Name
Monika Zurek
Role
Collaborator
Dr. Monika Zurek is a Titular Associate Professor and Senior Researcher at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) at the University of Oxford, where she is a member of the ECI Food System Transformation Group. With over 20 years of experience, her work focuses on food systems change, and the interactions between environment and development, spanning roles in research, international organizations, consulting, and philanthropy.
Before joining ECI, Dr. Zurek worked with Climate Focus, addressing climate change mitigation and land use. She was also part of the Agricultural Development Team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, managing grants to enhance agricultural sustainability and risk management. Earlier, she served as an economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and supported the Scenarios Working Group of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. She began her career at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), focusing on agricultural sustainability in Costa Rica and Mexico. Dr. Zurek has contributed to key environmental assessments, including IPCC AR4, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and the IAASTD. Dr. Zurek holds a Diploma (MSc equivalent) in Agricultural Biology from the University of Hohenheim and a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Justus-Liebig-University Giessen. At ECI, she co-leads the Foresight4Food initiative and is part of the UK Global Food Security Programme coordination team.
