Berlin Metropolitan Area
For over 20 years, I have worked in ethical and fair trade managing diverse projects and teams globally. I am passionate about sustainable development and building bridges between people and the global market. I have a successful track record in bringing together stakeholders to work towards a common goal through strategy and program development and management
I worked at Goodweave, a NGO and Standards organization with a mission to end child labor in global supply chains. As Apparel and Accessories Director I built partnerships and advocacy relationships with apparel industry multi-stakeholder organizations including the German Textilbündnis, Ethical Trading Initiative, Dutch Covenant on Textiles and the Fair Wear Foundation. I worked with multiple stakeholders to build an implementation strategy and develop programming related to oversight and sustainable improvement of workers’ rights in the informal segment of apparel supply chains, including COVID emergency relief programming. I also managed external relationships with brand and supplier partners and led global team based in Asia, Europe, and the United States and developed and prepared regular reporting on progress towards targets for senior management and board. Finally, I managed grants from donors including Laudes Foundation, Dutch RVO, DFID, including all reporting and sub-grant relationship management with local partners in India and Bangladesh.
I led donor relations with the UK Home Office Modern Slavery Innovation Fund and other funders and sustained partnerships with European brands of all sizes. I liaised with local offices in India and Nepal to support supplier relationships and report to brand partners. I represented GoodWeave International within Europe and internationally, including giving presentations and trainings at industry events and conferences.
I led the product development team at SERRV, a fair trade, non-profit marketing, sales and training organization for artisans and farmers around the world. While at SERRV, I managed the team responsible for merchandising, design, selection, and purchases of handcrafts and food for SERRV’s catalog and website. I also created strategy and long-term merchandising plans for multiple consumer and wholesale sales channels based on current sales and market-based trends, producer partners’ needs and fair trade standards. Finally, I Initiated product development training programs for artisan partners around the world and monitored pricing, sales, and inventory levels and streamlined quality control and shipping processes for producer partners around the world. As a member of senior management team, I was responsible for ongoing reporting to board of directors and board committee management.
Aid to Artisans is a US-based nonprofit organization providing practical assistance to artisan groups worldwide. I was Country Director for the Made in Macedonia Project and subsequently a consultant for project assessment and product development globally. My work included: Overseeing design, development, and production of handcraft products destined for the US and Western European markets for USAID-funded project. Helping Macedonian artisans initiate connections with export buyers resulting in lasting partnerships. Developing an advisory board of entrepreneurs, media and government officials, managed successful local PR campaign, secured additional funding and a one-year project extension from USAID.