Jill Dumain, Director of Environmental Analysis for Patagonia Inc has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the Oakland, CA-based Organic Exchange (OE), a non-profit organization committed to expanding the global production and use of organic fibers such as cotton.
Texas organic cotton farmer and former Organic Essentials CEO LaRhea Pepper has become the new Executive Director.
Rebecca Calahan Klein, OE's founding President, will become the Director of Program Development where she will help companies develop their organic strategies, shape and guide new programs and innovative projects, and lead fundraising efforts.
Heidi McCloskey, former OE Communications Director and Global Sustainability Director for Nike, will expand her role to become Director of Marketing and Communications.
“We strongly believe the new leadership will infuse the organization with the depth, flexibility and resourcefulness to continue helping direct the future of the organic fiber industry,” said Ms. Dumain.
OE has also hired former UK-based Pesticide Action Network Farm Director Simon Ferrigno as Director of Farm Development, and hired three staff members, Prabha Nagarajan in India, Alfonso Lizarraga in Latin America (Paraguay), and Silvere Tovignan in Africa (Benin) to facilitate its work on a global basis.
As testimony to the global interest in using organic fiber, OE recently hosted 350 people from 47 countries at its 4th annual conference, held in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Attendees included decision-makers from numerous leading brands as well as organic cotton and flax farmers, supply chain participants, and non-governmental organizations.
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