Jorge Conesa joined the FTAO in 2019 and assumed its direction in 2022. He coordinates the EU advocacy strategy and acts as a sounding board to support the team in their advocacy. He leads the engagement with the Fair Trade movement.

Before joining the FTAO Jorge worked as an advisor to a Member of the European Parliament, and before that as a trade officer in Canton, China, where he promoted Spanish SMEs’ exports. He has a master degree in International Trade and another one in Multimedia Communications. He speaks Spanish, English, French and Chinese.

He is passionate about scuba diving and free diving, and a bit frustrated to have fallen in love with Brussels where he can’t dive.

Virginia joined FTAO in 2020 and manages the international and institutional relations of the organisation, as well as leading on EU trade policy and trade agreements, trade related measures (particularly EU Forced Labour Regulation and mirror measures), agri-food policies (EU organic regulation, export ban pesticides, sustainable food systems, etc.).

Virginia is a trained lawyer from Chile with specialization on Migrant and Refugee Law. Virginia holds an LL.M. on Public International Law from the University of Groningen, with specialisation on International Trade and Investment Law. Before joining FTAO, Virginia worked for international law firms focussing on International Commercial Law. They speak Spanish and English (and currently fighting to learn Dutch).

Virginia is happier when balancing on their yoga mat or when playing with their dog (who can be spotted in some online meetings if you are lucky).

Alena joined the FTAO in September 2024, and leads the work on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) and fair and sustainable textiles.

She has a BA summa cum laude in International Justice and an MSc in Sociology of Law, and is fascinated by questions about how civil society can use laws as a tool. Prior to joining the FTAO, she led advocacy, communications and campaigning efforts at the EU and international level on human rights, with a specific interest in South Asia. In this context, she has for several years worked closely with the Indian and Bangladeshi diaspora to build international solidarity. Apart from English, she speaks German, French, Spanish, Hindi and Arabic.

In her free time, she likes to travel and have conversations with strangers.

Isabel has been working at the FTAO since February 2024. Before joining the team, she was also working on fair trade topics through the young fair trade advocates’ network. She is currently overseeing the FTAO’s work on deforestation-free supply chains (EUDR) and unfair trading practices (the UTP directive).

Isabel has a background in European studies, her previous professional experience mostly centred around the intersection of EU policy and environmental issues/social justice. She speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish and French.

Vania joined the FTAO in April 2024, where she focuses on critical raw materials policy and works on issues such as the new organic regulation and mirror measures. She also oversees internal EU news and communication to strengthen the FTAO’s advocacy efforts.

Vania has an academic background in economics and management, as well as an international master’s degree in Solving Global Challenges for Sustainability. As a Belgian, she is fluent in French, Dutch, English and Spanish.

When she is not working, you will likely find her recharging by walking her dog in the forest, her personal happy place.

Michelle joined FTAO in October 2024 as Communications Officer. Prior to working at FTAO, she held various positions in the non-profit sector, as well as in European policy research and diplomacy projects related to sustainable development, international cooperation and youth.

Michelle has a background in Journalism and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Rights, Democracy and Globalisation. She is passionate about social justice and sustainable development and has a special interest in EU international relations. She is fluent in Spanish, Catalan, and English.

Michelle is a foodie and her happy place is anywhere surrounded by nature.