International Rubber Study Group Secretariat

The Group is served by a Secretariat, with the Secretary-General, who is the Executive Head

Professor Joseph Adelegan

Secretary-General and Executive Head of the IRSG Secretariat

joseph.adelegan@rubberstudy.org

Professor Adelegan is the Secretary-General and Executive Head of the Secretariat of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) based in Singapore, the biggest worldwide community in the Rubber Industry. He is a C-Suite Executive and an international development expert, a Professor of Practice of Environmental Science and Engineering and a practitioner-scholar in management with over three decades of distinguished professional trajectory across 24 African Countries, Europe, North America, and Asia. His work experience spans several organizations including the United Nations, development finance institutions, international organizations, government, non-governmental organizations, education, innovation, and research institutions among others.


He has extensive experience in the sustainable investment, disruptive innovation, and circular economy of the elastomer products. He has held Senior Roles at the United Nations as the Team Leader at the United Nations Technology Innovation Lab, the first European Lab in Finland and as a Senior Advisor at the United Nations Office of Project Services in Denmark.


Professor Adelegan was the Division Chief at the Office of the Vice President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, an International Development Financial Institution established by ECOWAS Treaty and covering 15 ECOWAS Countries. He was a representative of Africa and the Middle East at the Climate Investment Trust Fund at the World Bank, Washington DC, United States. His portfolios have included programs and projects funded by the European Union, World Bank, Green Climate Fund, Climate Investment Fund, African Development Bank, ECOWAS, African Union, NEPAD Agency, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), Australian Aid, several United Nations agencies, and funds among others.


Professor Adelegan have held several board appointments, created strategic partnerships, and mobilized resources from development agencies, development finance institutions and several donor agencies. He was a Member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council, Geneva, Switzerland, and Non-Executive Director of the European Sustainable Development Organization among others.


He was a Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Universities in Africa, Europe, and North America. He was a Professor of the Practice of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Venda, South Africa. He was a Visiting Professor of Water and Energy Engineering at the Pan African University, Institute of Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate Change), Tlemcen, Algeria established by the African Union. He was a Visiting Professor of Environmental Management at the Commonwealth University, London, United Kingdom and a Professor of Environmental Leadership at the Missional University, North Augusta, South Carolina, United States.


Professor Adelegan is a recipient of several global awards including: 2006 Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland; recognition in 2007 as an Inventor Social Entrepreneur and Ashoka-Lemelson Fellow by the Ashoka Innovators for the Public and the Lemelson Foundation based in United States; 2009 Technology Pioneer of the World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4p1gSwZaWU; 2009 Technology Award Laureate and Prize Recipient of the Technology Museum of Innovation, San Jose, California, United States https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t93xWo64Isc&NR=1; 2010 Member of the Crans Montana Forum of New Leaders of Tomorrow, Geneva, Switzerland; and 2010 Member of the Clinton Global Initiative, New York, United States among others.


He is in high demand as a regular speaker at international conferences in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, North America, and Australia. He has made appearance in CNN as 2008 Principal Voices on the “Economics of Energy” by CNN in association with Shell, Times, and Fortune Magazine. He has travelled to over 120 countries in this regard. He has written over 30 publications on several topical issues.


Professor Adelegan earned Two Doctorate Degrees. He earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Degree from the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States. He also gained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Nigerian Premier University of Ibadan. He is an alumnus of several executive programs including the United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan; the University of California, Berkeley, United States; Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, United States; John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard Business School, Harvard University, United States among others.





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Christine Sarima

Administrative Assistant to the Secretary-General and Executive Head

admin.assistant@rubberstudy.org

Christine Sarima is a results-oriented marketing leader with a distinguished career spanning media, technology, and social impact initiatives. Her expertise lies in crafting strategies that achieve measurable outcomes, cultivate strong brand identities, and navigate the complexities of the international landscape. With a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry Technology from the University of Port-Harcourt Nigeria, a certificate in Leadership from the Metropolitan School of Business and Management, UK, an ongoing executive master's degree in marketing and sales from the Rome Business School, and other certifications, her dedication to staying abreast of the latest trends ensures her strategies remain relevant and impactful in the ever-evolving digital landscape - this commitment to continuous learning translates to a constant pursuit of innovative approaches to tackling global challenges. In her career, she has contributed to securing content licensing deals with platforms like Netflix and Amazon for growing media companies in Africa showcasing her ability to bridge cultural divides and elevate content for international audiences. While at CNBC Africa, Africa's most influential business TV network, she produced over 500 live shows, effectively conveying complex information to a diverse audience across Sub-Saharan Africa. Christine's strategic thinking goes beyond traditional marketing metrics. Her work at a tech startup resulted in a revenue surge, through innovative strategies that prioritized customer acquisition. Furthermore, being selected among top innovators to join the Antler (a pioneering global venture capital firm) tech incubation program in Singapore, underscores her ability to translate ideas into action for positive impact. An entrepreneur at heart, she enjoys developing new ventures, from ideation to crafting effective Go-To-Market strategies and expert execution within Africa and Southeast Asia. While volunteering at AIESEC, an organization focused on youth leadership development, she led teams of students from diverse backgrounds to execute social impact projects fostering collaboration and cultural understanding among young people around the world. Christine thrives in dynamic environments. Her ability to drive growth, foster cross-cultural communication, and achieve measurable results makes her a valuable asset for international organizations seeking to create positive change on a global scale. Her diverse experience, strategic thinking, and commitment to social impact position her as a strategic partner for organizations tackling critical global issues. Whether navigating complex international negotiations or facilitating collaboration between an organization’s stakeholders, her proven track record positions her as a key player in achieving global progress.

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Dr Zhengyi Jiang

Head, Economics, Statistics and Sustainability

jiangzhy@rubberstudy.org

Dr. Zhengyi Jiang has 11 years academic and professional experienced with quantitative research methods including panel data regression and causal inference. He has a strong background in economics, statistics, quantitative technics, and sustainability. Dr Jiang was a Strategy Analyst at SINOPEC Group in China where he worked on latest movements and strategies taken by major energy corporations and research on energy industry prospects with working papers on ESG-related topics and using data simulation and forecast to pioneer a risk management framework covering SINOPEC’s operating risks stemming from energy with digital transformation roadmap for SINOPEC’s businesses.

Dr. Jiang is an expert in commodity market analysis with strong competence in ESG Analysis, Financial Modelling and Data Analytics. He is also expert at market data gathering, processing, and analyzing, as well as drafting reports by identifying and illustrating market events. He is a strategy analyst and risk management expert with data simulation and forecasting with proficiency in economic analysis and statistical modeling and analyzing market dynamics and make forecasts on trends. He is highly proficient in the use of statistical software for modelling including STATA, SPSS, R, VBA and MATLAB.

Dr. Jiang earned a Doctor of Science (Economics) from ETH Zurich, Switzerland with research on making Energy Demand more Sustainable and Resilient. He also earned an MSc in Financial Engineering (with Distinction) from the National University of Singapore. He also gained a First Class Honours degree in Economics from the Nanchang University in China. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM). Dr. Jiang also obtained the Certificate in ESG Investing with expertise to analyze issues from the perspective of sustainability.


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Dr. Koppara Aboobacker, MuhammedAli

Manager, Economics, Statistics and Sustainability

Ali@rubberstudy.org

Dr. Muhammedali, a citizen of India is an economist, recognized for his profound grasp and insight in economic theories and their application in practice. He has committed his academic and professional endeavours to the advancement of applied economics, underpinned by rigorous research and sophisticated data analysis. He has 3 years post-doctoral research experience performing deep analysis and working with businesses and academics to develop and maintain econometric model to stay abreast of emerging trends.


Beginning his career as an Internal Quality Assurer at Kaisan Associates, Dr. Ali has enriched academic discourse with his empirical research and statistical data analysis expertise. His academic pursuit is paralleled by a strong research trajectory, as evidenced by his numerous publications that delve into the dynamics of the manufacturing sector, economic crises and capital intensities in the Indian context.


Dr. Ali's academic prowess was recognized through a prestigious research scholarship to the London School of Economics (LSE, London), awarded by the Government of India, alongside the National Research Fellowship for his Ph.D. research. His work has been recognized internationally, including receiving the best research paper award from the Policy Research Centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh.


In consultancy and collaboration, Dr. Ali has made significant contributions to both academic and business sectors. His consultation work spans several industries, from healthcare in Saudi Arabia to market analysis in Bangalore and community development projects in Kerala. Through these endeavours, Dr. Ali has demonstrated a remarkable ability to translate economic theories into practical strategies that drive sustainable growth and development.


Dr. Ali's core skills lie in statistical data analysis and econometric modelling, with proficiency in software packages like SPSS, STATA, POWER BI, and R. His analytical prowess is complemented by his teaching acumen in managerial economics, applied econometrics, and statistical data analysis.


His participation in international conferences and panel discussions further attests to his leadership in the field, promoting dialogue and sharing knowledge on global economic restructuring, trends, and practices. Dr. Ali's journey from a passionate researcher to an impactful consultant exemplifies his commitment to leveraging economic insights for societal benefit. Dr. Muhammedali earned a PhD and M.Phil in Economics from the Central University of Kerala, India.


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Mr Chin Loon Cheng

Finance and Administrative Manager

finance.manager@rubberstudy.org

Chin Loon Cheng is a Singaporean with 20 years of international experience in Accounting and Finance with expertise in financial reporting, management reporting, policy review and documentation. Starting from Big 4 Audit Firm specialising in audit and due diligence progressing to management reporting, statutory reporting, for and SGX listed companies. He has handled MNC internal audit and proficient in the use of Anaplan in managing budgeting processes, along with forecasting. He has proficiency and ability to analyse current as well as past trends in KPIs, to produce a variety of routine and ad hoc reports as well as pro forma analysis for planning units.


He is proficient in the use of accounting and data analytics software’s including Advanced Excel, Microsoft Dynamics Navision, SAP, Power BI, DAX, SQL, Python, Tableau, Kirkenes, UiPath and RPA. He has Certifications in data analytics, AI, machine learning, Blockchain and Fintech.


He earned an MBA from Manchester Business School, United Kingdom in 2015. He also gained a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from the University of New South Wales, Australia in 2003. He is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) of Australia - CPA (Aust.) Awarded with Merit for High Distinction in Financial Reporting and Practice in 2010.


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Santhana Krishnan Venkatesan

IT Manager

it.manager@rubberstudy.org

Graduated (B.Sc [First Class]) & Post-Graduated (M.Sc [First Class]) in Computer Science from prestigious Bharathidasan University, India, Mr. Venkatesan brings with him more than 29 years of Information Technology (IT) experience to support our company IT infrastructure and other software applications and tools. He has worked with more prominent financial institutions and semi-government organizations. The organizations include Maybank, Citibank, CSFB, BNP Paribas, Aviva, CromsonLogic, NCS, RWS.

He is a certified Database Administrator & well-versed in other major software and automation tools. He is well-experienced and skilled in all nuances of Software Development Life Cycle and project management. His skills in application and data architecture has benefitted organizations to scale new highs in digital transformation of business conducts. He is great trouble shooter, problem solver, reliable team member and mission achiever.

He has been recently trained in Cyber Security and Privacy matters by IITM.

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