By 2050, a quarter of the world’s population will live in Africa. The continent and its people have an increasingly crucial role to play in deciding our planet’s fate – and our own. For the first time in its 52-year history, an African woman is steering the ship of a CGIAR research center, CIFOR-ICRAF. Her mission is to “transform lives and landscapes with trees.” In this exciting and exclusive interview, Éliane Ubalijoro, the new CEO of CIFOR-ICRAF and director general of ICRAF, shares her personal and professional journey across three continents that has led up to this important position of leadership. Listen to learn about the deep connection with landscapes she forged while growing up in Rwanda, her journey studying and teaching global health in Canada and Europe, and her work to combat poverty and food insecurity across the Global South. In this episode, find out how our new CEO envisions the future of our planet, and what needs to change – from replenishing our soils to the importance of public and private sector partnerships by also giving women, elders, youth and Indigenous Peoples a seat at the table.