GLOBAL COFFEEPLATFORM

Annette Pensel

Executive Director

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Annette Pensel brings 20 years of experience in the international coffee sector and in the field of development cooperation, including corporate sustainability, public-private partnerships, voluntary standards development and capacity building.

As the Director Sustainability Innovations of the former 4C Association (and the GCP Interim Executive Director since July 2016), Annette was central to the many successful partnerships formed throughout its history, most notably the development of Vision2020, which connected the public and private sectors and creates a common vision for the public and private sectors to work towards in producing countries; and the co-creation of the GCP together with the former Sustainable Coffee Program (SCP).

Thomas Müller-Bardey

Finance & Operations Director

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Thomas is responsible for managing the Global Coffee Platform’s (GCP) finance systems and processes, including accounting, planning and controlling. He is also responsible for membership administration.

Thomas holds several certificates in accounting, was professionally active in the financial communications business in the past, and holds a university degree in the field of Communications Theory from the University of Cologne (Germany). Thomas speaks German and English and is based in Bonn, Germany.

Gelkha Buitrago

Director Programs and Corporate Partnerships

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Gelkha Buitrago steers GCP’s work with the country platforms and programs, Collective Action Initiatives and measurement work. She also acts as Deputy Director. Gelkha brings several years of experience in sustainability, international development and multi-stakeholder set-ups and is a member of the B Lab’s Standards Advisory Council.

Before joining GCP, Gelkha worked for almost 15 years in Fairtrade International, in different roles and areas of work including advocacy, policy and strategy development, new products and M&E. The last two years she was appointed as Director of Standards and Pricing overseeing the development and implementation of a diverse set of standards and price mechanisms in more than 70 countries as well as the assurance program. Previous to joining Fairtrade, Gelkha worked for the National Planning Department in Colombia on poverty issues and monitoring and evaluation of social programs.

Gelkha is an Economist and holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia) and postgraduate certificate on Sustainable Business from the University of Cambridge. She speaks Spanish, English and French and is based out of Bonn, Germany.

Caroline Glowka

Manager Member Relations & Corporate Partnerships

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Caroline is responsible for liaising with existing and potential members of the Global Coffee Platform (GCP). Caroline worked with the food, beverage and pharmacy industry in sales and marketing. Her work experience is global, having supported businesses in the developing world in their start-up phase as well as Fair Trade products.

Caroline graduated in Business at the Free University Berlin. She speaks German, English and Persian, and is based in Bonn.

Lauren Weiss

Program Manager Countries and Partnerships

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Lauren Weiss coordinates and oversees the work of GCP’s network of Country Platforms and provides support for fostering and maintaining corporate partnerships. She has over six years of experience in international development, and has focused on sustainable coffee for the last three years while working for one of GCP’s Members. Her previous work experiences encompass project management, communications, and evaluation, having consulted for international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector.

Lauren holds a Master’s degree in International Public Management from Sciences Po Paris. She speaks English and French, and is based in Bonn, Germany.

Mary Petitt

GCP Senior Advisor

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Mary Petitt has more than 30 years of experience in the coffee industry and international business. Over her career, Mary has served in multiple management and marketing leadership roles. She has actively championed the power of collaborative leadership, market knowledge and customer service to successfully position and realizes sustainable business initiatives in both the commercial and specialty coffee sectors. She is a Past President of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and former Trustee of the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). She served as Executive Vice President of the Colombian Coffee Federation Inc., was Strategic Advisor to Mitsui Foods, Inc. and has been a consulting coffee advisor to the United Nations/International Trade Centre Women and Trade Programme.

She is a member of ICE Futures U.S. Board of Coffee ‘C’ Graders has been a CQI ‘Q’ Coffee Grader and has enjoyed years of volunteer service with the National Coffee Association (NCA), the Coffee Association of Canada (CAC) and the SCAA. Mary began her career in 1983 as a green coffee trader with Cargill, Inc.

Claire Mathieson

Communications Manager

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Claire is a communications and knowledge management specialist. With a background in radio and print media, Claire moved into communication for development, predominantly working in the climate change and sustainable development arenas. She brings a wealth of knowledge, having worked as an independent consultant working on multi-stakeholder donor-funded projects in East and Southern Africa, and Southern Asia. Claire has a particular interest in knowledge brokering and has been involved in knowledge platforms and projects that support the transfer of expertise in working towards the SDGs.

Claire is based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Pia Prangenberg

Operations Manager

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Pia provides executive support to the Executive Director in a one-on-one working relationship. She also serves as a liaison to the Board of Directors and senior management team of GCP. She is involved in a variety of special projects, always keen to further improve workflows and organizational processes.

Pia has gained extensive office and project management experience through her previous jobs in the social, public and private sector, both in Germany and abroad (Australia, Tanzania, Canada, USA). Among others, she worked as Operations Manager for a social enterprise based in Munich, coordinated the visitor program of a charity funded school in Tanzania and managed daily operations at the student administration office of an Australian university. 

She holds a Master of Arts degree in North American Studies, Political Science and International Law from the University of Bonn and speaks German, English and French.

George Watene

Program Manager

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George is responsible for managing and strengthening the M&E function in the Global Coffee Platform (GCP). This includes overall development and management of the M&E program, defining intended change, organisational learning from the program, reporting and stakeholder liaison. Prior to joining our company, George was the Regional Certification Manager at Technoserve’s East Africa Coffee Initiative and before that he served as the acting General Manager of Africert Limited.

George holds an MSc in Environment and Resource Management from the Institute of Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universitiet, Amsterdam, and a BA in Economics and Sociology from the University of Nairobi (Kenya).

Angélica Castro

Communications Officer

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Angélica is a communications specialist and journalist with over six years of experience in print and online media, having worked for non-profit, international organizations, and public institutions. She brings experience as a researcher and content creator, having worked on projects focused topics including politics, public procurement, corruption, sustainability, culture, and business.

As Communications Officer, Angélica supports communication processes with internal and external audiences through the GCP website, newsletters, social media, amongst others.

Angélica holds a Master’s degree on International Media Studies from the Deutsche Welle Akademie and the Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. She speaks Spanish, English and German and is based in Bonn, Germany.

Pham Quang Trung

Program Manager Vietnam

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Trung Pham has 17 years of experience in strategic planning and program management with the focus on chain development, inclusive business, sustainable development, climate change and poverty reduction in South East Asia and Africa. Trung also possess specific experience and expertise in projects relating to gender equity and inclusion of marginalized groups including ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

Since joining GCP in 2019 as Vietnam Program Manager, Trung has led, coordinated and managed GCP Vietnam programs and projects within Vietnam, developing the program strategic framework, monitoring progress of project activities, preparing technical proposals submitted to potential funders, representing the organization at international and national forums and conferences, and networking with various organizations and agribusinesses in the region to develop close collaborations and partnerships.

Trung holds a Master’s degree in International Development from International University of Japan and Syracuse University. Trung speaks Vietnamese and English and is based in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Ade Aryani

Executive Director, SCOPI

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Ade has more than 15 years of work experience as a management professional at international donor agencies in Indonesia covering various sectors including health, the economy, and the environment. Prior to joining SCOPI, Ade worked at USAID Indonesia, and thereafter at Ford Foundation Indonesia, having started her career in a multinational private company focused on the multi-finance sector. She brings a wealth of expertise in management, human resources, and grant applications to the leadership role at SCOPI. Ade has an educational background in law from the University of Indonesia and is based in Jakarta.

Samson Emong

Country Coordinator Uganda, Café Africa Uganda

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Samson Emong brings 10 years of experience working in the Uganda coffee value chain. He  joined Café Africa in February 2015 who are the secretariat of the Uganda Coffee Platform and is in charge of convening and communicating with stakeholders of the platform. He is also the GCP coordinator in Uganda and is in charge of implementing the country plan for GCP in Uganda with the objective of ensuring platform maturity. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies and a Masters’ degree in Business Administration.  Samson is highly commended for his networking skills.

Guillermo Alvarado Downing

Country Manager

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Guillermo Alvarado joined GCP on January 27, 2020 as Honduras Program Manager, he brings into GCP extensive experience in rural development. Has worked as project officer and senior advisor for IICA Honduras, USAID Honduras, Millenium Challenge Account Honduras, was Minister of Agriculture of Honduras between 1999 and 2002 leading the recovery of the Honduran agriculture sector from Hurricane Mitch, Excecutive Director of the International Regional Animal and Plant Health Organization (OIRSA) for Central America, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Belize and Panama. He is a graduate from El Zamorano and has a BSc and MSc in Food and Resources Economics from the University of Florida, and training in policy management at the Harvard Institute for International Development, in international trade at the CBI from the Netherlands, and Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico.

Pedro Ronca

GCP Brazil Program Director

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Pedro Ronca is an agronomist by the Superior School of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ-USP), post graduated in Coffee Agribusiness by FIA/USP and in Coffee Economics and Science by the University of Trieste / illycaffè, Italy. Agronomic consultant in coffee production, experienced in planning, conducting and managing projects in properties with sustainable production systems, in post-harvest and specialty coffee production and market strategy.

Pedro has extensive experience in auditing for sustainability certifications. He is also a farmer in the South of Minas Gerais. Pedro currently manages the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) in Brazil and coordinates the CocoaAction Brazil initiative, in partnership with the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF).

Rhema David Kiputu

Grants and Finance Officer

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As GCP’s Grants and Finance Officer Rhema provides financial and grants support for several projects across the GCP Network of Country Platforms. He has extensive experience with donor-funded projects and with managing budget and finance components of complex projects. As a self-driven and result-oriented grants specialist, Rhema has experience managing the day-to-day administrative and programmatic activities of the Tanzania Advancing Youth Activity (AY)’s grants under contracts portfolio, and has supported the Sidai Maasai Women Organisation as Finance Manager and held positions as Market Research Associate.
Rhema has a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Finance and Investment Planning and is a certified Investment and Financial Analyst (CIFA).
Rhema is located in Tanzania.

Eduardo Matavelli

Technical Coordinator, GCP Brazil

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Eduardo has more than 20 years of experience in the coffee sector. He started his career as a coffee producer and worked on several specialty and sustainable coffee projects, training producer groups, farms and coffee cooperatives.

He is an agronomist, holding Post Graduate in Plants Protection and MBA in Environment Management and has worked with SEBRAE as an expert professional, developing sustainability projects for coffee family farms, has acted as Rainforest Alliance Leader Auditor, and has been responsible for field-checking for Nespresso AAA Sustainable Program.

Eduardo works as technical coordinator of GCP Collective Action Initiatives in Brazil and is also responsible for visiting GCP Members at field level, among others.

Tamara Barim

General Coordinator – Brazil, GCP Brazil

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Tamara Barim is responsible for coordinating the work of GCP in Brazil with focus on leading the GCP Collective Action Initiatives. Her work experience is not only local, supporting the development and the implementation of tools and trainings, stakeholder engagement, program and resource management, track and report impact, but also global as she supports the team to foster and maintain partnerships. Tamara is skilled in Design Thinking, Project Management, and has a keen interest in gender, youth, and sustainable development of communities.

Tamara holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Administration, International Business, and Architecture and Urbanism. She is based in Espírito Santo do Pinhal, Brazil.

Vivian Tejeda

Operations Manager Honduras

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Vivian is a marketing and international business specialist with several years of experience in the coffee industry. She has worked for the Honduran Coffee Institute as a promotion coordinator, promoting Honduran coffee locally as well as in the Asian, European, and American markets. 

Vivian is the co-creator of an award-winning promotional campaign, “Mi Café Es Hondureño”, and is herself a coffee producer and a barista, with her own brand of roasted coffee.

As Operational Manager of the Sustainable Coffee Platform of Honduras, she works closely with members and ensures the proper daily functioning of the platform, driving forward the platform’s key decisions and work plans.

Vivian holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from the EUDE Business School of Spain and a degree in marketing and international business from the Central American Technological University UNITEC. She speaks Spanish and English and she is based in Campamento, Olancho, Honduras.

Doan Thi Nhung

Program Officer Vietnam

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Nhung is an experienced Program Officer with a demonstrate history of working in non-governmental organization management industry. She is skilled in Project Management, Communication, Government Relations. She is responsible for coordinating project team activities throughout various project life-cycle, identifying and managing project risks, analyzing data, and identifying trends and inefficiencies to prevent problems from arising and implementation of mitigation and contingency plans.

Ivy Nderitu

Program Coordinator Kenya Coffee Platform, GCP

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Ivy Sarah Nderitu is currently the Program Coordinator at the Kenya Coffee Platform. She is responsible for overseeing the achievement of the platform’s goals and development. As an experienced professional, successful in handling a broad spectrum of responsibilities including program management, stakeholder engagement and resource management in the coffee industry, Ivy is a resourceful contributor to the organization’s productivity.

Ivy has a keen interest in youth and women empowerment and digital solutions and is also passionate about social sustainability.

She holds a BSc in International Business Management from the United States International University and a Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) from the American Society of Administrative Professionals. Ivy previously worked for the Kenya Coffee Traders Association. She is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Do Thanh Chung

GCP Collective Action Initiative – Project Manager

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Owning two bachelor degrees in Russian and English languages and a Master of Education, Do Thanh Chung started his career by working for the Government as lecturer of Daklak Teachers‘ Training College and Tay Nguyen University in 1985. Since 1999, he has worked for different development projects such as the DANIDA funded Water Supply and Sewerage Projects, World Bank-financed Agriculture Competitiveness Project in capacities of translator/interpreter, coordinator, consultant, researcher and trainer.

From 2011 to the end of 2019, Chung was working as Country Director for HRNS Asia Pacific. The foundation builds on work that began with Embden, Drishaus & Epping Consulting in 1991. He was in charge of overlooking sustainable coffee production projects run by the foundation in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and went on to work for IDH as National Coffee Program’s Coordinator.

Today Chung works at GCP as Collective Action Initiative Manager and is based in Vietnam.

Aditya Singh

IT Student Assistant

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Aditya is pursuing a master’s degree in Geodetic Engineering at University of Bonn and is responsible for ICT and measurement support in GCP. He is also working on evaluation of recorded data.

Aditya has three years of experience in data analysis, data warehousing and ETL process support in the finance sector.

Laura Hollerieth

Student Assistant

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After her Bachelor’s Degree in International Cultural and Business Studies in Passau, Laura will start a Master’s degree in Agricultural and Food Economics at the University of Bonn in October. Through several longer stays abroad, such as an au pair year in Canada or a semester abroad in Colombia, she speaks fluent English and Spanish. She takes care of the office management in Bonn and assists with travel planning and upcoming events.