Antje Shaw – Global Coffee Platform

Global Head of Sustainability, Coffee Strategic Business Unit, Nestlé SA

COFFEE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

I grew up in southern Germany, where my grandfather was a farmer. From an early age, I learned to care for plants and animals and to value resources without waste.

After university, I joined Nestlé—a journey that has spanned 30 years and taken me to many countries around the world. In the early 2000s, I led global dairy procurement, and in 2012, as Head of Procurement in Switzerland, I became deeply involved in coffee and sustainability. During this time, we launched a Responsible Sourcing program focused on coffee, cocoa, palm oil, dairy, hazelnuts, and eggs—setting a benchmark for the entire group. I also gained hands-on experience in green coffee trading, which broadened my understanding of the sector.

More recently, I supported our corporate ESG team in developing a human rights strategy for plastics recycling value chains.

Today, as Global Head of Sustainability for our coffee businesses, I lead all sustainability initiatives—including the Nescafé Plan—with a clear mission: to create shared value for people, planet, and business.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR A SUSTAINABLE COFFEE SECTOR?

My vision for a sustainable coffee sector is a future where farmers and workers prosper, securing their livelihoods and long-term well-being across the entire value chain.

Through collective action, we will drive systemic change. I envision a thriving coffee sector that safeguards green coffee availability while sustaining a robust and resilient ecosystem.

Key priorities should include transitioning to regenerative agriculture, ensuring fair and improved farmer incomes, protecting human rights, and delivering tangible, measurable impact on the ground.

HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT GCP’S WORK AND GOAL?

As a GCP board member, I am committed to accelerating the transition to regenerative agriculture, building a resilient and future-ready coffee sector. I will champion initiatives that drive higher farmer incomes, strengthen livelihoods, and uphold human rights throughout the value chain.

My goal is to help the board deliver tangible, measurable impact aligned with the 2030 goals—from scaling collective action plans to ensuring regenerative and resilient coffee value chains. I will focus on fostering collaboration, leveraging innovative solutions, and turning ambition into quantifiable progress that transforms farmers’ lives, empowers communities, and safeguards our planet.

Relevant Skills

With over 30 years of experience at Nestlé, I have developed deep expertise across multiple disciplines that are critical for driving sustainable impact.

Leadership: I have led global and local teams in complex environments, serving as Head of Procurement, Head of Customer Supply Chain, and Head of Global Sustainability. These roles required strategic vision, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to inspire and align diverse stakeholders toward common goals.

Environmental Expertise: As Global Head of Sustainability for coffee businesses, I spearhead initiatives such as the Nescafé Plan, focusing on regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, and human rights.

Financial Acumen: Managing procurement and supply chain operations at a global scale demanded strong financial skills—optimizing resources, negotiating complex contracts, and ensuring cost efficiency while delivering long-term value. I have consistently balanced economic performance with social and environmental priorities.

Value Chain Knowledge: From dairy and coffee procurement to green coffee trading and responsible sourcing programs for commodities like cocoa, palm oil, and hazelnuts, I have an end-to-end understanding of agricultural value chains. This enables me to design solutions that create shared value for farmers, businesses, and ecosystems. My unique combination of leadership experience, sustainability expertise, financial insight, and value chain knowledge positions me to drive transformative change and deliver measurable impact.

Hands-on Industry Knowledge: I was involved in green coffee procurement gaining practical insights into market dynamics, pricing, and supply chain complexities.

Previous board service, leadership or volunteer experience

I bring 30 years of leadership experience at Nestlé, having served as Head of Procurement, Head of Customer Supply Chain, and Head of Global Sustainability, leading both global and local teams across complex value chains. Throughout my career, my focus has been on creating shared value for people, planet, and business—optimizing resources, driving efficiency, and delivering sustainable impact for all stakeholders

In previous roles, I have contributed as a board member of RSPO (Palm Oil) Swiss Chapter, GS1 Switzerland, and IG Energiegase Switzerland, as well as various procurement and supply chain committees.