The Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA), a leading global player in sustainable agriculture and food systems, is pleased to announce the election of four new members to its Board of Directors.

“I am personally delighted to welcome such a strong group of new board members, who each bring invaluable skills, experience, and vision to the COSA board and I look forward to serving with each of them,” said Richard Rogers, Managing Director of Rogers MacJohn & Board Chair of COSA.

“We are honored to have pulled together such a highly capable Board with complementary expertise across the food and agricultural sector. The Board’s extensive knowledge and leadership experience will add tremendous value to COSA, and I am incredibly excited about the path ahead,” said COSA CEO, Liam Brody.

For almost 20 years, COSA has been at the forefront of revolutionizing sustainability and COSA’s board members have played a pivotal role.

The four new board members are:

• Barbara Fiorito.
  Barbara is an established business leader, former banker, and impact investor, passionate about the intersection between technology, personal empowerment, international development, and human rights. As a seasoned board leader, Barbara has served on the board of several organizations including Oxfam America. She served as the Board Chair and Deputy Chair of Oxfam and as the Board Chair of Fairtrade International.

“It is a privilege to be part of an organization that is leading the way in sustainability,” said Barbara Fiorito, “I’m particularly excited to leverage my decades of experience and marketplace tools to support COSA’s endeavors to empower communities and unlock their potential.”

• Jeremy Gottschalk
   With over 20 years of experience advising and counselling clients on risk management, trust and safety, regulatory compliance, and legal strategy, Jeremy has pioneered legal understanding of online marketplaces and intellectual property rights.

“I’m excited to join COSA’s Board of Directors and contribute my past experience as a lawyer, technologist, and entrepreneur,” said Jeremy Gottschalk. “I look forward to supporting COSA’s commitment to robust standards and best practices as we work to make sustainability happen.”

• Blanca Castro
  A gender domain expert, Guatemalan-born and based Blanco Castro is a long-time international coffee professional serving as the top executive at the non-profit International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA).

Diving into this role to support COSA’s commitment to sustainability is a privilege, “said Blanca Castro. “I’m particularly eager to contribute my expertise working with women worldwide. Together, we can make a meaningful, evidence-based difference.”

• Cate Baril
  Cate Batson Baril has spent her entire career helping to craft and grow iconic brands like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, a co-brand project with Newman’s Own Organics, and Mary’s Gone Crackers. She cares deeply about the Fair Trade and organic movements and has alternated brand marketing with B2B business development roles. Cate helped launch Fair Trade USA’s ingredients program, working closely with Whole Foods Market, Ben & Jerry’s, Wholesome Sweeteners, and Honest Tea. She has harnessed the power of consumers to create more sustainable livelihoods for farmers and improved environments.

“I am truly honored to join the board of such an esteemed organization whose dedication to sustainability and data aligns perfectly with my values and my work,” said Cate Baril.

The new board members will join the esteemed roster of COSA’s Board of Directors, a collective with deep experience dedicated to making sustainability happen with unwavering enthusiasm and commitment. COSA is excited by the infusion of new energy and perspectives that the board members will contribute as they embark on this new journey.

Click here to see the full Board of Directors.