America Presents

American Bio-tech Expert to Present

Counselor for Press and Culture Ed Kulakowski is pleased to announce a presentation by Ms. Madelyn E. Spirnak as part of our America Presents program on November 29 (Tuesday) at 2:15 p.m. at the American Studies Center (Aleje Niepodległości 22, lecture hall number 317, third floor). Ms. Spirnak will give a lecture titled "Plant Biotech: It's not the Future ... it's Today."

Ms. Madelyn E. Spirnak will also give a lecture on November 29 (Tuesday) at 12:00 p.m. at the Warsaw Agricultural University (Faculty of Food Technology at Nowoursynowska 159 C, lecture hall I, building number 32). Spirnak will give a lecture titled "Plant Biotech: It's not the Future ... it's Today." The program is organized in cooperation with the Warsaw Agricultural University.

As Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology, Ms. Spirnak leads the State Department's efforts to build a broad international coalition in support of a science-based approach to agricultural biotechnology and recognition of its benefits as a critical development tool. Since assuming this position in October 2004, Ms. Spirnak has engaged government, private sector, and legislative officials on the topic of agricultural biotechnology in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.

Ms. Spirnak’s Foreign Service career has included key positions in support of U.S. trade and development policy, particularly in the Middle East and Europe. Most recently, she served as Deputy U.S. Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Prior to her UN assignment, Ms. Spirnak was Senior Advisor for Economic Affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, where she assisted in developing the framework for the Middle East Partnership Initiative, which provides development assistance in the areas of economic reform, education, and political participation. From September 2001 through June 2002, Ms. Spirnak served as Director for Energy, Development and the Middle East in the National Security Council’s International Economics Directorate. She played a key role in formulating the Administration’s development assistance strategy and the Millennium Challenge Account.