Better Cotton’s future is shaped by the Better Cotton Council, an elected board that drives cotton towards a truly sustainable future. The Council sits at the centre of the organisation and is responsible for our strategic direction. Together, the 12 Council members shape the policy that ultimately helps to fulfil our mission: to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment.
Our Council also establishes any groups or committees that could help achieve our aims. There are two permanent committees in place: the Executive Committee and Finance Committee. There is also a Nominations Committee established during each election round to oversee fair and transparent elections.
The most recent Council Election closed in March 2024. Newly elected Council Members will begin their terms in June 2024. The next Council Election will be in 2026.
How is the Council formed?
The Council consists of elected and appointed members. The General Assembly, made up of 2,500+ Better Cotton Members, elects two representatives from each membership category to the Council. Council members are drawn from the organisations and companies that represent the four major Better Cotton membership categories: retailers and brands, suppliers and manufacturers, producer organisations and civil society.
Each category has up to three seats, two elected and one nominated by the existing Council. This enables us to make sure we have the right people for the job and ensures we’re harnessing diverse talents in an inclusive way. Once the elected and nominated members are determined, the Council can appoint up to three additional independent Council members for an expert external view.
Minutes from the most recent General Assembly meeting can be found here.
Meet the Council Members
Retailers & Brands
Elodie Gilart
Marks & Spencer
Until 2028
Arvind Rewal
IKEA
Until 2026
Secretary
Doug Forster
J.Crew Madewell
Until 2026
Suppliers & Manufacturers
Nadia Bilal
Nishat Chunian Ltd
Until 2028
Bill Ballenden
Louis Dreyfus Company
Until 2028
Co-Chair
Ashok Hegde
OLAM Agri
Until 2026
Producer Organisations
Shahid Zia
Rural Business Development Centre Pakistan (RBDC)
Until 2028
Vicente Sando
FONPA
Until 2028
Bob Dall’alba
Auscott
Until 2026
Treasurer
Civil Society
Rajan Singh Bhopal
PAN UK
Until 2028
Tamar Hoek
Solidaridad
Until 2026
Co-Chair
Ramisetty Murali
Modern Architects of Rural India (MARI)
Until 2028
Independent
Marc Lewkowitz
Until December 2024
Liz Hershfield
Until December 2024
