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.
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.

Meet the Council Members
Civil Society
Solidaridad
until 2026
Tamar Hoek
PAN UK
until 2024
Rajan Bhopal
Retailers & Brands
IKEA
until 2026
Arvind Rewal
Secretary
Walmart
until 2024
Gerson Fajardo
Vice-Chair
J.Crew Group
until 2026
Liz Hershfield
Producer Organisations
Auscott
until 2026
Bob Dall’alba
Supima
until 2024
Marc Lewkowitz
Chair
Rural Business Development Centre Pakistan (RBDC)
Until 2024
Shahid Zia
Suppliers & Manufacturers
OLAM Agri
until 2026
Ashok Hegde
Louis Dreyfus Company
until 2024
Pierre Chehab
Independent
Amit Shah
until 2024
Treasurer
Kevin Quinlan
until 2026