Governance
Board of Directors
The Gold Standard Board of Directors supports our vision and mission by providing financial oversight and strategic governance.
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FULL BIOThomas VellacottCEO of WWF SwitzerlandThomas VellacottCEO of WWF Switzerland
Thomas Vellacott is CEO of conservation organisation WWF Switzerland as well as Advisory Group Chair for the Impact Hub Network, and a member of the Board for sanu future learning ag sa.
With a passion for wildlife and conservation, Thomas has been a member of WWF since he was 8 years old. Prior to taking on the role of CEO in 2012, Thomas spent nine years heading up WWF Switzerland’s Programme division and was responsible for the organisation’s national and international conservation projects.
Before joining WWF Switzerland, Thomas worked in private banking for Citibank and as an engagement manager for McKinsey & Co.
Thomas holds a degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Durham (UK), a Masters in International Relations from Cambridge University (UK) and a Masters of Business Administration from IMD (Switzerland).
FULL BIORobin MillingtonExecutive Director, Planet TrackerRobin MillingtonExecutive Director, Planet Tracker
Robin Millington is the Executive Director of Planet Tracker, a a not-for-profit financial think tank providing data and market intelligence to identify, quantify and seek to rectify the disconnect between financial markets and planetary limits. Previously, she was Director, Global Alliances, for the EAT Foundation, which was created in 2016 as a platform to convene global stakeholders in the food system to seek solutions for feeding the growing international population a healthy and nutritious diet within planetary boundaries. Robin is responsible for co-creating the Food and Land-Use Coalition (FOLU) an innovative global platform of over 30 funding and delivery partners seeking to create a sustainable food system by 2050.
Prior to joining the EAT Foundation in 2016, Robin spent nearly 7 years at the European Climate Foundation. She has led organisations including the Centre for European Policy Studies and Wetlands International. Earlier in her career, she negotiated a joint-venture in the former Soviet Union, which now stands as the largest IT services firm in Russia today.
A dual American-Dutch national, with a degree from Stanford University (USA) and an MBA from INSEAD (France), Robin has international experience spanning six continents.
As well as serving as Vice-Chair of the Board of Gold Standard, she is a member of the Advisory Council for the JustDiggIt Initiative.
FULL BIOAna ToniExecutive Director at Instituto Clima e SociedadeAna ToniExecutive Director at Instituto Clima e Sociedade
Ana Toni is an economist and a PhD in Political Science, currently the Executive Director of Instituto Clima e Sociedade (iCS) and Co-Founder of GIP (Public Interest Management).
From 2003 until May 2011, Ana was the Representative for the Ford Foundation in Brazil, during which time she oversaw the Foundation’s work in the areas of human rights, sustainable development, racial and ethical discrimination, sexuality and reproductive health, media democratisation and land rights. She was also responsible for coordinating the regional Latin America funding on Economics and Globalisation, the IBSA initiative (a collaboration between Brazil, South Africa and India) and the International Initiative on Intellectual Property Rights.
From 1998 to 2002, Ana was the Executive Director of ActionAid Brazil, working for the eradication of poverty and inequality through community development projects and leading public policy, advocacy and campaigning work at national and international levels. Ana also worked for ActionAid UK as Policy Advisor (1990 – 1993), representing the organisation at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
She worked for Greenpeace from 1993 to 1997; first, as the International Head of the Political Unit based at Greenpeace International in Amsterdam, and subsequently as Senior Advisor for Greenpeace Germany. Ana was Board Chair of Greenpeace Brazil from 2000 to 2003 and Board Chair of Greenpeace International from 2010 to 2017.
Ana has previously served as Board member of GIFE (the Brazilian Private Social Investment Association), WINGS, ITS and Wikimedia Foundation. Currently, she is member of the Brazilian Women Leaders for Sustainability Network and Board member of Agência Pública, Gold Standard Foundation, ClimaInfo, Instituto República, International Transparency and IPAM.Ana holds a degree in Economic and Social Studies from Swansea University, a Masters degree in Politics of the World Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK), and a PhD in Political Science from the Rio de Janeiro State University (Brazil).
FULL BIOPeter WhiteAmbassador for Biodiversity and CBD COP-15, WBCSDPeter WhiteAmbassador for Biodiversity and CBD COP-15, WBCSD
Peter White is Ambassador for Biodiversity and CBD COP-15 at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Previously he was Chief Operating Officer, responsible for all work programs, Global Policy Affairs and the Global Network. Peter has been with WBCSD since 2013, joining after 22 years developing the sustainability program at Procter & Gamble, the world’s largest consumer goods company. From 2006 – 2013 Peter was P&G’s Director for Global Sustainability, creator and Chair of the Sustainability Leadership Council and a key architect of the company’s long term sustainability vision and 2020 goals.
Peter is also a Visiting Professor at the Newcastle University Institute for Sustainability. He has held teaching and research positions at the Universities of Oxford, California (Berkeley) and Arizona, and taught in Nigeria with the UK development charity Voluntary Service Overseas.
Peter holds a doctorate in Chemical Ecology from Oxford University, and Masters degrees in Zoology (Oxford) and Applied Hydrobiology (London).
FULL BIOYvo de BoerPresident of Gold StandardYvo de BoerPresident of Gold Standard
Yvo de Boer works with development agencies to ensure that their strategy and organizational structure are aligned with the challenges of the day.
Prior to joining Gold Standard as President, Yvo de Boer served as Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), significantly expanding its operational partnerships and bringing financial stability to the Institute. He also worked as KPMG’s Global Chairman of Climate Change & Sustainability Services, helping companies to develop a broad definition of value which recognizes social, human, environmental, intellectual capitals in addition to financial capital.
Yvo led the international process to respond to climate change in the role of Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2006 to 2010. Throughout his career, he has focused on the economics of sustainability to help policymakers and the business community understand the consequences of acting, or failing to act, in economic, social and environmental terms.
Yvo received a knighthood from her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands in 2009 and the Dutch Climate Award in 2010. In 2018, Yvo received the European Practitioner Achievement Award in Applying Environmental Economics.
FULL BIOEric SoubeiranGlobal Nature, Human Rights & Water Cycle Director at DanoneEric SoubeiranGlobal Nature, Human Rights & Water Cycle Director at Danone
Eric Soubeiran is Danone’s Global Nature, Human Rights & Water Cycle Director, and member of its Cycles & Procurement Board. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating the company’s approach and actions on climate change, water resource protection, regenerative agriculture, circular economy and human rights. Eric also serves as administrator of the Livelihoods Carbon Fund. Previously, he served as Danone’s Global Nature & Senior Climate Director.
Eric began his career in strategy consulting and mergers and acquisitions, then joined Rexam Plc to lead strategic planning of its beauty and medical devices division. In 2006, he relocated to India to take on the role of Managing Director of the newly acquired business of Rexam.
In 2010, he joined Danone to head the group’s operations in the sub-continent. During this period, he launched a range of nutritional products designed for the ‘bottom of pyramid’ customers, with an innovative route to market approach. In 2013, Eric joined Danone’s marketing team, in charge of Activia and Vitalinea brands for the French market. In 2014, Eric was appointed director of milk sourcing for Danone in Europe, managing a network of 4,000 dedicated farmers across six European countries during a period of deep transformation in the milk market
Senior Advisors
David ShelmerdineDeputy Chairman, ClimateWorks AustraliaMelbourne, Australia
Timothy KingHead of Research, Australian Equities Core, Colonial First StateSydney, Australia
Daniel WienerFounder and President, ecos and Global Infrastructure BaselBasel, Switzerland
Silke KarcherEuropean Climate and Energy Policy and New Market Mechanisms, BMUBBerlin, Germany
Scott HarderWater Sub-Committee ChairEnvironmental Finance Group, USA
Technical Governance Committee
Our Technical Governance Committee is responsible for ensuring the rigor and integrity in all our work. It's an independent body composed of market specialists that provide expertise, guidance and decisions on methodology approval, rule changes and appeals. Read our Technical Governance Guiding Principles and terms of references (TORs)>>
Matt SpannagleEnergy Sub-Committee Chair & TGC MemberIndependent Consultant, Belgium
Anu ChaudharyEnergy Sub-CommitteeSustainPLUS, India
Steve ThorneEnergy Sub-CommitteeSouthSouthNorth, South Africa
Tom OwinoEnergy Sub-CommitteeClimateCare, Kenya
Dr. Jacqueline Gehrig-FaselLUF Sub-Committee Chair & TGC MemberTREES, Switzerland
Dr. Neil BirdLUF Sub-CommitteeWood Rising Consulting, Austria
Shigueo WatanabeEnergy Sub-CommitteeCO2 Consulting, Brazil
Sudha PadmanabhaEnergy and LUF Sub-CommitteesFair Climate Network, India
Dr. Tony KnowlesLUF Sub-CommitteeThe Cirrus Group, South Africa
Dean ThomsonWater Sub-CommitteeWorld Vision, Australia
Jessica Wade-Murphy de JimenezEnergy Sub-Committee, Atmosphere AlternativeColombia
K. KartickEnergy Sub-committee, South PoleIndia
Susan H. BragdonLUF Sub-CommitteeUSA
Liza MurphyTGC MemberGermany
Lawson HendersonLUF Sub-CommitteeRainforest Alliance
