Find out about upcoming events organised by the Fairtrade Foundation and read up on some of our most successful past events.
Fair Focus: Celebrating the Power of Partnerships
Join us as we reflect on partnerships from a critical year in the climate justice movement and learn all about Fairtrade Fortnight 2022.
When: Friday, 10 December 2021, 12:00 – 12:45 (GMT)
Where: Free Webinar on RingCentral
Get inspired by this festive edition of Fair Focus, with a special message from Michael Gidney, Chief Executive of the Fairtrade Foundation. Learn about the stand-out partnerships from 2021 that brought the Fairtrade story to life, and be the first to hear about our Fairtrade Fortnight 2022 campaign, and why businesses like yours should work with us in this unmissable moment.
PANELLISTS
MICHAEL GIDNEY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE FAIRTRADE FOUNDATION
Michael has worked in international development for 30 years, with a particular focus on fighting poverty through trade. He joined Fairtrade Foundation in 2009 as Deputy Executive Director, before becoming Chief Executive in 2012.
Prior to this, Michael spent 8 years as Director of Policy at Traidcraft, where he led the charity’s public policy programme on issues including EU-ACP trade relations and UK Company Law reform. Michael also sits on the UK Government’s Strategic Trade Advisory Group.
LJ LOFTUS, HEAD OF SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT, FAIRTRADE FOUNDATION
LJ has worked with the Fairtrade Foundation for over 10 years and is experienced in global partnership management and team management, holding many roles including Senior Global Partnership Manager and Head of Commercial Partnerships. She has also worked across cocoa, sugar, vanilla, coffee and banana supply chain account management.
LJ leads a team focused on building supply chain business partnerships and the programme management of projects at origin. She has a deep knowledge of the cocoa industry and has visited Côte d’Ivoire and seen for herself many of the challenges that cocoa farmers face.
ADAM GARDNER, ACTING HEAD OF CAMPAIGNS, FAIRTRADE FOUNDATION
Adam has worked within the Fairtrade Foundation’s campaigns team for more than 12 years and is currently Acting Head of Campaigns. As part of the team he has been involved in growing Fairtrade Fortnight each year and has witnessed the change that Fairtrade is bringing to communities around the globe.
Adam is passionate about tackling injustice and has been a spokesperson for Fairtrade, pushing forward advocacy on issues including injustice and human rights in supply chains. He has led on campaigns such as ‘She Deserves a Living Income’, launched in 2019 and calling on the UK Government and companies to ensure cocoa farmers earn living incomes.
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Please note: By registering for these webinar sessions, you consent to the webinar being recorded. We will remind you again that this webinar is recorded at the beginning of the webinar.
Sustainability pathways with Fairtrade: unlocking equality and climate resilience with fairer incomes
When: Wednesday, 3 November 2021, 3:30pm – 4:30pm (GMT)
Where: Free Webinar
To help businesses who source cocoa engage with sustainability while creating positive brand impact, Fairtrade is hosting a free webinar on Wednesday 3 November at 15:30 (GMT), in partnership with Sustainable Brands.
Please join us for a one-hour session packed with tips on how to build credibility, trust and value for your business. Delegates will learn how industry peers are tackling some of the challenges in cocoa, exploring three major issues – equality, the climate crisis and income security.
There will be live examples of how we work with different companies, who will share the impact of our partnership. Attendees will also hear about Fairtrade’s consumer pull, and how we can support you to meet your sustainability goals.
Representing cocoa farmers, Fairtrade Africa’s Anne-Marie Yao, will share perspectives on equality from the cocoa fields, and explain the impact of a growing number of businesses choosing Fairtrade certified cocoa.
Speakers include:
- Philippe Weiler, CSR Manager, Lidl Belux
- Paul Schoenmakers, Head of Impact, Tony’s Chocolonely
- Anne-Marie Yao, Regional Cocoa Manager, Fairtrade Africa
- Cécile Henrard, Senior Business Development Manager, Fairtrade Belgium
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from senior industry leaders, including two of Fairtrade’s most innovative global commercial partners and experts.
Fair Focus – Webinar series
Fair Focus: why producers are at the heart of successful comms
With 79 percent of UK shoppers having chosen Fairtrade products over others, it’s time to learn how to make the most of your Fairtrade communications.
We explored how these two leading brands have worked with Fairtrade cocoa farmers to share their Fairtrade story with authenticity, passion and success. Hear from Sonndia OUATTARA, who talked through the positive change farmers have seen from more and more UK businesses making ethical purchasing a core value.
- Amy Morris, Ethics and Sustainability Manager, Human Rights at the John Lewis Partnership
- Sonndia Ouattara, Cocoa Team Leader at Fairtrade Africa
- Sophie Loveday-Davies, Marketing Director at Divine Chocolate
Watch the Fair Focus Webinar recording below:
Fair Focus: Boosting supply chain climate resilience
Join us for a one-hour Fair Focus climate-special with host Katie Burgess, Head of Commercial Partnerships at the Fairtrade Foundation, and an expert panel:
- Cheryl Pinto, Values-Led Sourcing Manager at Ben & Jerry’s
- Cathryn Higgs, Head of Food Policy at Co-op
- Anne Marie Yao, Fairtrade Africa’s Regional Cocoa Manager for Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and member of the Fairtrade Foundation’s Board
- John Steel, CEO of Cafédirect
This is the perfect chance to hear from retail, food and drink industry experts on how to build more climate-resilient supply chains. And learn about the realities for producers who are on the front line of the climate crisis from Fairtrade Africa’s Anne Marie Yao. Farmers and workers are disproportionately affected by climate change and have fewer resources to adapt to these challenges and protect the environment around them. This webinar addresses how businesses and consumers can use their purchasing power to put farmers first, and protect the environment.
Watch the Fair Focus Webinar recording below:
Fair Focus: The new Deforestation Bill, HRDD and what it means for business
The recent debate in parliament on the new Deforestation Bill has re-opened important conversation on business responsibility in the public sphere. Over the last decade, companies in the UK have had legal responsibility over their whole supply chain as the UN brought in their ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ framework. Yet the debate is sparking new conversations regarding Human and Environmental Rights Due Diligence and how businesses should be acting to secure sustainable livelihoods and protect the planet.
Hear from Oxfam and Fairtrade in this webinar to learn more about the action businesses can take to uphold human and environmental rights in their supply chains. From ensuring effective risk mitigation to strategies that reduce the risk of deforestation, we will question what best practice Human and Environmental Rights Due Diligence looks like and how Fairtrade equips farmers in their fight to protect their land and farm sustainably.
Join our webinar with host Catherine David, Head of Commercial Partnerships at the Fairtrade Foundation. Featuring an expert panel:
- Monica Romis, Human Rights Private Sector Adviser, Oxfam GB
- Tytti Nahi, Lead of Fairtrade’s Human Rights Due Diligence Centre of Excellence, Fairtrade Finland
When: 5th November 2020, 11am (GMT)
Event has ended.
Fair Focus: Recession resilience and partnership with your producers
Join our webinar with host Catherine David, Head of Commercial Partnerships at the Fairtrade Foundation. Featuring an expert panel:
- Dr Ioannis Ioannou, Professor at the London Business School, an Advisor, a Global Influencer and a Keynote Speaker on Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Responsibility
- Ranjith Kumar, Regional General Manager (South & Central Asia) for NAPP, the Asia Pacific Fairtrade Producer Network
Governments and consumers increasingly expect businesses to play their role in reducing poverty, addressing the climate crisis and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. So how do companies and organisations implement this practically? With a recession looming, what can businesses do to support the most vulnerable people in their supply chains? What do farmers and workers need and want from their downstream value chain partners?
When: 17 September 2020
Event has ended.
Fair Focus: Systemic Inequality and the Invisible Women in Trade
Join us for a 40-minute webinar with host Catherine David, Head of Commercial Partnerships at the Fairtrade Foundation. Featuring an expert panel:
- Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Lawyer, Founder of Women in Leadership Publication, political and women’s rights activist.
- Anne-Marie Yao, Fairtrade’s Regional Cocoa Manager for Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for social justice, our panel will be discussing the historic inequalities that exist in trade and why systemic change is needed now more than ever. Critical topics will include embedded inequality in supply chains and the invisible women behind our chocolate, looking at why only 25 percent of women cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire own land, why the trade system established in colonial times needs to change and how businesses can be a force for good in tackling social injustice.
When: 16 July 2020
Watch the Fair Focus Webinar Recording
Fair Focus: COVID-19 and the future of supply chains with Fairtrade and expert panel
Join us for a 40 minute quick-fire question round with our host Catherine David, Head of Commercial Partnerships at the Fairtrade Foundation and an expert panel of guest speakers.
When: June 4th 2020
Registrations are closed
She Deserves Fairtrade: the story of chocolate
For Fairtrade Fortnight 2020, a panel of guest speakers including a female cocoa farmer from Côte d’Ivoire shared inspirational stories about the importance of women taking leading roles in business and society. These events took place across the UK.
Manchester – 25th February 2020
When: Tuesday 25th February, 6pm (doors open at 5:30pm)
Where: The Old Bank Residency, Manchester
York – 27th February 2020
When: Thursday 27th February, 6pm (doors open at 5:30pm)
Where: The Spurriergate Centre, York
Edinburgh – 29th February 2020
When: Saturday 29th February, 11am (doors open at 10:30am)
Where: Augustine United Church (Sanctuary Room), Edinburgh
Cardiff – 2nd March 2020
When: Monday 2nd March, 6.30pm
Where: Portland House, Cardiff
Oxford – 3rd March 2020
When: Tuesday 3rd March, 7pm
Where: Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University
Fairtrade Conferences 2019
Our Regional Supporter Conferences brought campaigners together to explore current Fairtrade campaigns and issues, share ideas, challenges and strengthen relationships with others in their area. The dates were:
South West Fairtrade Supporter Conference – Exeter
Saturday 21 September 2019, 10:30am – 3:30pm, Exeter Community Centre – All presentations
North Fairtrade Supporter Conference – Middlesbrough
Saturday 21 September, 10:30am – 3:30pm, Teeside University Students’ Union – All presentations
East Midlands Supporter Conference – Nottingham
Saturday 26 October, 10:30am – 3:30pm, Albert Hall Conference Centre – All presentations