Who we are

Who we are

Our Board

The Board of Directors is the body with ultimate responsibility for the FTAO. It oversees the management and gives strategic advice to the FTAO.

Find the Governance Framework here.

Richard Adams

Chair of the Board of Directors,
Independent

Paul Chandler

Treasurer,
Independent

Sophie Aujean

Fairtrade International

Juanjo Martinez

World Fair Trade Organization – Europe

Prassana Kumar GN

Fairtrade International

Magdalena Śliwińska

Independent

Sophie Tack

World Fair Trade Organization – Global

Our Team

Jorge Conesa

Managing Director

Eric Ponthieu

Strategy Director

Virginia Enssle

International and Institutional Relations Manager

Anne Revell

Finance Manager

Alena Kahle

Senior Policy & Project Coordinator

Paola Plaku

Senior Policy & Project Officer

Isabel Garland

Policy & Project Officer

Michelle Barrientos

Communications Officer

Simon Guérin Sanz

Junior Advocacy Officer

Vania Rose Luna

Junior Advocacy Officer

 

Our Founders

Fairtrade International

Fairtrade International is a global network which works to share the benefits of trade more equally – through standards, certification, producer support, programmes and advocacy. Fairtrade producer networks in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions, representing 1.7 million farmers and workers in 75 countries, co-own the international Fairtrade system. Fairtrade organizations in more than 30 countries support consumers, businesses and governments to increase commitments to sustainable production and consumption. Read more: www.fairtrade.net.

World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)

A global network of organisations representing the Fair Trade supply chain. The WFTO operates in over 70 countries across 5 regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America and the Pacific Rim) with elected global and regional boards representing over 350 organisations committed to 100% Fair Trade. WFTO aims to improve the livelihoods of marginalised producers and workers, especially in the South. It strives to change unfair structures of international trade, to improve and coordinate the co-operation of member organisations and to promote the interests of and provide services to the member organisations and individuals. WFTO carries out its mission through campaigning, advocacy, market access and much more. For more information, visit www.wfto.com

World Fair Trade Organization Europe (WFTO-Europe)

WFTO-Europe is formed around 90 members across 17 European countries, amongst them Fair Trade Organisations, national Fair Trade Networks and Fair Trade Support Organisations. It is the European branch of the World Fair Trade Organization. The goals of WFTO-Europe include representing Fair Trade in Europe, supporting Fair Trade policies and supporting the global Fair Trade network. WFTO-Europe carries out its mission through campaigning, policy, advocacy, monitoring, certification and market access. The WFTO-Europe has its office in Belgium. For more information, visit www.wfto-europe.org

conesa@fairtrade-advocacy.org


Jorge Conesa
MANAGING DIRECTOR

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.

ponthieu@fairtrade-advocacy.org


Eric Ponthieu
STRATEGY DIRECTOR

Eric Ponthieu joined the FTAO at the beginning of 2023 after 28 years as an EU civil servant. He has also worked in journalism, research and teaching. As FTAO’s strategy director, he is in charge of positioning Fair Trade in new territories, and creating new links and unusual partnerships. Which he considers a gift at this point in his career where his passion for the arts in general has always been an inspirational driver.

He is Belgian and communicates essentially in French and English.

 

 

enssle@fairtrade-advocacy.org
 
Virginia Enssle
INTERNATIONAL & INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS MANAGER


EU trade policy and trade related measures, trade agreements and agri-food policies.

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).

kahle@fairtrade-advocacy.org
 
Alena Kahle
SENIOR POLICY & PROJECT COORDINATOR


Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) and fair and sustainable textiles.

 

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 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.

plaku@fairtrade-advocacy.org

 

Paola Plaku
SENIOR POLICY & PROJECT OFFICER



SchoolFood4Change project, CUES project, YFTAs coordinator, Fair Trade Towns network and Public Procurement.

garland@fairtrade-advocacy.org


Isabel Garland
POLICY & PROJECT OFFICER

Deforestation, Climate Change, Unfair Trading Practices agri-food, sustainable cocoa.

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.

 

communications@fairtrade-advocacy.org
 
Michelle Barrientos
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

 

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 an academic background in Journalism and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Rights, Democracy and Globalisation. She is passionate about social justice and sustainable development, with 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.

advocacy@fairtrade-advocacy.org
 
Simon Guérin Sanz
JUNIOR ADVOCACY OFFICER


EU Elections, Young Fair Trade Advocates, Sustainable Supply Chains.


Simon joined the FTAO in January 2024, where he focuses on several key areas, including agriculture, the new EU mandate, the Young Fair Trade Advocates, and sustainable supply chains. His interests and expertise extend to sustainability, environmental issues, and food systems.

Simon studied history, European Studies, and International Relations. Before his joining FTAO, he worked on initiatives aimed at combating food poverty. He is fluent in Spanish, French, English, Italian, and Catalan.

Simon enjoys spending time in olive fields or farms with animals, where he feels happiest. In his free time, he loves to read and prefers to spend his holidays exploring small villages or rural areas.

brussels@fairtrade-advocacy.org
 
Vania Rose Luna
JUNIOR ADVOCACY OFFICER

 

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 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.