Fairtrade International Elects new board members

GERMANY – Fairtrade International has announced the election of eight new board members during its recent annual General Assembly.

Each member will serve a three-year term, contributing their expertise to advance the organization’s mission.

The newly elected board members include Christelle Owona from the Compagnie Fruitiere Foundation, who also serves on the Max Havelaar France board; Hussein Rifai, chair of SPC Global Board in Australia and Singapore’s Nature One Dairy; Hend MH Kassab of Daltex and Fairtrade Africa; and Jeremiah Mweene of Fairtrade Africa and Absa Bank Zambia.

Additionally, Marike Runneboom de Peña from the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Fair Trade Small Producers and Workers will also join the board.

Laurence Tanty, chair of the Fairtrade International Board, and Rhea Beltrami from Max Havelaar Switzerland and the head of Agriculture of the State of Zurich have been re-elected for a second term.

They will continue to serve alongside current board members William Barrett, Frank Harnischfeger, and Pravakar Meher.

Tanty emphasized the importance of the new board members, saying, “Their unique expertise and leadership abilities will be extremely valuable as we move towards our goals of fostering growth and innovation, promoting commercial value with a responsibility lens, and working on social justice through advocacy and partnerships.”

Fairtrade International expressed gratitude to the outgoing board members Miguel Munguia, Wambui Chege, Merling Preza, Kouame N’Dri Benjamin Francklin, and Andrea Debbané. Their contributions have been instrumental in shaping the strategic direction and success of the organization.

The Fairtrade International Board plays a crucial role in setting the strategic direction of the organization, as well as managing its financial and risk aspects.

The newly elected and re-elected members bring diverse experiences and insights that will support Fairtrade’s mission to foster ethical trading practices and social justice.

Fairtrade International plays a significant role in the global fresh produce sector by setting standards that ensure fair prices, safe working conditions, and sustainable practices for farmers and workers.

The organization works to empower small producers and workers by providing them with better trading conditions and opportunities for sustainable development.

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