Heather Hayashi serves as Communications Manager for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture, advancing global food security and agricultural innovation through strategic communications. Her multifaceted background spans marketing, academia, and public sector communications, enabling effective strategies that amplify research impact across international partnerships.

Hayashi has developed expertise in crafting communication strategies that effectively translate complex information for various audiences. Her professional journey encompasses multimedia content development and stakeholder engagement, with demonstrated success in research communication.

Her current work centers on horticultural research across East and West Africa, South Asia, and Central America, with a particular emphasis on locally led research initiatives. Through different communication channels, she creates approaches that connect research with public understanding, focusing on effective community engagement.

Academically, Hayashi holds an M.S. in Library Science from Clarion University and a B.S. in Design from UC Davis, complemented by advanced studies in Studio Art through New York University's Berlin residency program.