Farmers’ Leadership in Action
The Board of Directors ensures the implementation of decisions adopted by the General Assembly, keeping the Organisation aligned with its mission, values, and strategic priorities.
It includes the President, who also serves as a Board member, and six representatives from WFO’s regional constituencies (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania), appointed by the General Assembly.
Composed entirely of elected farmers, the Board embodies WFO’s commitment to democratic representation, inclusion, and farmer-led leadership. Working in close coordination with the Secretary General and the WFO Secretariat, the Board provides strategic guidance, oversight, and accountability to ensure the effective delivery of the members’ mandate.
DANIEL MWENDAH M'MAILUTHA
Dr Daniel Mwendah M’Mailutha is a farmer running a dairy and apiculture farm in Nakuru, Rift Valley, Kenya. He grew up on his parents’ coffee farm in the Meru region of Mt. Kenya. His father’s membership in a local cooperative introduced him to organised agriculture. He studied agriculture at university, began his career as a KENAFF field officer, pursued graduate studies in the United States, and returned to Kenya to teach agricultural policy.
Since November 2018, as CEO of KENAFF, Dr M’Mailutha has worked to strengthen farmer representation at subnational and national levels across Africa, including in African Union policymaking processes. His international engagement includes the UN General Assembly, climate and biodiversity COPs, the Farmers G20, the UN Food Systems Summit, and the World Economic Forum.
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 grass-fed cattle.
Ms 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.
Elected as the first female President of the National Farmers Federation in 2016, she concluded her tenure in late October 2023.
Fiona Simson has represented the Oceanian Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) since May 2023. In June 2024, she was elected as the new WFO Vice President.
PIETER VERHELST
With a Master of Business Engineering (KU Leuven) and a Master in Agricultural Development (Ghent University), he started his career as a PhD researcher in Agricultural Economics at Ghent University. Since joining Boerenbond in 2008, he has held various leadership roles, first as Advisor for European and International Policy, currently as Board Member. He serves as President of Agricord and Secretary of the Belgian Agro-Food Chain Consultation. His expertise spans European and international agricultural policy, macroeconomics, food-chain governance, and cooperatives. He also holds several board and audit committee positions within Boerenbond and affiliated organisations.
GUNSHAM SEEBORUN
Gunsham Seeborun is from Mauritius and is deeply committed to agricultural development and empowering farmers. He is the Founder and President of the FALCON Association, where he has led several initiatives to improve the lives of farmers and young farmers in Africa and Asia through sustainable practices, innovation, technology, research, and policy advocacy. With over two decades of experience in agricultural leadership, Mr Seeborun has facilitated collaboration and networking among stakeholders to effectively address agricultural challenges.
In June 2024, he was elected representative of the African Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), a testament to his dedication to promoting farmers’ interests at the international level.
KHEM BAHADUR PATHAK
Mr Khem Bahadur Pathak is a prominent farmer who runs an agro-farm on 31 acres of land in Dhanusha, Nepal. He is the leader of the cooperative movement in Nepal and serves as the Chairperson of Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation Ltd. (NACCFL) and Sana Kisan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha (SKBBL). His leadership has significantly impacted the socio-economic transformation of women, the underprivileged, and small farmers in Nepal.
Mr Pathak has held several significant roles, including Chairperson of the Village Development Committee in Chainpur, Dhading, Secretary of the International Year of Family Farming 2014 National Directive Committee Nepal, Board Member of the National Cooperative Development Board and Vice-Chairperson of the National Cooperative Federation of Nepal.
During the Maoist insurgency, he safeguarded cooperatives and human rights. He has received several awards for his efforts, including the “Prabal Janasewa Shri Fourth” by the President, the Cooperative Award by the Prime Minister, and the FAO Partnership Award in 2023, presented to NACCFL at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.
In June 2024, Mr Pathak was elected representative of the Asian Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).
ELOISA FREDERKING
Eloisa Frederking is a third-generation agricultural producer who breeds and raises cattle on three farms in Cordoba and Buenos Aires provinces. From 2021 to 2024, she served as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA). In September 2024, she was appointed Second Vice President of SRA, becoming the first female to hold this position in the organisation’s history. Since May 2024, she has been representing the Latin American Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).She started her involvement with the Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA) as a Delegate, working within the local realities of producers. Over time, she has played a crucial role in bringing together the SRA Board of Directors with other producer associations and governmental agencies. She is a member of the CREA and has had significant involvement with the institution as the president and member of the Business Council of the Southeastern region.
Ms Frederking is also a member of the SRA Foundation’s executive committee and the production manager of the Agricultural College of Realicó (La Pampa), an educational centre known for offering comprehensive training, employability, and productive research for young people.
ROB LAREW
Mr Rob Larew, along with his family, owns and operates a diversified livestock and forage farm in West Virginia, USA. Elected National Farmers Union President in 2020, Mr Larew previously served as NFU’s Vice President for Public Policy and Communications. With 22 years of work experience in the US Congress, including a decade as the Staff Director of the House Agriculture Committee, his expertise in farm policy and advocacy is extensive. Mr Larew holds a degree in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech and pursued graduate studies in Agronomy at Pennsylvania State University. He is also actively involved in various civic and community organisations. In June 2025, Mr Larew was elected as representative of the North American Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).