Since December 2016, Ellen Levinson of Levinson and Associates has served as International Representative for the Americas & Emerging Markets for the U.S. Dry Bean Council. She is a global agriculture, nutrition and food systems expert and champion for resilient agricultural value chains and trade policies. Ellen conceives and executes strategic plans that increase revenue, impact and visibility for clients and has been an advisor to businesses, NGOs, universities, trade associations and governments. Her agriculture and food work has taken her to numerous countries to assess markets, develop and implement market development strategies, form collaborative partnerships, address policy and regulatory issues, and establish and oversee projects. She served as government relations representative for a US commodity futures exchange (22 years), was a consultant to ASA and USB to launch soy protein products for food assistance and to establish global NGO partnerships (4 years), was lead writer of the agribusiness-led Global Harvest Initiative “Global Agricultural Productivity” report (2 years), and served as advisor to the Government of Yemen for implementation of USDA programs (10 years, $135 million). For 30 years she served as Executive Director of the Alliance for Global Food Security, comprised of leading non-profit organizations and cooperatives that conduct food security, agriculture and nutrition programs in developing countries. Before launching her own consulting firm in 2004, for 10 years she directed government relations for the law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and for 7 years prior to that, held a similar position at the law firm Lord Day & Lord, Barrett Smith. Ellen was an appointed to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade to the U.S. Trade Representative and Secretary of Agriculture and testified before Congress and on many other panels on global agriculture, trade and food security issues. Early in her career she was Legislative Director for a U.S. Member of Congress and directed research for USDA on the methodology for nationwide food consumption surveys. She holds a Master of Science degree in Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology.
