Nikki Putnam Badding, MS, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian, agri-food and nutrition consultant, and accomplished public speaker based in Austin, Texas. As principal of Putnam Badding Consulting, she provides strategic guidance in food systems, sustainable nutrition, nutrition education, and product development and commercialization for the agri-food and nutraceutical industries.

Nikki previously founded and served as managing director of a direct-to-consumer nutraceutical company focused on cognitive health, gut health and sustainable wellness solutions. She also held a leadership role as Global Director of Human Nutrition Initiatives for a leading multinational agri-food company, where she navigated global regulatory landscapes and developed science-based communications connecting agriculture, food, nutrition and sustainability.

Michael T. Murray, N.D. is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on natural medicine. A graduate and Board of Trustees member of Bastyr University, Dr. Murray has written or co-written over 40 books on natural approaches to health, with cumulative sales of over 6 million copies, including the best-selling Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.

Dr. Murray has been instrumental in bringing many safe and effective natural products to North America, including Ginkgo, curcumin, quercetin, glucosamine sulfate, berberine, and many more. In recognition of his work, Dr. Murray has received lifetime achievement awards from the Natural Products Association, Bastyr University, and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. He has also been recognized as the “Voice of Natural Medicine” by Nutrition Business Journal and as one of the “30 People Who Shaped the Natural Product Industry” by Vitamin Retailer magazine.

Guillermo Vela received his B.S. degree in Agribusiness from Tecnológico de Monterrey University in Mexico. He has over 30 years of experience in sales and business strategy in the human and animal nutrition industries. For many years, he has researched the effects of trace minerals on human wellbeing. He currently serves as Human Division Global Director, and his responsibilities at Zinpro® include the business strategy, production and sales of all Human Division products.

Anthony L. Almada has worked in the natural products industry since 1975. He earned his Master’s in Nutritional Sciences from UC Berkeley, researching antioxidant and exercise biochemistry. In 1990, he created the “thermogenic” supplement category; in 1992, he co-founded EAS, introducing creatine monohydrate and evidence-based sports nutrition worldwide. Almada has collaborated on nearly 100 clinical trials spanning AIDS-related muscle wasting, IBS, gut microbiome interactions, and zinc metabolism in osteoarthritis.

Mouna Rahabi, PhD, is a Senior Scientific Affairs Manager at Weishardt with extensive expertise in bioactive collagen peptides, bridging cutting-edge research and health nutrition innovation. She specializes in the science of collagen, translating emerging evidence into practical solutions that support skin, joint, gut and healthy aging. Drawing on her strong background in immunology, inflammation, and microbiology, Mouna has authored multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications and regularly shares the latest research on the clinical benefits and mechanisms of action of collagen peptides with industry partners and scientific audiences.

Traci Kantowski is Business Director at AIDP, a Certified Health Coach, and has over 20 years of experience in the nutrition and wellness industry. A founding member and committee lead for Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN), she is passionate about advancing women’s health through science-based nutrition, education, and industry leadership.

A 25-year veteran, Len Monheit is CEO of strategy and insights firm Industry Transparency Center (ITC), and Founder and Executive Director of the Global Prebiotic Association. With expertise in the health ingredient and supplement sector, Len is a sought-after speaker and subject matter expert across multiple continents, guiding ingredient, supplement, food, beverage and natural products companies in markets, regulations, product positioning, sourcing, supply chain and growth.

Dr. Bharathi Bethapudi is a postgraduate in Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology and a board-certified toxicologist from the American Board of Toxicology. Bharathi’s key research interests include clinical and pre-clinical research and new product development for supplements and nutraceuticals. Over a decade, she has published her research in peer-reviewed journals and authored book chapters on herbal extracts. She has 17 years of R&D experience.

Ping Ong, BSc, MSc, is currently completing her PhD in Human Nutrition at the University of Otago. Her research focuses on the relationship between nutrition, the gut microbiome and digestive health, with a particular interest in how dietary interventions can influence health outcomes. At Anagenix, Ping works closely with the science team to translate clinical and microbiome research into evidence-based ingredient solutions that support consumer health.

Germain Druart has a degree in Bioengineering from Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (University of Liège) as well as a Master’s degree in Management Sciences from the Louvain School of Management. Since 2022, he has been working as R&D Manager at THT, a biotechnology company within the Puratos Group that specializes in the industrialization of probiotics and postbiotics. In this role, he leads research and development projects, drives innovation, contributes to the continuous improvement of industrial processes and provides technical support to commercial teams.

Heather Granato is the founder of strategic business consultancy Nutrachievement, supporting business development and content strategy for global nutraceutical and F&B companies. She is a polished international moderator and presenter with extensive multimedia publishing experience, who has been recognized with awards for leadership, management and content strategy. Heather serves as the founding president of Women In Nutraceuticals, a global non-profit she co-founded in 2022 focused on empowering women in the nutraceutical industry; she is also on the board of directors for the Organic & Natural Health Association and Hartmann Young.

Dr. Somashekara Nirvanashetty is an accomplished biochemist with over 20 years of experience driving scientific innovation across the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and agri-food sectors. He holds a Ph.D. from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, completed in collaboration with IIT Madras, India.

A prolific innovator, Dr. Somu has filed more than 45 patents, authored 10 peer-reviewed publications, and contributed to two book chapters. As Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Olene Life Sciences, he leads R&D, innovation, and intellectual property development, driving the creation of novel, clinically validated ingredients such as Garlzac® and Ginfort®.

Rafea Naffa, PhD, is a biochemistry scientist and R&D leader specializing in bioactive ingredients, proteins, magnesium biology, brain health, and evidence-based nutrition. As Director of R&D at ThreoTech and Scientific Advisor to AIDP, he leads scientific discovery, clinical development, intellectual property, and commercial translation while supporting regulatory strategy. With more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Naffa is recognized for translating complex science into credible, market-ready health innovations.

Russtam Irani is an experienced international marketing and sales professional with a demonstrated history of working across the pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals industries. With close to a decade of specialized experience in the global sports and dietary supplements market, he brings strong expertise in business development, customer service, and marketing strategy. He is currently a Manager at K. Patel Phyto Extractions, where he leads efforts in the U.S. market for the company’s branded ingredient portfolio. Russtam holds a PGPM in Marketing from IBS Mumbai.

Dr. Jianjun Yu is Vice President of Research & Development at EffePharm, where he brings academic rigor to the development of healthy aging ingredients. Holding nine patents and honored with the prestigious Science and Technology Progress Award by the China Ministry of Education, his accolades are a reflection of his enduring commitment to advancing public health. He has advanced the development and human clinical evaluation of UTHEVER® NMN and UthPeak® NMNH, helping build evidence for their safety and potential health benefits.