Ms Zimmermann, a national of Brazil, holds a B.Sc. Degree in Agronomy from Paraná Federal University, Brazil; an M.Sc. in Genetics and Plant Improvement from the University of São Paolo, Brazil and a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of California, USA. In addition, she has undertaken post-doctoral training at the University of Florida in the utilization of molecular markers for gene mapping and breeding of common beans. Ms Zimmermann started her career as Research Associate in the Climatology Division in the Secretariat of Agriculture, Paraná, Brazil. From 1971 to 1975, she worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Agriculture and Phytopathology, Paraná Federal University. In 1975, she joined the National Research Centre for Rice and Beans (CNPAF-EMBRAPA) as a Researcher. In 1992, Ms Zimmermann took up the post of Visiting Scientist in the Vegetable Crops Department of the University of Florida. A year later, she became Senior Researcher in the Molecular Biology/Biotechnology National Research Centre for Rice and Beans, EMBRAPA. In 1996, she was appointed Vice-Coordinator of a Graduate Level Course on Biology for M.Sc. students and full Professor at the Goias Federal University, Brazil. Between 1993 and 1997, she was a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of CGIAR. Ms Zimmermann joined FAO in 1997 as Senior Agricultural Research Officer in the Research and Technology Development Service, SDRR and, in 2000, she was appointed FAO Representative in Colombia. Ms Zimmermann succeeds Mr Peter Vándor as FAO Representative in Mozambique.