Elections 2011

Candidates

	John Addaquay John Addaquay is an Agribusiness Consultant with over 20 years of experience in project management specializing in non-traditional exports and small/medium-scale business development. He is a partner of The Pure Company – a shea butter processing and export business. Previously, as Manager and subsequently Director of Non-Traditional Exports, Mr. Addaquay initiated and managed major export development projects for Techno Serve. He has conducted numerous feasibility studies for a wide variety of businesses including the production and processing of cashew, vegetable, pineapple, cassava, maize, shea and medicinal plants. www.thepurecompany.com.
	Adeboye Akinola I will endeavor to contribute to the promotion of  the shea industry worldwide, particularly sustainability in the supply chain and quality standard. I hope to contribute to the promotion of interactions among stakeholders. Above all, I will contribute to the consolidation of the newly established Global Shea Alliance.
	Eugenia Akuete Eugenia is the Founder and Owner of Naasakle Ltd. Naasakle is a shea butter producer located in Damango. and has been in the industry since 1999. Naasakle know the challenges of sustainable shea supply and production, and would welcome the opportunity to work with the Global Shea Alliance Executive Committee to find ongoing solutions that will enhance the lives of the women and communities involved in the shea value chain.
	Eric Banye Eric Banye works with SNV-Netherlands Development Organization as an Advisor for the Agricultural sector specifically oilseeds. He has over 6 years’ experience in enterprise development, microfinance, and value chains, market assessment, and in the design, management and technical backstopping to economic development programs. He currently leads the development process of the Shea Network-Ghana. Core to his responsibilities is organizing women into business entities, facilitating trainings and linkage to buyers.
	Togo Sara Diony I hereby apply for the position of member of the Executive Committee. I have gone through several trainings on shea, namely: best practices in obtaining good quality butter, kernels and soap making. As a woman producer of shea butter and chairperson of a cooperative in San (Mali), I assist rural women in improving butter and management techniques. At national level, my contribution involves helping women to improve their living conditions. I commit to participate in the development of the shea industry through the sustainable management of shea resources.
	Mamatou Djiré A holder of a Masters degree in Economics from the National School of Administration (ENA) of Mali, I am the Manager of ACO Service, a company specializing in shea products processing and marketing. This responsibility as well as my involvement in the shea industry, led to my appointment as Chairman of the National Shea Federation (FNK) which brings together all the operators of the shea industry in Mali. We are deeply convinced that the success of our mission will largely depend on understanding the international environment and challenges in the shea market. Therefore, all the actors of the industry in Mali have designated me to represent them within the GSA.
	Trev Gregory Trev Gregory is the Founder and CEO of Trade Right International, a social business founded in 2007. Trade Right International is working in Ghana, to enhance the quality of Shea and in improving the lives of the Shea communities. Trev Gregory has served as an active member on the Interim Executive of the GSA since October 2010.  He brings with him organisational, strategic and managerial skills which are embedded with a passion for ethical trading which leads to the eradication of poverty.  Trev will bring his skills and abilities to the Executive and throughout the Shea Value Chain. www.tradeRIGHTinternational.com
	Robert Hornsby Robert Hornsby co-founded JOBOMAX, a US corporation focused on promoting sustainable trade and investment with Africa.  Since 2005 JOBOMAX has been at the forefront in promoting the use of traditionally and sustainably produced African shea butter to major manufacturers in the US market For two decades Hornsby has worked in the US and around the world in education, outreach and strategic communications. He has built and led teams as a business development and project management executive in a variety of entrepreneurial settings He would welcome the opportunity to work with the Global Shea Alliance Executive Committee to find ongoing solutions that will enhance the lives of the women and communities involved in the shea value chain.
	Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi formed and has been the driving President/Chief Executive Officer of Daralkuchi Group of Companies and all its ventures since April 2005. She has successfully developed detailed business startup plans, and developed and implemented business models that she has used for over three start-up businesses. Zainab has served as an active member on the Interim Executive of the GSA since February 2011.
	Kadijatou Lah Public relations Assistant for the National Shea Federation in Mali and Founding Member; shea kernel and butter exporter, supplier for AAK and 3F in Mali.
	Santosh Pillai Wilmar International Managing Director - West Africa at Wilmar International
	Jeremiah Abubakari Seidu I wish to be elected into the EC of the shea alliance due to the job objectives that I have and the skills that I posses and will want to share them with my world. Because of my positive interpersonal relationship skills, communication skills, I will be a benefit to the EC and the alliance in sharing about my home, experience from an international internship with others. I will bring for sharing my international experience from Webster University International Business Exchange Programme and also to learn from the other EC members and colleagues. I have worked with Oxfam, SNV Ghana, and Plan Ghana and started and run a local NGO which is doing very well in the northern parts of the Country and have experience in working with civil society Organisations and Non Governmental Organization.
	Ruth Smith Trail Blazer and entrepreneur Ruth Smith founded Strictly Roots, the first business of its kind in Canada, which has since recorded sales of over 1.3 million Canadian Dollars. In May 2010, Strictly Roots moved its head office to Ghana, the source of the main ingredients for the natural product line, Un-refined Shea Butter. In February 2011, the Strictly Roots Product line was launched in Ghana to an impressive response and has seen significant sales to date. The line was immediately requested by Shoprite, Ghana’s major grocery store and by hair care establishments through out Ghana, Benin and Togo.
	Peter Stedman Peter Stedman is Senior Buyer for The Body Shop, responsible for all purchasing, stakeholder engagement and community development in raw materials sourced from Africa through its pioneering Community Fair Trade programme. A key player in responsible sourcing at The Body Shop, Peter brings with him over 10 years experience of international supply chain development and a genuine passion for shea. Peter Stedman has served as an active member on the Interim Executive of the GSA since October 2010. www.thebodyshop.com
	Elvis Paul Nfor Tangem Contribute to the sustainable exploitation of the economic, environmental and social potentials of Shea tree and products for wealth creation, bio diversity conservation and governance. As the Enterprise Support Manager for TREE AID, my motivation to represent TREE AID on the Executive Committee of Global Shea Alliance is to promote the holistic and integrated approach applied by TREE AID to the Shea sector. Contribute to balancing the development in processing and trade and the sustainability of the resource base in the sector.
	Mamounata Velegda Treasurer and founding member of Table Filière Karité, she has been a major exporter of shea kernels for the past 10 years, and possesses a thorough knowledge of the shea industry, strong relationships with the sector’s stakeholders such as Arhus among others. Mamounata Velegda is the Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce of Burkina Faso and the President of the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Burkina Faso. Mamounata Velegda is the candidate of Table Filière Karité to the EC of the GSA.

The GSA Secretariat invites nominations for the Executive Committee elections from dues paying GSA members who are working for and ready to contribute further to a globally competitive shea sector.

Nominations criteria

The EC shall consist of 7 members representing at least four segments of the value chain as listed in the Declaration from the founders meeting, as well as geographic and gender diversity. At least 2 of the EC members shall represent multinational buyers, distributors or marketers with business operations in Africa.

• Only registered and dues paying GSA members can be nominated to serve on the EC
• Nominations must be aadu [at] watradehub [dot] com (submitted to the secretariat) 21 days prior to the elections
• Nominations are for individuals only; organizations registered as GSA members should nominate an individual to represent the organization
• Nominations for EC election for individuals working for shea businesses or associations must be accompanied by a letter of support from their respective organizations
• All nominations must include a statement of interest or objectives as a potential EC member to support and grow GSA
• Nominations can be for oneself or for another individual – if the nominee agrees in writing
• All EC nominees must fit the EC election criteria in appendix 1 of the

The following documents are to be emailed together with the EC Nomination form:

• A signed statement of motivation and objectives
• Scan of passport
• Electronic portrait photo for web and other publications
• CV or short biography  with background information and experience

All candidates must bring the originals of the above documents on the Election Day and submit them to the Secretariat for confirmation.

Voting process

At the General Assembly (GA), the Secretariat will present the EC Election Criteria and the list of all successful Nominees. Prior to the vote, each nominee will have 5 minutes to introduce themselves and their GSA objectives and motivation.

• All participants in the General Assembly of the GSA will present with proof of identity and current year membership dues paid to the alliance, prior to participation in voting.
• Voting to elect a member into EC shall be by secret ballot.
• The list of all eligible nominees shall be presented on the voting sheet.
• In voting, each member shall select 7 nominees out of the total list presented for the new EC; the choice of 7 votes should comprise of 2 multinational shea related business doing business in Africa, and 5 African companies representing different countries and diversity in terms of gender and value chain representation (pickers, nut traders, shea butter processors, cosmetic producers, shea research, etc).
• The final list for the EC will be the list of 7 persons with the highest number of individual votes
• All GSA members shall have the right to one vote each (GSA guidelines appendix 1)
• Voting on motions at the General Assembly shall be by headcount
• After voting, the new EC shall designate 2 Co-chairmen, representing one multinational and one African business woman.
• Absent GSA dues paying members can submit signed EC absentee ballots to be included in the vote by email by two days prior to the General Assembly.