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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;
  • one non-voting member appointed by the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization;
  • one non-voting member appointed by the Chair of CGIAR;
  • two members appointed by the Board itself; and
  • the Executive Director of the Crop Trust, ex officio.

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

Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg

Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg

Executive Board Member

Kaveh Zahedi

Kaveh Zahedi

Executive Board Member (non-voting), FAO Representative

Sonja Vermeulen headshot

Sonja Vermeulen

Executive Board Member (non-voting), CGIAR Representative

Stefan Schmitz

Stefan Schmitz

Executive Director

Observers to the Executive Board

Daniel van Gilst, Vice-chair of the Crop Trust Donors’ Council and Senior Agriculture Adviser at Norad. 

Kent Nnadozie, Secretary of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Taek-Ryoun Kwon, Chair of the Crop Trust Donors’ Council.

Victoria Sant, Chair of the Investment Committee.

Former Executive Board Members
EMMY SIMMONS, Member from 2017-2023
BERNARD LEHMANN, Member from 2021-2023
ISMAHANE ELOUAFI, Member from 2021-2023
ÉLIANE UBALIJORO, Member from 2020-2023
HANNE BLÅFJELLDAL, Member from 2020-2022
MARCIO DE MIRANDA SANTOS, Member from 2017-2022
PREM LAL GAUTAM, Member from 2017-2019
MARY ANN P. SAYOC, Member from 2017-2019
GEBISA EJETA, Member from 2017-2019
ALEXANDER MÜLLER, Member from 2015-2020
KNUT STORBERGET, Member from 2015-2020
MAURICIO LOPES, Member from 2014-2016
MARIE HAGA, Former Executive Director 2013-2019
PETER CRANE, Former Chair of the Executive Board from 2019-2021 and Member from 2013-2019
TIMOTHY ANDREW FISCHER, Former Chair of the Executive Board and Member from 2013-2019
ROBERTO RODRIGUES, Member from 2011-2013
IBRAHIM ASSANE MAYAKI, Member from 2011-2013
WALTER FUST, Former Chair of the Executive Board and Member from 2010-2017
MODIBO TIÉMOKO TRAORÉ, Member from 2009-2011
EMILE FRISON, Member from 2009-2013
MANGALA RAI, Member from 2007-2009
SHIVAJI PANDEY, Member from 2007-2009
KARL ERIK OLSSON, Member from 2007-2010
WANGARI MAATHAI, Member from 2007-2011
JOHN LOVETT, Member from 2007-2012
MARGARET CATLEY-CARLSON, Member from 2007-2012
JORIO DAUSTER, Member from 2007-2010
ADEL EL-BELTAGY, Member from 2007-2011
CARY FOWLER, Former Executive Director 2007-2012
Summary Reports of Executive Board Meetings
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