Don't miss the opportunity to participate in the largest aquaculture event in the Southern Hemisphere!
Don't miss the opportunity to participate in the largest aquaculture event in the Southern Hemisphere!
Ricardo García Holtz is an experienced corporate executive in the Chilean fishing and aquaculture industry. As the top executive of Camanchaca, he leads the strategy and operations of one of the country’s most prominent seafood companies, with vertically integrated activities spanning wild capture fisheries, salmon farming, and global seafood commercialization. His professional track record reflects a strong results-oriented approach, financial strengthening, operational efficiency, and international market positioning. He has driven organizational transformation, production modernization, and continuous improvement in sustainability, traceability, and corporate governance standards. Under his leadership, the company has navigated complex regulatory, sanitary, and market environments while maintaining competitiveness and strategic growth. His profile integrates corporate leadership, deep industrial expertise, and a long-term vision for the sustainable development of the Chilean seafood sector.
Explore the full list of experts who will take part in conferences, panels, and
event activities.
He holds a degree in Microbiology from the University of Oslo (1989) and has built an extensive international career in aquatic animal health and aquaculture policy. He began his professional career as a scientist at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, focusing on fish health and disease prevention in aquaculture. He later served in several roles within the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture, including Head of the Animal Health Unit. He subsequently joined the European Commission (DG Health and Consumer Affairs), where he was responsible for developing the EU legislation on aquatic animal health. From 2017 to 2019 he chaired the FAO COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and, since 2020, he serves as Director General and Head of the Department of Aquaculture at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.
Ignacio Fernández Ruiz is the Director General of ProChile, with over 25 years of experience in the public sector and international economic relations. He holds a Law degree from the University of Chile and a Master’s in International Economic Policy from the University of Sheffield. He has held several positions within the Undersecretariat for International Economic Relations and ProChile, both in Chile and abroad.
Director of Genetic Services & International Strategy at Benchmark Genetics and holds a PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from the Norwegian University of Agriculture. With over 35 years of experience in aquaculture genetics, he leads the global delivery of advanced genetic and genomic services, breeding program design, and international partnerships, working with commercial breeding operations across more than 20 species in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
