policy evaluation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Task Prioritization
  • MS Office
  • MS Project

Educationcertification

  • PhD in Plant Breeding, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • MSc in Biotechnology, University of Teesside, Teesside, United Kingdom
  • Bachelor of Agriculture in Crop Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Professional Highlights

  • Farming systems, crop cultivation techniques, breeding animals and livestock
  • Applied precision agriculture in farm projects
  • Advised farmers on crop protection aspects and chemical fertilizers
  • Advised farmers and suggested methods to protect crop from climate change and developed a sustainable farming production
  • Recommended crop production techniques to maximize sales potential by 75%
  • Maintained a large customer base by continuously working on their feedback
  • Incorporated the latest tools and techniques used in plant breeding
  • Conducted field trials, trial design and statistical data analysis

Awards

  • Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)- Nigeria PhD Overseas Scholarship Award, 2013
  • Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)- Nigeria Masters Overseas Scholarship Award, 2011

Publications

  • Udoh, D. A., Rasmussen, S. K., Jacobsen, S. E., Iwo, G.A., and de Milliano, W. A. J., 2018. “Yield Stability of Sweet Sorghum Genotypes for Bioenergy Production Under Contrasting Temperate and Tropical Environments”, Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 10, No. 12, November 2018
  • Udoh, D. A., Rasmussen, S. K., Jacobsen, S. E., Iwo, G.A., and de Milliano, W. A. J., 2018. "Evaluation of Sweet Sorghum Genotypes for Reaction to Striga Hermonthica (Del.) in Nigeria", International Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 10-20, 2018.

Timeline

Agric Policy Advisor

Global Affairs Canada
05.2024 - Current

Assessment, Accounts & Benefits Processing Clerk- Term position

Winnipeg Tax Centre, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
05.2023 - 10.2023

Customer Relations Specialist (CSR)

Canada Life
10.2022 - 12.2023

Sales Agronomist Representative for North America market

Quinoa Quality ApS
10.2021 - 07.2022

Dulux – Store Sales Specialist/ Assistant Store Manager

PPG Industries
06.2021 - 10.2022

Customer Service Representative/ Cashier

Walmart Canada
06.2019 - 06.2021

PhD Researcher – Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN)

University of Copenhagen
08.2013 - 05.2016

Agricultural Advisor to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture

Benue State Ministry of Agriculture
09.2009 - 07.2010

Biology Teacher – High school teacher

De-wis College
01.2009 - 08.2009

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DIANA-ABASI UDOH