Prior to joining IFPRI as director general in 2002, Joachim Von Braun served as director of the Center for Development Research at the University of Bonn, Germany, which he helped to found in 1997. He has worked in developing countries for many years and is known for his work on food security and mitigating and preventing famines. Von Braun has published widely in his various areas of expertise, including the economics of biodiversity and biotechnology in low-income countries, and the relationship of development to governance, trade, food and agriculture, and information and communications. A native of Germany, he received his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Göttingen, Germany.

Shenggen Fan joined IFPRI in 1995. His research focus includes technical change, institutional reforms, productivity measurement, effects of public investment on growth and poverty reduction, and development strategy in developing countries. A Chinese citizen, Fan received his Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of Minnesota.

Liu Jian was the vice minister of the agricultural ministry of China from 1998 to 2004, and starting in April 2003, he concurrently served as the deputy director of the State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development, People's Republic of China. Previously, Jian served as vice governor of the Jiangsu Provincial Government. His work has focused on poverty reduction issues in these various positions.

Zhang Lei was the member of leadership and Director General of Financial Department in China State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development from 2002-2004 and tentative director of IPRCC since April, 2005. He was nominated as the Managing Director at the first meeting of the Board of Trustees for IPRCC. He has long been engaged in rural development, government administration and poverty reduction and familiar with relevant policies and regulations.