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The Executive Board is the principal decision-making body of the Crop Trust.

The  Executive Board normally meets twice each year. Members of the Executive Board are appointed by key Crop Trust stakeholders. These members include:

  • four members appointed by the Governing Body of the Plant Treaty, at least two from developing countries;
  • four members appointed by the Donors’ Council of the Crop Trust;
  • two members appointed by the Board itself;
  • the Executive Director of the Crop Trust, ex officio;
  • one non-voting member appointed by the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization; and
  • one non-voting member appointed by the Chair of CGIAR.

The Executive Board ensures that:

  • the policies of the Crop Trust are in line with its mission, including support for the Plant Treaty and the overall policy guidance provided by its Governing Body, and are consistent with the aims of the Global Plan of Action;
  • the Crop Trust is managed effectively by the Executive Director in harmony with the agreed objectives, programs and budgets, in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements; and
  • the future well-being of the Crop Trust is not jeopardized by exposing its financial resources, its staff or its credibility to imprudent risks.

To ensure these qualities, the Crop Trust’s Executive Board is responsible for approving:

  • the appointment of the Executive Director;
  • the annual program of work and budget of the Crop Trust;
  • annual reports (view Annual Reports and Annual Financial Statements here);
  • the fundraising strategy; and
  • policies and regulations to ensure fiscal and operational efficiency, accountability and integrity.

For the full details on the responsibilities of the Executive Board, please see the Crop Trust’s Constitution.

The Crop Trust’s Executive Board is currently chaired by Catherine Bertini.

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Caterine Bertini headshot

Catherine Bertini

Chair of the Executive Board

Mercedes Araoz headshot

Mercedes Aráoz

Vice-Chair of the Executive Board

Carlos Furche

Carlos Furche

Executive Board Member

JC Gouache headshot

Jean-Christophe Gouache

Executive Board Member

Dagfinn Høybråten

Dagfinn Høybråten

Executive Board Member

Masa Iwanaga headshot

Masaru Iwanaga

Executive Board Member

Josette Lewis

Josette Lewis

Executive Board Member

Geoffrey Hawtin

Geoffrey Hawtin

Executive Board Member

Joachim von Braun headshot

Joachim von Braun

Executive Board Member

Kaveh Zahedi

Kaveh Zahedi

Executive Board Member (non-voting), FAO Representative

Juan Lucas Restrepo

Juan Lucas Restrepo

Executive Board Member (non-voting), CGIAR Representative

Stefan Schmitz

Stefan Schmitz

Executive Director

Vacant

Vacant

Executive Board Member

Former Executive Board Members

Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (2024-2024)

Sonja Vermeulen (2022-2024)

Emmy Simmons (2017-2023)

Bernard Lehmann (2021-2023)

Ismahane Elouafi (2021-2023)

Éliane Ubalijoro (2020-2023)

Hanne Blåfjelldal (2020-2022)

Marcio De Miranda Santos (2017-2022)

Prem Lal Gautam (2017-2019)

Mary Ann P. Sayoc (2017-2019)

Gebisa Ejeta (2017-2019)

Alexander Müller (2015-2020)

Knut Storberget (2015-2020)

Mauricio Lopes (2014-2016)

Marie Haga, Former Executive Director (2013-2019)

Peter Crane, Former Chair of the Executive Board (2019-2021) and member (2013-2019)

Timothy Andrew Fischer, Former Chair of the Executive Board and member (2013-2019)

Roberto Rodrigues (2011-2013)

Ibrahim Assane Mayaki (2011-2013)

Walter Fust, former Chair of The Executive Board and member (2010-2017)

Modibo Tiémoko Traoré, (2009-2011)

Emile Frison (2009-2013)

Mangala Rai (2007-2009)

Shivaji Pandey (2007-2009)

Karl Erik Olsson (2007-2010)

Wangari Maathai (2007-2011)

John Lovett (2007-2012)

Margaret Catley-Carlson (2007-2012)

Jorio Dauster (2007-2010)

Adel El-Beltagy (2007-2011)

Cary Fowler, Former Executive Director (2007-2012)

Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (2024-2024)

Sonja Vermeulen (2022-2024)

Emmy Simmons (2017-2023)

Bernard Lehmann (2021-2023)

Ismahane Elouafi (2021-2023)

Éliane Ubalijoro (2020-2023)

Hanne Blåfjelldal (2020-2022)

Marcio De Miranda Santos (2017-2022)

Prem Lal Gautam (2017-2019)

Mary Ann P. Sayoc (2017-2019)

Gebisa Ejeta (2017-2019)

Alexander Müller (2015-2020)

Knut Storberget (2015-2020)

Mauricio Lopes (2014-2016)

Marie Haga, Former Executive Director (2013-2019)

Peter Crane, Former Chair of the Executive Board (2019-2021) and member (2013-2019)

Timothy Andrew Fischer, Former Chair of the Executive Board and member (2013-2019)

Roberto Rodrigues (2011-2013)

Ibrahim Assane Mayaki (2011-2013)

Walter Fust, former Chair of The Executive Board and member (2010-2017)

Modibo Tiémoko Traoré, (2009-2011)

Emile Frison (2009-2013)

Mangala Rai (2007-2009)

Shivaji Pandey (2007-2009)

Karl Erik Olsson (2007-2010)

Wangari Maathai (2007-2011)

John Lovett (2007-2012)

Margaret Catley-Carlson (2007-2012)

Jorio Dauster (2007-2010)

Adel El-Beltagy (2007-2011)

Cary Fowler, Former Executive Director (2007-2012)

 

Summary Reports of Executive Board Meetings
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