Dr. Michael Quinn brings to IRRI a wealth of global experience in crop improvement, innovation systems, research management, and has worked extensively with both hybrid and fixed-line crops. As IRRI’s new Research Director for Rice Breeding Innovations, he will lead efforts to integrate cutting-edge science and systems innovations to strengthen the impact and reach of rice breeding across Asia, Africa, and beyond.

Prior to joining IRRI, Dr. Quinn served as Director for Breeding Innovation and Modernization at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), another CGIAR center, where he led the modernization of CGIAR and NARES breeding programs, across 22 crops and eight CGIAR centers, through the CGIAR Accelerated Breeding Initiative (ABI) and the CGIAR Excellence in Breeding (EiB) Platform. His leadership in these capacities has tackled all aspects of breeding including setting objectives, partnership models, innovation management and breeding methods which enhanced CGIAR’s collective capacity to deliver improved crop varieties more efficiently and at scale.

His work has been instrumental in modernizing breeding pipelines to become more data-driven, gender-responsive, and market-oriented, ensuring that improved varieties reach farmers faster and with greater impact.

Before joining CGIAR, he was Principal Wheat Breeder and R&D Manager for Eastern Australia at InterGrain, a leading cereal breeding company. There, he led commercial varietal development tailored to farmer and industry priorities, with direct responsibility for product development, germplasm strategy, and cross-functional team leadership across diverse agroecological zones. Dr. Quinn has a deep background in the commercial development and release of germplasm and R&D management, having led teams across diverse agroecological contexts.

Dr. Quinn holds a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding from the University of Adelaide and has worked at the intersection of public and private sector R&D. He brings to IRRI not only deep technical expertise, but also a collaborative and mission-driven leadership style that emphasizes partnership, accountability, and impact. Dr. Quinn officially joins IRRI on October 1, 2025.