Team & Network

Experience That Moves Products Forward

Jerry Hjelle, Ph.D.

Consulting Lead

Dr. Jerry Hjelle

Dr. Jerry Hjelle is the founder and lead consultant of HCG, where he draws on four decades of experience in agricultural biotechnology, regulatory affairs, and toxicology. A former Vice President of Monsanto, Jerry has led global regulatory strategies for some of the most complex and impactful agtech products on the market. He is a globally recognized voice in risk assessment, product safety, and regulatory science, with extensive experience navigating complex approval landscapes across North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

As the firm’s most senior strategist, Jerry serves as principal advisor to client leadership, supports strategic client acquisition, and mentors the next generation of HCG regulatory professionals. His perspective is widely respected across industry innovators and investors

Ron Lirette, Ph.D

Regulatory Science Lead

Dr. Ron Lirette

Dr. Ron Lirette serves as HCG’s Regulatory Science Lead, bringing deep expertise in genomics, molecular biology, and the science that underpins successful regulatory submissions. Over his more than 30-year career, including senior R&D and regulatory strategy roles at Monsanto, Ron has directed global scientific programs and helped shape industry policy on new and evolving technologies.

At HCG, Ron leads major scientific justification workstreams outside of chemistry, including molecular characterization, exposure modeling, and bioinformatics. He is known for his pragmatic guidance, deep institutional knowledge, and commitment to delivering regulatory science that withstands rigorous review across global jurisdictions.

Stephen Waters, Ph.D

Global Regulatory Affairs Lead

Dr. Stephen Waters

Dr. Stephen Waters is a global regulatory strategist with extensive experience navigating approvals for agricultural biotechnology products across the EU, Australia, and emerging markets. He served as Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at Monsanto and now provides HCG clients with high-level strategy, submission oversight, and international regulatory foresight.

Dr. Waters is widely respected for his ability to translate regulatory complexity into workable strategies for companies at all stages of product development. He plays a key role in orchestrating multi-jurisdictional campaigns

Shawna Lemke, Ph.D

Food Safety Lead

Dr. Shawna Lemke

Dr. Shawna Lemke is a senior project lead at HCG, where she oversees food safety strategy and GRAS assessments. A former VP at Monsanto, she brings deep experience in toxicology, nutrition, and stakeholder engagement and is widely recognized for her leadership in science-to-policy translation. Shawna also leads HCG’s Animal Feed and Food Ingredient portfolios.

Feyza Selcuk, Ph.D

Global Regulatory Affairs

Dr. Feyza Selcuk

Dr. Feyza Selcuk is a senior project lead specializing in global regulatory affairs, with expertise in EU, LATAM, and APAC jurisdictions. A molecular biologist by training, she partners closely with clients to design submissions that meet divergent international standards and supports HCG’s Gene Editing and Biotech portfolios.

Kyra Hjelle

Global Regulatory Affairs

Kyra Hjelle

Kyra Hjelle is a regulatory project lead who supports HCG’s North America and Asia regulatory submissions, including U.S., Canada, and Japan. She is a fast-rising leader with a growing role in client delivery and cross-jurisdictional coordination.

Traci Hagedorn, Ph.D

Biostimulants / Soil Amendments

Dr. Traci Hagedorn

Dr. Traci Hagedorn is a regulatory affairs consultant specializing in RNA-based technologies, biotechnology policy, and U.S. regulatory strategy. With a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and a background that spans academic research, federal regulatory policy, and technical program support for agencies like DARPA and USDA APHIS, Traci brings a unique interdisciplinary lens to agtech innovation. At HCG, she leads regulatory efforts for RNAi and gene-edited products, advising clients on risk assessment, submission strategy, and navigating evolving regulatory frameworks with scientific rigor and clarity.

Bill Heydens, Ph.D

Agricultural Chemistry

Bill Heydens

Bill Heydens is a senior regulatory and product safety strategist with over 30 years of leadership at one of the world’s largest agricultural technology companies. As the former Global Regulatory Affairs and Product Safety Lead at Monsanto, Bill oversaw global approvals and compliance strategies across a wide range of ag chemical and biotech portfolios. At HCG, he provides high-level advisory on agricultural chemistry and stewardship programs, helping clients navigate complex regulatory environments with credibility and foresight. His deep expertise in chemical safety, toxicology, and global stakeholder engagement makes him a key contributor to projects requiring both technical depth and policy fluency.

Ben Hjelle, MBA

Managing Director

Ben Hjelle

Ben Hjelle is Managing Director of HCG and leads the company’s strategic growth, innovation initiatives, and development of proprietary AI tools. A founding partner, Ben oversees corporate development, operational scaling, and partner engagement.

Peter Happe

CFO/COO

Peter Happe

Peter Happe is HCG’s CFO/COO and a former Bayer executive with deep expertise in strategic finance, organizational restructuring, and business transformation. He ensures financial discipline, operational clarity, and supports the development of investment-focused client services.

Lucia Handel, MBA

Large Project Manager

Lucia Handel

Lucia Handel is HCG’s Large Projects Manager and a key liaison for Brazil-based operations. She supports Helix and other complex multinational engagements, coordinates sample logistics, and maintains high-quality delivery standards across large regulatory dossiers.

Tamara Braun

Administrative Lead

Tamara Braun

Tamara Braun is HCG’s Administrative Lead, responsible for internal operations, scheduling, and project administration. With a background in finance and administration at Bayer, she ensures seamless business execution and supports cross-functional coordination across teams.

Sofia Moreira Infante

Data and Policy Analyst

Sofia Moreira Infante

Sofia Moreira Infante helps drive Corporate Development at Hjelle Consulting Group, serving as a data and policy analyst while coordinating the firm’s AI strategy and internal innovation initiatives. She earned her Master’s in Plant Science and Plant Systems from Cornell University in 2025 and has been with HCG since 2019.

How We Work

We deliver across the full lifecycle of innovation—starting with concept feasibility and ending with post-approval stewardship. HCG provides flexible team configurations, ensuring every project receives tailored, senior-level expertise.

The HCG Consulting Network

We are more than a firm—we are a curated global network of regulatory professionals.

600+ years combined experience at top agtech firms
20+ Ph.D.s and subject matter experts
10 languages spoken across 15 countries
Deep relationships with global regulatory agencies, CROs, investment bankers, venture capital and research centers

Team & Network

Experience That Moves Products Forward

Jerry Hjelle, Ph.D.

Ron Lirette, Ph.D

Stephen Waters, Ph.D

Shawna Lemke, Ph.D

Feyza Selcuk, Ph.D

Kyra Hjelle

Traci Hagedorn, Ph.D

Bill Heydens, Ph.D

Ben Hjelle, MBA

Peter Happe

Lucia Handel, MBA

Tamara Braun

Sofia Moreira Infante

How We Work

The HCG Consulting Network

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