Paul Wolvekamp joined Both ENDS in 1989 and is currently its Senior Policy Advisor. He is vice-chairman of the Asia based NFTP (non-timber forest products) Exchange Program, member of the Dutch Advisory Commission on Sustainable Biomass.

He served in various advisory capacities, e.g. on CIFOR’s certification research programme, and undertook assignments for private foundations, Dutch government and European Commission, including the development of an Indian-Dutch Environmental Fund, evaluating the European Commission’s contribution to dry land management and the 'Africa Regreening Initiative’.

He initiated and moderated the RSPO Dispute Settlement Facility working group. Paul obtained his BA in law, MA political sciences and diploma in environmental sciences at Leyden University.

Petra Meekers has a background in Biochemistry, with international experience in quality management consultancy including environmental and social impact assessments. Based in Asia since 1998, she has been involved in implementation of environmental systems and social frameworks for different sectors including food, energy and agriculture. Petra is the Global Head of Sustainable Sourcing for Unilever involved in the development, review and implementation of the Sustainable Sourcing policies of Unilever, a global Consumer Goods Company with a range of more than 400 brands.

Prior to joining Unilever Petra worked for Musim Mas- a global palm oil corporation with operations spanning the entire palm oil supply chain- as the Director of CSR and Sustainable Development. And before she worked as the Group Sustainability Manager of New Britain Plantation Services in Singapore and Papua New Guinea- a large scale integrated, industrial producer of sustainable palm oil in Australasia including domestic sugar and beef production. NBPOL is a subsidiary of Sime Darby Plantations since 2015.

Throughout her academic career, sustainable development has always been an area of interest for Dr Helena. Her passion and support towards this topic are demonstrated by her focus on transboundary pollution in Southeast Asia. Dr Helena is particularly interested in the role of patronage in agribusiness, especially the palm oil industry, and its link to forest fires and haze in the region. In 2016, her findings were published in a book, The Haze Problem in Southeast Asia: Palm Oil and Patronage, which was a part of the Routledge Malaysian Studies Series. Additionally, her commentaries on sustainable development and haze issues have also been published in The Straits Times Singapore and CNN Online, among others.

Practising Colombian lawyer with vast experience in the areas of Corporate Law, Private International Law, Mediation and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes. Legal & business international consultant for the Asia-Pacific & Europe regions through the firm 8 LEGAL. Arbitrator and Conciliator at law. Member of the arbitration panels of Bogota and Medellin (Colombia) Chambers of Commerce arbitration centres and China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission CIETAC (China) with extensive experience as a facilitator and conflict manager in the search of peaceful solutions for controversies arising out of commercial and private law relations. Researcher and professor in the areas of negotiation and international mediation. Speaker and judge in several international mediation tournaments.

Dr Piers Gillespie has worked across the private, academic and NGO sector in the field of business strategy, facilitation and implementation. In the mid-2000s, Piers was Asia Pacific Manager for an international NGO that focuses on the agricultural sector and delivering sustainability through international supply chains. He has advised the IFC and UNDP on palm oil implementation and agri business matters and consults with both plantation companies and Futureye, a consultancy that focuses on social licence to operate for extractive and plantation companies. Piers currently works at the Department for Energy and Mining in South Australia as the Executive Lead, Social and Community.

Gina Barbieri, a South African human rights lawyer, international mediator and dispute resolution professional, was appointed as the first Ombudsperson for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) network in 2021. Previously, she managed the World Bank Groups’ private sector mediation unit (CAO) which entailed managing the mediation of complex environmental and social disputes between communities and the private sector across the globe. Before joining the CAO, Gina founded and managed a legal practice in South Africa specializing in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). She has mediated numerous disputes in the employment, commercial and community arena and is the author of two books on labor practice in the public and private sector. Gina co-authored and edited two IFC publications on the establishment of ADR Centers in emerging markets and guidelines on the practice of ADR. Gina obtained her BComm LLB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a CEDR (UK) and IMI accredited international mediator.