Surmaya brings experience in cocoa, banana, sugar and other supply chains, from fifteen years working at the Fairtrade Foundation. Key achievements at Fairtrade include working on a £2m Climate Change and Organisational Strengthening (CCOSP) programme in Ghana with Cocoa Life and evaluation of the Comic Relief-funded Technical Assistance Fund, as well as managing relationships with Mondelez International, Fyffes, Tate & Lyle and others. Surmaya has a good understanding of supply chain dynamics and the sustainability challenges facing food businesses.

Before Fairtrade, Surmaya worked in the British Council’s Strategy team. She studied French and Spanish and has an MSc in Management, and in her spare time enjoys creative writing and dance.