Who we are

In a two-decade career across private and development sectors in over forty countries, Senthil helped food and beverage businesses of all sizes develop and implement supply chain sustainability strategies, particularly on responsible sourcing, regenerative agriculture and carbon management initiatives focused on building sustainable food systems.

The values of Fairtrade are also deeply personal to him. Senthil was raised on a small-hold farm in Southern India, where he witnessed the challenges that producers like his parents faced. Such experiences have drawn him back from his corporate career to sustainable agriculture, where he has spent many years searching for solutions to those same problems he saw as he grew up. Senthil is an alumnus of Columbia University, where he was awarded a fellowship for promising future leaders. Under its Global Talent Program, the Australian Government recognised him as a distinguished talent in sustainable food and agriculture. Senthil is also a Non-Executive Director of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

Joanne Butterworth-Gray is a professional chair and non-executive director with extensive experience across capital projects, land management and precinct planning, utilities and logistics, agribusiness, tourism and market development and legal. Joanne is Chair of Southern Rural Water, Campaspe Port Enterprise and Northern Territory Seafood Council, and a Trustee of Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust.

Joanne’s executive career in the Victorian public service included leading reform within emergency management, delivering culture improvement in HM Prison Barwon, and facilitating economic partnerships across the three tiers of government. Prior to government, Joanne was the first female CEO of Victoria’s wine industry.

Joanne has a transformational style of leadership focussed on supporting Boards to be future-fit across strategy, risk, financial performance, ESG, culture and social licence.

Ian McInnes is the CEO at Tearfund New Zealand, which is the third largest international NGO in New Zealand. He has spent the last two decades in international aid and development work, much of it in disaster response work and follow on recovery operations. He has pioneered and championed some of the aid sectors most innovative approaches to tackling exploitation and poverty, including prosecuting human trafficking in SE Asia, and developing market based agricultural livelihoods – including a dairy company in post war Sri Lanka.

He has served in some of the world’s toughest humanitarian emergencies – starting in 2004 with the Indian Ocean tsunami in Sri Lanka which was followed by a civil war, then in Myanmar, Haiti, Pakistan, East Africa and within various Pacific Island disaster responses. He spent 6 years Chairing New Zealand’s Aid industry peak body the Council for International Development and he represents aid and development work regularly in the New Zealand media.

Ian works at governance level within leading social enterprises in hospitality in Auckland, in denominational church based trustee roles and globally at governance level of International Aid Agency Consortium.

Josie’s dedication to global issues and international development has taken her across the globe. Currently New Zealand-based, Josie is the CEO of ChildFund New Zealand. She is also a regular media commentator on current affairs both here and abroad and has been involved in progressive policy think tanks in the UK. Josie has worked as a political advisor to governments, to Prime Ministers and ministers, and was a member of the government’s Trade For All Advisory Board in 2018-2019. She has high-level experience in the aid and development sector, including at the OECD DAC in Paris and a strong background in global public affairs, with a particular interest in development.

Margaret believes it is critical for both organisations and individuals to do the right thing for the long term for the sustainability of our global economy. Her accomplishments span several areas including business transformation, brand strategy, innovation, corporate sustainability strategy, marketing communications, customer experience and change leadership. Margaret has 20 years of senior executive experience working across major companies and brands in FMCG, food, technology and communications industries including multinationals, ASX 100 and not-for-profits. Margaret has also served on the board of mental health charity R U OK? for five years. Margaret is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds an MBA from INSEAD, France.

John has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to sustainability and climate change-related issues. After a career in law and politics, John provided expertise to governments both state and federal on sustainable development issues and planning. He has served on a number of boards and advisory panels. He is a Professorial Fellow at Monash University, Chair of ClimateWorks Australia, the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Melbourne Water and the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust. He is also Co-Chair of the Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network launched by the Secretary General of the United Nations to provide expert advice and support to the development and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. John is the recipient of several awards, including being named as one of the 100 Global Sustainability Leaders by ABC Carbon Express in 2016.

Over a two-decade career, Alastair has spent the last 10 years in senior finance roles within major Australian FMCG and Retail businesses. The provision of sustainable food to consumers aligns closely to his values.  Alastair is currently the Finance Director & Company Secretary for Simplot Australia which operates a complex and extensive supply chain globally and throughout Australia & New Zealand, representing one of the largest food suppliers in this region.

Alastair’s interests & skillset is focused on providing financial and accounting expertise within the FMCG and Retail sectors, where he has supported both ASX 50 and privately owned businesses to drive strong commercial outcomes and achieve profitable growth.  Prior to this Alastair spent 10 years with KPMG in the UK and Australia, providing assurance services to Boards and Audit Committees across multiple industries.

Katherine Rich is Chair of the New Zealand Parliamentary Education Trust and children’s charity Barnardos. She is the former Chief Executive of the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council, an industry association that advocates on behalf of companies marketing food and other fast-moving consumer goods. Katherine was a Member of Parliament 1999 – 2008 and prior to that held a number of agribusiness marketing roles. She is a former New Zealand member of the APEC Business Advisory Council, Chair of Fairtrade Australia New Zealand, Deputy Chair of the Food Safety Advisory and Assurance Council, and a board member of the Health Promotion Agency.