Neil Morrison

Chief Strategy Officer

neil.morrison@oxitec.com | LinkedIn Profile

Neil Morrison, PhD, is the Chief Strategy Officer at Oxitec, a pioneering biotechnology company focused on solving some of the world’s most urgent agricultural and public health challenges through sustainable, genetically engineered insect solutions. 

With a background spanning molecular biology, public health strategy, and global program leadership, Neil leads the shaping of the company’s innovation pipeline and global partnerships.

Neil holds a PhD in Genetics from the University of Oxford, where his research laid the foundation for a career at the intersection of science, technology, and global impact. He began his professional journey in applied biotechnology, contributing to the early development and deployment of genetically engineered insect technologies globally. Over more than a decade, Neil built and led multidisciplinary programs to advance the safe, effective, and responsible application of Oxitec’s Friendly™ insects across both agriculture and vector-borne disease.

Neil’s professional experience spans multiple continents and diverse regulatory, cultural, and operational environments. In the public health domain, Neil led Oxitec’s Gates Foundation-funded global malaria program, initiating programs in malaria-endemic countries, shaping product development strategies, building stakeholder networks, and accelerating the development of next-generation tools to combat malaria. In agriculture, Neil led Oxitec’s partnership with Bayer in developing a novel solution for the world’s most significant pest of corn, as well as piloting genetically engineered insects for crop pest control in the Americas, Europe and Australia.

As Oxitec’s Chief Strategy Officer, Neil leads corporate strategy, global partnerships, and external affairs across the company’s public health and agricultural portfolios. He works closely with governments, donors, investors, and community leaders to align innovative biotech solutions with real-world needs.

Neil also oversees Oxitec’s strategic communications and thought leadership, as a trusted partner to governments, communities, and industry. His voice is a leading one in the growing conversation about how novel biological tools can advance health and food security in a rapidly changing world. He is a frequent speaker at international forums on biotechnology, vector control, and sustainable agriculture, and contributes to shaping global discourse on regulation, ethics, and responsible innovation.