Non-profit organisation the Rainforest Alliance has announced the appointment of Santiago Gowland as its chief executive officer.
Gowland previously served as executive vice president for Latin America and Global Innovation at the Nature Conservancy. Prior to that, he spearheaded sustainability initiatives in the private sector, including at Unilever and Nike.
Such experience is expected to be valuable in Gowland's new role at the Rainforest Alliance, which works in more than 70 countries to protect forests and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people.
'Gowland, a native of Argentina with a passion for conservation and sustainability, brings extensive expertise in organisational innovation and sustainability transformation across multiple sectors, cultures and continents,' the Rainforest Alliance stated in a press release.
At the Nature Conservancy, Gowland apparently championed the green technology strategy through systems innovation, partnerships with technology companies, and embracing lean methodologies, most notably through the pioneering Agility Lab.
“I am thrilled to contribute my global conservation and business insights to accelerate the Rainforest Alliance’s vision of a world where people and nature thrive together,' Gowland said. 'It’s crucial that we leverage social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities without delay. The Rainforest Alliance is uniquely positioned to bring farmers, forest communities, companies and consumers together to build a more sustainable and resilient future for people and nature.'
The Rainforest Alliance aims to transform the way the world produces, sources, and consumes, focusing on certification, landscape management, supply chain services and advocacy.
In 2020, the organisation stated, 6.8m ha of land and more than 2.3m farmers were certified according to the Rainforest Alliance's sustainability standards, which are designed to improve economic, environmental and social impacts for people and nature.
