Southern Hemisphere Association of Fresh Fruit Exporters appoints Nathan Hancock as president with Jorge de Souza vice president
The Southern Hemisphere Association of Fresh Fruit Exporters (Shaffe) has unanimously elected a new president and vice-president.
Shaffe’s presidents and vice-president serve two-year terms, and in February 2025, Marta Bentancur’s term as president of the association ended.
Shaffe said that, over the past two years, Marta had ”reinvigorated” the association and ”secured its financial and administrative stability”.
”Bentancur led the association into very active times by setting up various working groups focusing on, for example, logistics, sustainability and market access,” the association outlined.
”In addition, Marta drove the improvement of the association’s new collection and reporting system for statistical data on exports and production of fresh fruits in the Southern Hemisphere, which remains one of the group’s core activities.”
The association’s staff and members expressed their gratitude for the work Bentancur had done to enable the association to tackle all future challenges through open dialogue and collaboration between all players in the Southern Hemisphere fruit industry.
New appointments
Taking over from Marta is Nathan Hancock, CEO of Citrus Australia, the peak industry body representing Australian citrus growers.
In his position, Hancock plays a key role in supporting growers and exporters through market development, biosecurity initiatives, and industry advocacy.
Hancock also serves as the chair of the Plant Health Australia Plant Industry Forum and as the chair of the Horticulture Council Market Access Committee, ”demonstrating his leadership in plant health and international trade policy”.
Jorge de Souza, technical and project manager of Abrafrutas in Brazil, will serve as vice-president.
”As Shaffe’s president and vice-president, Nathan and Jorge will work to further professionalise Shaffe and grow its role as the representative of the Southern Hemisphere fruit industry, enhancing collaboration between players in the industry and addressing key global trade and production challenges,” the association commented.
Shaffe represents the leading fresh fruit production and export associations in Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.
