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Int. FTTs Steering Committee

When the number of national campaigns reached 24, the International Fair Trade Towns Steering Committee was established primarily to facilitate networking and communication among national Fair Trade Town coordinators. The Steering Committee members represent a wide range of Fair Trade Organisations and geographical locations. The initial members of the committee were approved by the assembled National Coordinators at the International Fair Trade Towns conference in Poznan, Poland (2012), following a call for volunteers to serve. The first Steering Committee meeting took place the following year, in February 2013. In 2019, the Int. FTT SC Guidelines were approved at the assembly of national coordinators in Cardiff.

The current members of the International Fair Trade Towns Steering Committee are listed below:

Thembi Mnisi

Project Coordinator: Economic Development and Tourism at Drakenstein Municipality South Africa

Thembi Mnisi is a passionate advocate for fair trade, sustainable development, and inclusive local economies. Based in South Africa, shemore

Thembi Mnisi is a passionate advocate for fair trade, sustainable development, and inclusive local economies. Based in South Africa, she works within Drakenstein Municipality?s Economic Development and Tourism Division, supporting small businesses, promoting ethical trade, and leading initiatives that drive entrepreneurship, food security, and youth empowerment.

With a background in agricultural research and economic development, Thembi brings a unique perspective to community resilience, sustainable food systems, and fair trading practices. Her experience in building partnerships and managing community projects strengthens her role on the Fair Trade Towns International Steering Committee. She is committed to expanding the movement across Africa and believes in the power of fairness, collaboration, and community-driven change to create a more just and sustainable world.

Hyeonjin An

FTT national coordinator for South Korea , representing Asia-Pacific and Oceania region

Jin joined the Fair Trade Towns movement in 2019 by participating in the Fair Trade Coordinator training programme. As themore

Jin joined the Fair Trade Towns movement in 2019 by participating in the Fair Trade Coordinator training programme. As the secretary general of a local Fair Trade Council, she supported the Fair Trade Town certification process and coordinated Fair Trade communities through education and campaigns. Jin also contributed to research on the Fair Trade Town movement.
Currently, Jin serves as a member and director of the Korea Fair Trade Towns Committee. In 2025, he was appointed as the National Coordinator for Fair Trade Towns in South Korea and a board member of the Korea Fair Trade Towns Steering Committee, representing the Asia-Pacific and Oceania region.

Tadeusz Makulski

President, Polish Fair Trade Association, representing FTTC in Europe

Tadeusz is a Fair Trade Expert of the Polish Fair Trade Association; national coordinator of Fair Trade Campaign in Poland; formermore

Tadeusz is a Fair Trade Expert of the Polish Fair Trade Association; national coordinator of Fair Trade Campaign in Poland; former member of the Board of Directors for WFTO-Europe; coordinator of the program Have a Heart adoption? of “Maitri” Movement Poland (sponsorship of orphans and children from poverty stricken families in Africa and Asia); Master?s degree in Political Science and used to be an entrepreneur for 20 years.

Billy Linstead Goldsmith

Sr Director of Communications and Fair Trade Campaigns, Fair Trade USA, representing North America

Billy Linstead Goldsmith came to Fair Trade Campaigns from an eight year career in community organizing in the environmental movementmore

Billy Linstead Goldsmith came to Fair Trade Campaigns from an eight year career in community organizing in the environmental movement where he recruited, trained and developed hundreds of grassroots organizers and facilitated campaigns at the national, statewide and local levels. As the first full time National Coordinator of Fair Trade Campaigns in the U.S., he has worked closely with the wide range of stakeholders in the U.S. and international Fair Trade movement, and collaborated with them to build an inclusive campaigns movement via the “Big Tent” approach outlined in the International Fair Trade Towns Guidelines. In his 7 years in this role, he has seen the U.S. movement grow to include Fair Trade Colleges & Universities, Fair Trade Schools and Fair Trade Congregations.

Billy lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his wife, Rachel and their new son, Jack.

Valeria Rodriguez

Head of Advocacy & Public Engagement of Max Havelaar France

Valeria Rodriguez is the head of Advocacy & Public Engagement of Max Havelaar France, one of the organizations that carriesmore

Valeria Rodriguez is the head of Advocacy & Public Engagement of Max Havelaar France, one of the organizations that carries the Fair Trade Towns campaign in France. She represent her organization on the steering committee of French Fair Trade Towns campaign. She had more than 9 years of experience in the Fairtrade movement in differents positions as media and corporate communications manager, advocacy manager?

Before joining Max Havelaar France, Valeria worked for more than 15 years as journalist in Ecuador, where she is from, and France (several TV, radio and press).

She began her career working as a communication officer for Taller Visual, a small nonprofit organization specializing in the research and preservation of photographic records of Ecuador?s cultural heritage. She participated in several research projects focused on finding and preserving the first images of the indigenous peoples of Ecuador, and this was the beginning of her permanent commitment to the struggles of indigenous organizations in Ecuador. In 1992 she worked at CONAIE, Confederation of Indian peoples of Ecuador as Press officer during the campaign for the commemoration of 500 years of Indian resistance. In 1996 she was Press officer for the Indian candidate, Miguel Lluco during the election campaign that brought him to the Chamber of Deputies of Ecuador.

Then Valeria turned to journalism. Between 1997 and 2001, she worked in Ecuador as a reporter for the TV station, SÖ TV. She was also a freelance journalist for the daily newspaper Hoy.

In France, Valeria obtained a master?s degree in Communication and Political Science, while working as a freelance for several daily newspapers in different countries, such as El Universo (Ecuador), and La Prensa (Panama), Super (United Arab Emirates) or Deutsche Welle TV-Latin American section (Germany). She also worked for two years in the Latin American section of Radio France Internationale (RFI) as a news anchor, reporter, and editor of the website.