Elizabeth Parkes, a Ghanaian, is the HarvestPlus Cassava Breeder based in Ibadan, Nigeria. She was an international consultant at the Cassava Breeding Unit of IITA Ibadan before this appointment. She obtained her PhD in Plant Breeding from University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa in 2011; MPil in Crop Science from University of Ghana in 2001; and BSc from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana in 1989. Elizabeth was a Cassava Molecular Breeder and Head of the Pokuase Research Station of CSIR-CRI from 2004 to 2012. She started her research work with the root crop team of CSIR-CRI in Kumasi in 1992, working on agronomic studies of cassava, yam, cocoyam, sweet potato, frafra potato, and taro