Fairtrade Africa is excited to be holding the sixth edition of the Africa Fairtrade Convention (AFC). This is our flagship event held with the objective of discussing how partnerships on Fairtrade contribute toward the Sustainable Development Goals and improve the livelihoods of farmers and workers in Africa and the Middle East.
Theme:
‘Partnerships for Impact’
Date:
23rd to 25th May 2018
Venue:
Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya
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Aaron has over 15 years’ experience in championing community development, gender empowerment, farm economics, and nutrition education across the African region. Currently working as the Regional Public Affairs Manager at Nestlé Equatorial Africa Regional (EAR) Ltd, he develops state holder engagement strategies and is charged with creation of shared value projects.
Previously, Aaron worked as the Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department, Nestlé Ghana (including Liberia and Sierra Leone). He has spent majority of his career engaged in a number of community based projects; Health Kids Programme, Nescafé Plan, Nestle Cocoa Plan, Nestlé Cereal Plan, and Africa-Europe Youth Cooperation of the Council of Europe.
He holds an MBA in Marketing and Corporate Strategy with a Bachelor of Education in Social Sciences and Global Education.
Aaron is one of our panelist as we discuss how Fairtrade is strategically engaging women and youth in efforts at preventing or alleviating poverty.
John is the Chief Value Officer as Fairtrade International, having joined back in February 2018. He has worked in the agriculture sector for over 35 years, gaining experience in shaping commercial facing activities for various companies including; ConAgra, Fresh Del Monte Produce, Bunge, Naturipe and The Schwan Food Company. He is currently working with our Producer Networks and the National Fairtrade Organization on the Fairtrade central office in Bonn to create and implement strategies that complement our traditional approach with new ways of enabling business engagement within the Fairtrade system.
John has been on the boards of the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, Produce For Better Health, the International Banana Association, and the International Fresh-cut Produce Association. Then US Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman appointed John to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Fruits & Vegetables Industry Committee where he served a two-year term.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the Universidad de las Americas in Mexico and a Master in International Business Studies (MIBS) from the University of South Carolina in the United States. He has spent much of his career overseas and has lived in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Greece.
The pioneer of the international certification scheme for Fairtrade, Ruediger Meyer founded FLOCERT in 2003. Previously he run his own consultancy business and was a Fairtrade International product manager. Rüdiger regularly contributes to conferences on advancing Fairtrade and wider trends in certification. He holds degrees in Business, Law and Organizational Development and a Masters in Sociology (from Germany, Switzerland and Brazil).
Anita is the Senior Policy, Research and Advocacy Analyst at Fairtrade International. Having joined Fairtrade back in 2009, she is an expert on child and forced labour issues, including protection of children and vulnerable adults.
Prior to joining Fairtrade, Anita worked at Save the Children in Canada for eight years as its Senior Policy, Research and Advocacy Analyst.
She has a vast experience on policy and human rights issues, having worked as an expert advisor to the U.S. Department of Labour’s Cocoa and Child Labour Oversight Body, and has on many occasions attended workshops as a trainer to several U.S. Custom, Immigration and Law Enforcement workshops, including the Toronto Police, on human trafficking for forced labour purposes.
Her passion in championing human rights issues is evident in her published academic journals, speaking out on labour and human security issues in agricultural and extractive sectors, involving several countries in West and East Africa and South and Central America and as one of the board directors of Partnership Africa Canada that played a key role in the prevention and sale of conflict diamonds.
Anita is an Indian born, Canadian citizen, who has lived and studied in Malta and currently resides and works in Bonn, Germany.
