Our Board Members

Mr Pravakar Meher, Chair

Fairtrade Product Category– Cotton Fairtrade Producer Category-Contract Production (PB) Country – India Region- South Asia Mr. Pravakar hails from a very non-descript town Titilagarh in Odisha, and comes from a family with deep roots in the cotton industry. As a second-generation leader in the sector, he witnessed his father’s efforts in starting a cotton ginning factory in the 1990s. However, when the family business began to struggle, Mr. Pravakar made the significant decision to leave a well-paying job with a multinational corporation and his comfortable city life to support his father and work closely with marginalized farmers. With a background in engineering and valuable experience in technology, he not only revitalized the family business but also made a meaningful impact in the region. He encouraged farmers to adopt native cotton varieties and embrace organic farming practices, which significantly improved cotton yields and fiber quality. These initiatives helped marginalized farmers secure better returns on their produce, enhancing their livelihoods. Driven by a vision to create a sustainable value chain, Mr. Pravakar aims to build an ecosystem within the cotton industry that empowers the most vulnerable stakeholders, ensuring they are an integral part of the supply chain.

Ms. Rosemarie Sumalinog Gonzales

Fairtrade Product Category – Coconut Fairtrade Producer Category-Small Producer Organisation Country – Philippines Region- South East Asia Ms. Rosemarie Sumalinog Gonzales is a multi-faceted professional—farmer, cooperative leader, international researcher, and expert writer—specializing in both qualitative and quantitative research. She holds a diverse academic background, with degrees in Computer Science, Information Technology, Education, and Linguistics, along with a Master’s degree in Information Technology. In addition to her academic credentials, Ms. Gonzales has completed extensive training in various specialized fields, including Economic and Financial Analysis, Export Marketing, Parliamentary Procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), Enterprise Operation Manual (EOM), and Fairtrade and Organic Standards. She is also skilled in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that span the entire farm-to-market process. As a passionate advocate for farmers, Ms. Gonzales is deeply involved in cooperative affairs. She has been an active member of the Fairtrade Farmers Coconut Multipurpose Cooperative (FFCC) in the Philippines for over a decade, serving as Secretary for 10 years. During this time, she has contributed her expertise in business planning, feasibility studies, project proposals, and market research. Currently, she serves as the Chairperson of the Election Committee (ELECOM), furthering her commitment to empowering the farming community.

Mr. Shailesh Patel Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category – Cotton Fairtrade Producer Category-Small Producer Organisation Country – India Region- South Asia Mr. Shailesh Patel holds a post-graduate degree in Rural Studies with a specialization in Rural Economics from Bhavnagar University. He is the CEO and a founding member of the Rapar and Dhrangadhra Farmers Producer Company Ltd, a Fairtrade-certified Small Producer Organization (SPO) in Gujarat. Under his leadership, the organization has thrived within the Fairtrade system for the past six years, transitioning from Contract Production to an SPO. The organization has seen consistent growth in farmer participation, production volume, and sales turnover year after year. With over 23 years of experience working with Fairtrade, Mr. Patel's expertise spans a wide range of products including cotton, peanuts, basmati rice, and raisins. Prior to his current role, he worked for 18 years as a Project Manager at Agrocel Industries Ltd., where he oversaw Fairtrade organic product development and activities. During his tenure, he helped establish two producer groups under the Contract Production standard, which later transitioned to the SPO standard for cotton and rice. Mr. Patel also played a pivotal role in the broader Fairtrade movement. He was the first board member of NAPP in 2008 and contributed to the formation of the Fairtrade Cotton Development Committee. His work includes implementing several international projects focused on community-based sustainable development, supported by notable organizations such as Shell Foundation, GIZ, and M&S.

Mr. Raghavendra Prabhakar Shastry Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category– Coffee Fairtrade Producer Category-Small Producer Organisation Country – India Region- South Asia Mr. Raghavendra Shastry is a seasoned Coffee and Spice Producer, Exporter, and Director of the Fairtrade producer organization Malenadu Savayava Krishi Parivar, based in the Western Ghats of Southern India. After earning his Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering in 1996, he has dedicated himself to organic and Fairtrade agriculture, overseeing the entire value chain—from production and processing to marketing. His organization now supports over 8,000 farmers, cultivating a diverse range of organic-certified products such as coffee and spices across more than 10,000 hectares of land. With over 20 years of experience, Mr. Shastry has been instrumental in promoting Farmer Producer Organizations, focusing on skill development, sustainable coffee and spice production, processing, organic and Fairtrade certification, and value addition. He has extensive experience in providing farmer training and implementing various government schemes under NHM, SFAC, the Spice Board, the Coffee Board, and Agricultural Departments. He is also actively involved in coordinating with Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to address production and financial challenges. Mr. Shastry’s expertise extends to managing nurseries, planting, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and post-harvest activities. His efforts in organic farming and export have earned him several awards from the Government of Karnataka, recognizing him as both the Best Organic Farmer and an outstanding exporter and manufacturer.

Mr. Edirisinghe Arachchillage Nandakumara, Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category– Tea Fairtrade Producer Category-Small Producer Organisation Country – Sri Lanka Region- South Asia Mr. Ediri Singhe Arachchillage Nandakumara is the President of the Small Organic Growers Association in Sri Lanka. He oversees the management of organic tea cultivation, ensuring that all operations align with international certification standards, including those of the Fairtrade Labelling Organization. In his role, he ensures that the human resource department maintains compliance with these rigorous certification requirements, fostering sustainable and ethical practices in the tea industry.

Mr. Rattapraseud NHOUYVANISVONG, Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category– Coffee Fairtrade Producer Category-Small Producer Organisation Country – Lao People’s Democratic Republic Region- Southeast Asia ( Lao PDR, Representative of Thai-Lao -Myanmar Network) Mr. Rattapraseud Nhouyvanisvong holds a Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering from France and has over a decade of experience working in the telecommunications industry there. In the early 1990s, he returned to Laos to work alongside his father, the first President of the Lao Association of Coffee Exporters in the southern region of Lao PDR. From 1998 to 2010, Mr. Nhouyvanisvong held several key positions, including Program Officer at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Administrative and Financial Manager in a French-funded Lao Government Rural Development Project, and General Manager of a micro-finance institution in the capital city. In 2011, he joined the Fairtrade Producer Organization, Coffee Producers Cooperative (CPC), where he served as Marketing Manager before being promoted to General Manager and later Senior Adviser. With over 20 years of experience in rural development, particularly in the coffee sector, Mr. Nhouyvanisvong has been instrumental in advancing the cooperative’s growth and sustainability. Since 2013, following the formation of the Fairtrade-certified producers' Thai-Lao Network, he has maintained active engagement with Fairtrade NAPP through regular participation in meetings, forums, and workshops.

Mr. Mitchell Ricky Eno Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category– Coffee Fairtrade Producer Category-Small Producer Organisation Country – Papua New Guinea Region- Pacific Mr. Mitchell Ricky Eno is a Commerce graduate with a specialization in Accountancy from The Papua New Guinea University of Technology. A detail-oriented and analytical professional, he demonstrates a strong ability to work collaboratively and efficiently, even under pressure, while maintaining high standards of accuracy. He has completed training and holds certifications in Green Coffee Trading Fundamentals and Digital Market Access and Client Engagement. As an active farmer, Mr. Eno is deeply involved in the operations of his cooperative, Highlands Organic Agriculture Cooperative (SPO). He is responsible for overseeing compliance activities within the cooperative and manages the SPO's Ecert Portal, Fair Trace, and Fair Insight systems, ensuring adherence to Fairtrade standards and smooth operational management.

Mr. Bahadur Singh Bajwal Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category– Rice Fairtrade Producer Category-Contract Production (PEB) Country – India Region- South Asia Mr. Bahadur Singh is a dedicated rice farmer from the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India, who has committed 40 years of his life to organic farming. With extensive hands-on experience in farming systems, he has consistently worked to improve the lives of fellow farmers. Before joining Fairtrade in 2011, he was deeply concerned about the fluctuating paddy prices and was driven by a passion to advocate for the farming community's welfare. In 2011, Mr. Singh took on the leadership role of President of the Fair Farming Foundation, a Farmer Producer Organization in Ramnagar. His commitment to securing better outcomes for farmers led to his election as a Board Member of Fairtrade NAPP in 2014. Recognizing the global platform as an opportunity to advocate for fairer deals for farmers and workers within the organization, he has since remained a tireless advocate for their interests. Due to his unwavering dedication, Mr. Singh has been repeatedly chosen to serve as President of the group and continues to hold this position. His efforts were further recognized when he was re-elected as a Board Member of Fairtrade NAPP in 2023, reinforcing his commitment to improving the livelihoods of farmers and workers associated with the organization.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Ha, Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category– Coffee Fairtrade Producer Category-Small Producer Organisation Country – Vietnam Region- Southeast Asia Mr. Nguyen Huu Ha is a highly experienced coffee producer with over 25 years of dedication to coffee farming and processing. With a background in Business Administration and a deep passion for coffee, he has successfully built and developed a professional coffee production system in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Throughout his career, Mr. Ha has been committed to supporting local farmers by promoting organic coffee production and enabling them to benefit from Fairtrade support services. His efforts have helped foster sustainable agricultural practices, significantly contributing to the development of the local community's livelihoods. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of Thuan An Fairtrade Agriculture Cooperative, Vice Chair of the Vietnam Fairtrade Producers Network, and an Executive Committee Member of the Vietnam Cooperation Alliance. His leadership continues to play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable coffee production and community development in Vietnam.

Mr. Jayaraman Thangavelu Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category– Tea Fairtrade Producer Category-Hired Labour – Management Country – India Region- South Asia Mr. T. Jayaraman is an accomplished agricultural professional with a degree from Allahabad Agricultural University and over 43 years of extensive experience in the tea industry. He currently serves as the Managing Director of Havukal & Warwick Group. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Jayaraman has held several key leadership positions at the district, state, and national levels, including Chairman of the Nilgiris Planters Association, Member of the PAT Executive Committee, Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Planters' Association of Tamil Nadu, and President of the United Planters Association of Southern India, among others. In recognition of his significant contributions to the tea and agricultural sectors, Mr. Jayaraman has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and an Honorary Fellowship from the Horticultural Society of India. His leadership and expertise have left a lasting impact on the industry.

Mrs. Sunitha Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category– Tea Fairtrade Producer Category-Hired Labour (Worker) Country – India Region- South Asia Mrs. Sunitha hails from a remote village in Jharkhand and began her journey in the tea industry in 2011, joining Chamraj Tea Estate, which specializes in organic cultivation, as a tea plucker. Her dedication and hard work earned her a promotion to Supervisor in 2019. That same year, she was elected as a member of the Fairtrade Premium Committee (FPC) and has been an active participant in its initiatives ever since. In recognition of her leadership and commitment to fair trade practices, Mrs. Sunitha was elected as a Board Member of Fairtrade NAPP in 2023.

Mr. Xinrong Zhao Board Member

Fairtrade Product Category– Tea Fairtrade Producer Category-Small Producer Organisation Country – China Region- Central Asia Mr. Zhao Xinrong serves as the Vice-Chair of the Fairtrade China Small Producers’ Organization and the Chair of the Shaoxing Shangyu Graham Tea Farmers Association. He holds diplomas in both Agriculture and Law, bringing a well-rounded expertise to his roles. Since 1999, Mr. Zhao has been actively involved in the production and sales of organic tea, and since 2011, he has focused on Fairtrade tea. His commitment lies in supporting local tea farmers with organic tea cultivation and production, while advancing Fairtrade business development to benefit small producer organizations. His efforts are aimed at promoting the sustainable development of the tea industry in China.