Our Team

Rik Kutsch Lojenga

Executive Director

Rik has been the Executive Director of UEBT since its creation in 2008. He is an expert on ethical sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity in support of the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity.  He spent more than a decade with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), where he was involved in the creation of the BioTrade Initiative and helped to conceptualise the idea of UEBT.  He has also served as the Board Chair of ISEAL, the umbrella group for sustainability standards.  Rik grew up in the Netherlands, where he earned a master’s degree in business and environmental economics.

Maria Julia Oliva

Director of Policy and Sector Transformation

Julia is responsible for Policy and Sector Transformation as of May 2023. She previously worked with UEBT from 2009 until 2021 and last served as Deputy Director and Senior Coordinator for ABS and Policy. Her last position was Head of Policy at UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) where she oversaw a team focused on accounting for the value for biodiversity in policy and providing support to incorporate biodiversity management into policy across many sectors. She is a trained lawyer with internationally recognized expertise on legal and policy issues linked to biodiversity. Julia grew up in Mendoza, Argentina and has an LLM degree from Lewis & Clark Law School in the US.

Bertjan Bouman

Operations and Finance Director

With UEBT since 2012, Bertjan is responsible for finance, administration and back office support. Prior to joining UEBT, he worked in various development agencies, including in Nepal where he advised and managed community health and development projects. After his return to the Netherlands, he began studying finance, focusing on improved synergies between financial reporting and project management. He earned a master's degree in development studies at Wageningen University and is an ACCA qualified accountant.

Lara Koritzke

Communications and Marketing Director

With UEBT since 2018, Lara brings 20 years of experience working to engage business to adopt sustainability standards. She is also an expert on credible sustainability claims. Her previous work includes serving as Director of Communications & Development for ISEAL Alliance and Global Director of Institutional Relations for Rainforest Alliance. Lara served as judge for the Unilever Sustainable Entrepreneur Awards and as guest faculty for the Kinship Conservation Fellows. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and is a graduate of the University of Cambridge Sustainability Leadership Programme where she focused on cross-sector partnerships, specifically those between companies and environmental NGOs.

 
 

Membership and due diligence

Annette Piperidis

Head of Membership and Due Diligence

With UEBT since 2022, Annette leads membership and due diligence at UEBT. She supports companies to become UEBT members and provides specific advice on their commitments to due diligence on cultivation and wild collection practices. Prior to joining UEBT, Annette worked for 14 years at Weleda where she held various roles. In her last role at Weleda, she was manager sustainable sourcing. In this function she implemented the UEBT’s due diligence system at Weleda as well as the Ethical Sourcing System certification. She travelled extensively to meet with suppliers and support them to implement required actions. Annette is based in Germany.

Amandine Noual

Membership Coordinator

With UEBT since 2021, Amandine coordinates the UEBT membership programme. She supports companies in the membership journey, from their application and initial assessment to their target setting and work plan implementation. Amandine has a long background in cosmetics R&D in different international companies (Johnson & Johnson, Oriflame and Nuxe Group). She holds a master’s degree in health products project management from Montpellier University.

Mees Kort

Membership and Certification Officer

With UEBT since 2024, Mees helps local processing companies in their membership and/or certification journey. In 2023, she worked in a project for CIFOR-ICRAF where she assessed the ecosystem services generated by cocoa agroforestry systems to smallholder farmers in southern Cameroon. She holds a bachelor's degree in European Studies and a master's degree in forest and nature conservation from Wageningen University. 

 
 

Verification

Karène Volpato

Ethical Sourcing Expert, Verification Programme Coordinator

With UEBT since 2019, Karène is in charge of coordinating the UEBT verification programme, conducting assessments of UEBT members’ ethical sourcing practices, designing improvement programmes, training auditors and supporting the management of international projects on capacity development and assessment of sustainable practices in natural ingredient supply chains. She's also leading the Fair Prices approach in UEBT. Previously, she worked in a fair trade and social responsibility certification body in Chile and Argentina, and was an auditor for Ecocert and the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). Karène holds a master’s degree in international trade and strategic information, with a special mention in fair trade. Read her interview here.

Adélie Mollimard

Ethical Sourcing Expert

Since joining UEBT in 2020, Adélie has been leading international supply chain verification projects, ensuring that sourcing practices align with ethical standards and biodiversity protection. She works closely with global stakeholders to verify compliance and drive improvements in supply chains. Additionally, she is  supporting member companies in embedding sustainable sourcing principles into their business strategies. Through her leadership, Adélie helps foster partnerships that promote continuous improvement and responsible sourcing on an international scale. Prior to UEBT, Adélie spent five years at Naturex/Givaudan and BASF, where she managed global sustainable sourcing initiatives, gaining in-depth knowledge of the complexities involved in responsible sourcing. Adélie holds an engineering degree in horticulture and a degree in international management and marketing, bringing both technical and strategic expertise to her.

Francesca Minerva

Ethical Sourcing Expert

With UEBT since 2021, Francesca works with the verification team on supply chain verification projects. She has a long background in Fairtrade, BioTrade and supply chain assessment, with a focus on human rights in agriculture. She has worked both in the development and the private sector, as a project manager, certification expert and social auditor. Francesca holds a master’s degree in cooperation and development by the University of Pavia and has extensive fieldwork experience, especially in Latin America.

 

Solen Le Davadic

Ethical Sourcing Expert

With UEBT since 2022, Solen works with the Verification team on supply chain verification projects and on the UEBT Membership programme. Previously, she worked for 10 years with SILAB where she was in charge of sourcing natural raw materials for cosmetics applications. She holds an engineering degree in agronomy with special mention and a master's degree in sustainable agricultural and agri-food development applied to tropical and sub-tropical countries, from Montpellier SupAgro.

Laura Biritos

Field Verification Auditor for Latin America

With UEBT since 2021, Laura works with the verification team on supply chain verification projects. Before joining UEBT, she worked for Ecocert conducting audits throughout South America for their Fair for Life certification scheme and their For Life certification scheme. Laura also has a background in the viticulture (wine growing) industry, working with small companies on good export practices. She holds a degree in international trade from Champagnat University.

Florine Favey

Ethical Sourcing Expert

With UEBT since early 2023, Florine works on supply chain verification projects. She has 20 years of international trade experience within the UK food & beverage industry. In the last five years she specialised in sourcing organic and fair certified herbs, spices and botanicals and has gained significant field experience in the cultivation/wild collection and processing of botanicals in Asia, the Balkans and Europe. Based in the UK, she grew up on an organic farm in France and holds a master's degree in economics, finance and international trade.

Estefani Izurieta

Ethical Sourcing Expert

With UEBT since 2024, Estefani works on supply chain verification projects. Previously, she worked at Ecocert under Fair for Life and For Life schemes, and with the French schemes (Biopartenaire and Bio Français Equitable). Before that, she worked in the cocoa sector. Estefani holds a bachelor’s degree in international business, Ecuador, and a master’s degree in development studies from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

 
 

Certification

Cathrien de Liagre Böhl

Certification Team Lead, Herbs and Spices Programme Coordinator

Cathrien leads the overall management of the certification team, supports the roll out of the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs and Spices Programme, and facilitates linkages with UEBT member companies, especially UEBT and UEBT/RA certified suppliers. Before joining UEBT, Cathrien worked for more than six years with Rainforest Alliance and UTZ on herbs and spices. She held various positions working on responsible agricultural value chains and started her career as marketeer in the food industry. Cathrien holds a master’s degree at Wageningen University in land and water management and nature conservation, as well as an executive economic master’s degree from the TIAS Business School.

Danielle de Man

Senior Certification and Standard Expert

Danielle joined UEBT’s certification team in 2024. She started her collaboration with UEBT in 2014 as Standard Developer at UTZ on the joint UEBT/UTZ Herbal Tea programme. The last six years she worked as Manager Sustainable Agriculture Standard at the Rainforest Alliance and continued the collaboration with UEBT on Herbs & Spices. Before, she worked for Max Havelaar/Fairtrade France and with farmers’ organisations in the field of advocacy on climate and desertification, amongst other topics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international business and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Amsterdam.

Enora Philippe

Ethical Sourcing Expert

Enora started working with UEBT as a consultant in 2020, doing field verifications, and started supporting the certification team full time in November 2023. Before that, she worked at different NGOs and consultancy organisations - including the Aspen Network of development Entrepreneurs and The Nature Conservancy - in program coordination, socio-environmental impact analysis, and operations. She has a bachelor’s degree in international relations in Mexico, and a master’s degree in forest and nature management from the University of Copenhagen.

 
 

Biodiversity (BAPs), M&E and risks

Simona D'Amico

Head of Biodiversity and Impact

An international expert on the socio-biodiversity impacts of the sourcing of natural raw materials, Simona has been with UEBT since 2017 and oversees UEBT’s workstreams on biodiversity conservation and regeneration. She also leads UEBT’s own monitoring & evaluation to determine organisational impact on people and biodiversity. Simona holds a PhD in rural sociology from Wageningen University. Prior to joining UEBT, she worked on European research projects on policies for organic farming and sustainable food systems, as well as the valorisation of agrobiodiversity through sustainable agrifood chains.  She has traveled extensively to UEBT field projects and has worked with UEBT members on their journeys to implement biodiversity actions in supply chains and surrounding landscapes.

Charlotte Mallet

Ethical Sourcing Expert

With UEBT since 2019, Charlotte works on UEBT's monitoring and evaluation and biodiversity programmes. She also leads on the UEBT responsible sourcing risk database, and coordinates the international working group on Carnauba wax that aims to improve conditions for people and biodiversity in northeastern Brazil. She received her master’s degree in earth sciences from the University of Amsterdam and has a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering sciences from Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech in Belgium.

Vera Catalano

Project Assistant - Biodiversity and Data Analysis

With UEBT since 2021, Vera supports the management of the Grove information system as well as the development of the Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs). She holds a master's degree in environmental management from the University of Amsterdam and a bachelor's degree in environmental science from the University of Nottingham.

 

Catarina W. Ferreira

Project Assistant - Biodiversity and Certification

With UEBT since 2022, Catarina supports companies on biodiversity requirements and the development of Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs). She holds a master's degree in environmental management from the University of Amsterdam and a bachelor's degree in life sciences with specialisation in biology from the University of Luxembourg.

Steven Lenfant

Ethical Sourcing Expert - Project Management

With UEBT Since 2024, Steven works on impact projects and on wild collection. Previously, he worked in Vanuatu, in EU and French funded programmes supporting farmers on sustainable agriculture in coffee, cocoa, copra and spices value chains. He also spent 8 years as project manager for Fert, a French Agri-agency where he coordinated agriculture projects in different African countries. Before UEBT, he worked in responsible sourcing for Ecotone and then in the organic and fair-trade dried fruits and nuts sector. Steven holds a master’s degree in agronomy / agriculture & economy of development from AgroParisTech.

 
 
 

Policy and Sector Transformation

Sarah Lucas

Project Officer

With UEBT since 2024, Sarah works on monitoring and analysing due diligence rules in policy and sector change. Sarah has 14 years' experience working in the field of biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. She has developed extensive expertise in advising governments, regional organisations and multilateral environmental agreement secretariats, such as the Convention on Migratory Species, to ensure that national legislation is consistent with international law and global conservation objectives. She has also worked as a legal officer for the IUCN Environmental Law Centre, managing projects on protected areas, wildlife conservation and the green economy. Sarah grew up on the island of Réunion and holds a master’s degree in environmental law from the Robert Schuman University in France.

Deniz Austin

Human Rights Expert

With UEBT since 2023, Deniz monitors and integrates evolving requirements on human rights due diligence into the UEBT systems, tools and processes. She is developing strategies to address human rights risks and concerns in specific supply chains. Deniz has both hands-on, field level, and high-level corporate experience designing and implementing human rights due diligence programs in various geographies related to different sectors, such as food & beverage, agricultural supply chains with extreme to high level of human rights risks, transportation, packaging as well as the e-retailer and fashion industries. She worked for NGOs such as Transparency International, and companies such as Nestlé. Deniz has master’s degree on applied human rights from the University of York in the UK.

Gina Villarreal

Project Manager - Living Wage and Living Income

With UEBT since 2022, Gina works with members and partners on their efforts on fair prices and sourcing arrangements—including​ living wage and living income projects. Previously, she worked as a researcher on corporate sustainability policies in the agri-food industry. Gina has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and holds a PhD in agri-food sociology from Wageningen University. 

Communications and Claims

Nelly Debril

Communications and Claims Manager

Specialised in sustainability claims and communications, Nelly has been with UEBT since 2017. She is responsible for communications and leads UEBT’s work with companies on claims and labelling. Previously, she worked as a media monitoring specialist for the French Ministry of Environment and for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Nelly holds a master's degree in international relations from the Institute of the Oriental Languages and Civilisations (INALCO) in Paris.

Oriane Brunet

Claims and Membership Officer

With UEBT since 2023, Oriane is in charge of organising the annual UEBT conference and supporting UEBT members and certificate holders in communicating commitments and actions through credible claims. Oriane also support UEBT members in their ethical sourcing journey. Oriane has a degree in geography and spanish from the University of Glasgow and lives in France.

Gabriela Salinas Lanao

Knowledge Sharing Advisor

Gabriela supports UEBT in building and implementing its knowledge sharing strategy. She is a facilitator and trainer of trainers specialised in participatory methodology and active learning. Gabriela has, since 2011, supported UEBT in designing and carrying out training processes, as well as in developing resources and material. She holds a master’s degree in development studies from the International Institute of Development Studies (ISS) in The Hague.

 

Information Technology (IT) and finance

Jennifer Suti

Product Manager Information Systems

With UEBT since 2019, Jennifer develops and manages the UEBT data strategy and its information systems. Prior to joining UEBT, Jennifer gained experience in environmental services and telecommunications industries working with logistics for internal audits, event planning and business intelligence particularly in the field of product development.

Tim Masson

Software and IT Systems Strategist

With UEBT since 2023, Tim leads on IT for UEBT. He has been building and customising software solutions, strengthening information system infrastructure and creating websites and applications for over 20 years. Tim is focused on creating robust information systems and stronger business intelligence systems for sustainable growth and improved member solutions. Tim lives in Zimbabwe for the majority of the year, and alongside his passion for wildlife and art, supports anti-poaching and sustainable livelihoods organisations locally.

Sujata Singh

Finance Assistant

Since joining UEBT in 2023, Sujata has been overseeing and enhancing back-office finance operations. She holds a management degree in human resources, and successfully manages her own consultancy, focusing on middle and senior level hiring within India. Sujata's professional journey is also marked by her extensive experience working for a couple of major IT firms, where she specialised in human resources and finance.

Regional and Country Representatives

André Tabanez

Brazil Representative

With UEBT since 2024, André is the Brazil Representative. Previously, he worked for more than 20 years in perfume supply chains with a focus on wild harvested ingredients from the Amazon with Firmenich and Kaapi Ingredients. His goal has been to sure small landholders and traditional communities could meet companies’ standards while companies could learn to value and respect people and biodiversity in these partnerships. André is an agronomist with a doctoral degree in ecology.

Sandino Moreira

Ethical Sourcing Expert

With UEBT since 2024, Sandino supports UEBT projects in Brazil. He has worked since 2010 with socio-environmental development projects, biodiversity conservation and sustainability in rural areas with Associação Caatinga, CE- Brazil. He has been working in the Carnauba supply chain since 2016. He is a biologist from the Federal University of Ceará-UFC, Brazil and has a post-graduate degree in strategic people management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas.

Sureel Singh

South Asia Representative

With UEBT since 2019 and based in Ghaziabad (India) Sureel is country representative for India and regional representative for South Asia. He is in charge of guiding companies in the implementation of the UEBT standard, conducting supply chain and risk assessments, supervising audit procedures and other certification advisory related functions. He brings over a decade of professional experience working in various positions with Fairtrade International focused on collaborating with regional stakeholders. Sureel holds a master's degree in management and a diploma in labour laws. He is also a SA - 8000  & ISO 9008 certified auditor. Read his interview here.

 

Lien Hanh

South-East Asia Representative

With UEBT since 2022 and based in Vietnam, Lien is the representative for Vietnam and South-East Asia. She has spent over 20 years working in projects on development (Helvetas, Childfund), business and permaculture. She developed training materials for the Farmer Field School - a learning platform designed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and trained agriculture extensionists in Hoa Binh. She also created an online permacultura design couse in Vietnamese. She holds a master’s degree in English language from Vietnam National University.  

Seher Gumus

Türkiye Representative

With UEBT since 2023 and based in Izmir, Seher is the representative for Turkey. She has been working as consultant and auditor in the field of sustainable agriculture since 2015. She has also worked as proposal writer and project coordinator with various civil society organisations. Seher holds a master’s degree on food engineering from Hacettepe University (Turkey). She also completed a master’s on sustainable development in agriculture from UCC (Ireland) and Montpellier SupAgro (France).

Elitsa Likova

Bulgaria Representative

With UEBT since 2024, Elitsa is the representative for Bulgaria. She has collaborated with UEBT since 2021 and has more than 20 years international experience in auditing for various ISO standards as well as for SA 8000, BSCI, SMETA/SEDEX and more. Elitsa is an active member of the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors, and is a Certified Social Compliance Auditor as well as a Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) verifier.

UEBT local team in Madagascar

Rina Razanakolona

Director of UEBT Madagascar

An expert on ethical sourcing of natural raw materials in Madagascar’s high biodiversity ecosystems, Rina has been with UEBT since 2016. She oversees the UEBT local team and activities in Madagascar. She previously worked as a consultant for GIZ, UEBT, and Label CBD on value chain development, access and benefit sharing, bio-cultural community protocols, and certification. She holds an Engineer's degree in Agronomy from the Higher School of Agronomic Sciences, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar and a Master's degree in Food Sciences and Technologies from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Gembloux and Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.

Ihoby Henintsoa Randriamalala

Project Officer Madagascar

With UEBT since 2017, Ihoby is in charge of training on good collection practices. She also manages, monitors and supports the implementation of UEBT environmental and social projects in Madagascar. Ihoby previously worked for the Alaotra Resilience Landscape research project. She holds an Engineer’s degree in Forestry and Environment from the Higher School of Agronomic Sciences, University of Antananarivo.

Mialy Sitraka Rasoamanana

Ethical Sourcing and Certification Expert

With UEBT since 2021, Mialy is working with the certification and the verification team. She is in charge of supporting potential certificate holders in Madagascar as well as providing guidance for local auditors. She also oversees UEBT verifications conducted in the country. Mialy previously worked as an auditor for HavaMad and Ecocert Madagascar. She holds an Engineer's degree in Agronomy from the Higher School of Agronomic Sciences, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Haja Jacky Ambininiaina

Field Supervisor - Social Activities

With UEBT since 2019, Jacky is in charge of monitoring biodiversity as well as social related activities including education. Previously, he worked for the Project in Support of the Prevention, Mitigation and Manage Election-Related Conflict and Potential Violence under the direction of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES). He also worked as a consultant for PROSPERER Programme for the Malagasy Ministry of Agriculture. He holds a Master’s degree in Geography, Environment and Land Space Planning as well as a Masters’s degree in Chemistry, Engineering course in Water Science and Technology, University of Antananarivo.

 

Donnah Rakotondramary

Socio-organizer

With UEBT since 2024, Donnah is in charge of social activities, linking communities with projects. Previously, he worked for the NGO Action Against Hunger as a community mobilizer on the integrated project to combat malnutrition. He holds a Master's degree in Pharmacology from the Faculty of Sciences, University of Antananarivo.

Tantely Nary Iarivo

Consultant - Geographic Information Systems, Mapping and Account Management

With UEBT since 2018, Tantely is a consultant helping UEBT in geographic information systems, mapping and account management. He is also currently working for the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Budget. Previously, Tantely worked on the monitoring and evaluation and geographic information systems of various NGO projects (Water Aid, EFA, L’Homme et L’Environnement). He holds a certification in protected area management as well as a Master’s degree in Geography from the Faculty of Literature and Social Sciences, University of Antananarivo.

Fetra Michael Razakarivony

Auditor

With UEBT since 2019, Fetra, is specialised in the collection of spices. He supports companies wishing to obtain certification through the UEBT / Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices Programme. He holds an Engineer's degree in Agronomy from Athénée Saint Joseph Antsirabe (ASJA) in Madagascar.

Mahandry Randevoson

Auditor

With UEBT since 2017, Mahandry is one of the auditors of the Madagascar office. He acquired experience with standards (health & safety, social responsibility, fair trade, etc.) through various internships in companies. He holds an agricultural engineer’s degree from Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Agronomiques (ESSA) and a Master’s degree in International Trade from the National Institute of Accounting and Business Administration (INSCAE).

 

Leva Ramanantsoa

Ethical Sourcing Expert

With UEBT since August 2023, Leva works on vanilla supply chains and supports UEBT's members’ efforts on setting up and implementing UEBT's standard in their sourcing systems. He previously worked for a export company for 8 years where he worked with certified vanilla supply chains, from plantation to export. With the NGO NCBA-CLUSA, he set up and implemented a Rainforest-Alliance certified vanilla sourcing system in different regions of Madagascar. He holds an Engineer's degree in Agriculture from the Antananarivo University's School of Agronomic Sciences.

Liantsoa Edith Andrianiaina

Ethical Sourcing Project Assistant

With UEBT since June 2023, Liantsoa works closely to support the membership, certification and verification team in Madagascar.  She is an Agronomist, having graduated from the School of Agronomic Sciences, at the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Anja Tiananahary Andriambololona

Training/Facilitation Consultant

With UEBT since 2022, Anja is in charge of training on good practices of Centella asiatica harvesting and of awareness raising on biodiversity protection in the Solso project areas. Previously, he worked for a land certification project as an internal quality controller, then as a rural land facilitator (CASEF project). He has also worked as a GIS (geographic information systems) and cartography consultant for several development projects. Anja holds a Master's degree in Geography, with a specialization in Natural Environments and Earth Sciences from the University of Antananarivo.

Rodolphe Ulrich Feno

Training/Facilitation Assistant

With UEBT since 2024 Rodolphe is an assistant trainer in the SOLSO project areas. Previously, he worked for the non-governmental organization Action Against Hunger as a psychosocial worker in the south of Madagascar and in vulnerable neighborhoods of Antananarivo. He holds a degree in social and intercultural psychology from the University of Antananarivo - Madagascar.

 

Haja Andriamanantena

Forestry Technician Consultant

With UEBT since October 2022, Haja is in charge of supporting reforestation activities in the Solso project areas. Haja holds a diploma in Forestry from the Centre National de Formation des Techniciens Forestiers (CNFTF) in Angavokely, organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development.

Tafitarison Hajaina

Forestry Technician Consultant

With UEBT since April 2023, Tafita is in charge of supporting reforestation activities in the Solso project areas. Previously, he worked as Head of IWRM for an Inter Aide’s development project on access to drinking water, and as assistant to the communal technical advisor in a landscape and forest restoration project (PLAE). He holds a DTS diploma specializing in forestry from the Centre National de Formation Technicien Forestier (CNFTF) in Angavokely, organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development.

Hanitra Andriamihaingo

Administrative and Financial Manager

With UEBT since 2020, Hanitra works closely with the teams responsible for SOLSO projects and certification programmes. She is in charge of all the administrative, financial and logistical aspects of UEBT Madagascar office. Previously she worked for EMIP as an executive assistant. She holds a degree in Human Resources Management from CFRH Institute in Madagascar.

Rindra Nirina Razafimahatratra

Accountant

With UEBT since October 2023, Rindra is in charge of accounting, finance and administrative support for UEBT office in Madagascar. Previously, she worked for an accounting firm. She holds an accounting and finance diploma from the Center for Distance Learning in Madagascar (CNTEMAD).