Timothy Paine is Distinguished Professor and Entomologist, Emeritus, Tokuji and Bettie L. Furuta Endowed Chair, and UC Riverside Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of California Riverside. He studies integrated management of invasive insects in urban and recreational forest systems, biological control, insect symbioses, and behavior of parasitoids and their hosts.

Bernard Slippers is the Director of the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme and the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)at the University of Pretoria. He studies the molecular ecology, evolution and management of insects and micro-organisms that affect plant health.

Michael Wingfield is a Research Professor in the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) and Advisor to the Executive of the University of Pretoria and the Immediate Past President of the International Union of Forestry Research Organisations (IUFRO). His research is focused on the identification and global movement of insects and microbial pathogens impacting on the health of trees in natural woody ecosystems and planted forests.