Better Cotton Initiative Announces New Council Members
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has announced new appointments and reappointments to its Council, the multistakeholder governing body that shapes the organisation’s strategic direction.
Following the latest election cycle, Danique Lodewijks of Bestseller has been elected in the Retailer, Brand and Buyers category. Ashok Hegde of Olam Agri and Bob Dall’alba of Cotton Australia have both been re-elected to represent suppliers and producer organisations, respectively.
New members include Agata Smeets (Gap Inc.) and Jonathan Worthy-Pauling (Pesticide Action Network UK), while sustainability experts Shanoo Saran and Lene Wendland have been elected as independent members. Doug Forster (J.Crew Madewell) and Tamar Hoek (Solidaridad), who also serves as co-chair, have been reappointed.
BCI CEO Nick Weatherill said the Council will play a key role in guiding the organisation’s strategy over the next two years, highlighting the expertise of its diverse membership across the cotton value chain. Co-chair Tamar Hoek added that the group’s combined experience in sustainability and responsible sourcing will strengthen BCI’s work going forward.
The updated Council reinforces BCI’s commitment to balanced representation across retailers, producers, civil society and independent experts, ensuring stronger governance and decision-making across the cotton sector.
