Farmers’ leadership
The Board of Directors is appointed by the General Assembly and is made up of one President and six members, each coming from and representing one of the regional constituencies in which WFO is organized (Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, Latin America, North America).
ARNOLD PUECH D’ALISSAC
PRESIDENT
ARNOLD PUECH D’ALISSAC
President of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) since June 2022, Arnold Puech d’Alissac is a dedicated family farmer from the Normandy region in northern France, running a farm that produces free-range poultry, beef cattle, and various crops in Pissy-Pôville.
Arnold Puech d’Alissac has always dedicated his life to advocating for farmers at the national, regional and global levels.
His strong commitment and sense of responsibility towards the farming community began during his role as President of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) from 1999 to 2001.
Bureau member of the Fédération National des Syndicats d’Exploitant Agricoles (FNSEA), he represented the European Constituency on the WFO Board of Directors from 2017 to 2022, holding the positions of Treasurer and Vice President of the Organisation.
MARY ROBINSON
VICE PRESIDENT
North America
MARY ROBINSON
Mary Robinson is a managing partner of her 6th-generation family farm and agri-businesses in Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Her exceptional leadership in organized agriculture has earned her global recognition, making her impact extend beyond her farm. From 2019 to 2023, she served as the first female President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. Since 2020, she has been representing the North American Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO). Moreover, in May 2023, Mary Robinson was elected as the WFO Vice President.
KATI PARTANEN
TREASURER
Europe
KATI PARTANEN
Kati Partanen, farmer and esteemed member of the Board of the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, MTK Finland, since 2011, has played a significant role in the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) for years.
From 2015 to 2022, Kati served as the Facilitator of the Women Committee, and since 2022, she has held the position of treasurer of the organisation after being elected as the representative for the European Constituency on the Board of Directors.
With an M.Sc in agriculture economics, Kati Partanen currently works as a senior lecturer of farm economics at Savonia University of Applied Sciences.
ELIZABETH NSIMADALA
BOARD MEMBER
Africa
ELIZABETH NSIMADALA
Elizabeth Nsimadala is a successful woman agriprenuer who currently chairs the Advisory Committee of Uganda’s National Alliance of Agricultural Co-operatives (NAAC). She holds the position of President at the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) and has previously served as President of the Pan African Farmers’ Organisation (PAFO).
Elizabeth’s exceptional leadership in the organized agriculture sector garnered global recognition when in 2022, she was elected to represent the African Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).
SOK SOTHA
BOARD MEMBER
Asia
SOK SOTHA
Sok Sotha was born and raised on a rural family farm in Cambodia. He was a lead founder of the Cambodian Farmers Association – Federation of Agricultural Producers (CFAP) and currently sits on the National Program Steering Committee for IFAD/MEF. Furthermore, he serves on the Board of Members for the Agroecology Learning Alliance in South East Asia, a unique platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration in the Mekong region focusing on agroecology.
Sok Sotha is particularly active in supporting the development of farmers’ organizations and cooperatives and advocating for policies that benefit rural farming communities. Since 2019, he has proudly represented the Asian Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).
FIONA SIMSON
BOARD MEMBER
Oceania
FIONA SIMSON
Fiona Simson is a farmer from the Liverpool Plains in New South Wales, Australia. Together with her husband and her family, she runs a mixed farming enterprise, including broad acre farming and grassfed cattle.
Fiona Simson is a well-respected and influential voice in the Australian agricultural sector, advocating for the interests of farmers and rural communities at national and international levels.
Since 2016, she has been serving as the President of the National Farmers’ Federation.
In May 2023, Fiona Simson was elected as the new representative for the Oceanian Constituency to the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).