Professor Helen Hambly Odame is a distinguished faculty member at the University of Guelph, specializing in Capacity Development and Extension within the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD). She joined the university in 2003 and has over 30 years of experience in international agricultural research and development across Africa, North Africa, and Latin America.

Professional Experience: Prior to her tenure at the University of Guelph, Dr. Hambly Odame served as a Research and Training Officer with the International Service for National Agricultural Research, formerly part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). She has also collaborated with organizations such as the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Institute of Marine and Terrestrial Ecology.

Research Interests: Dr. Hambly Odame's research focuses on the intersections of information, knowledge, and communication within agricultural and rural innovation systems. She has led projects on knowledge mobilization, information technology, and telecommunications in agricultural innovation. Notably, she is involved in assessing the AI-enabled capacity development and extension project known as WELL-E and leads the Regional and Rural Broadband project, advocating for a national agricultural broadband strategy.

Publications and Contributions: With a robust publication record, Dr. Hambly Odame has co-authored several books and numerous peer-reviewed papers addressing topics such as agricultural knowledge translation, information and communication technologies, and capacity strengthening in agricultural research and innovation.

​Leadership and Governance: Dr. Hambly Odame has held significant governance roles, including Chair of the International Potato Center (CIP) and Chair of the Independent Steering Committee of the RTB CGIAR Research Program. She has also served as Vice-President of Farm Radio International and Vice-Chair of Journalists for Human Rights, reflecting her commitment to agricultural communication and human rights advocacy.