The Coordination Office

Christian Robin holds a PhD in Political Science of the Center for Comparative and International Studies (CIS) of the University of Zurich. He joined the platform from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), where he served as Deputy Head Trade Promotion, leading SECO's engagement in the cocoa value chain as well the area of private, voluntary sustainability standards and labels. He has held a variety of positions across SECO in his 14 years, including as Head of Swiss Economic Development Cooperation in Peru. Before, he worked as a consultant in different South American countries where he was engaged in economic development projects aimed at the promotion of sustainable trade. He is a Swiss National, married, with two children.

Nicoletta Lumaldo has a diverse background in NGOs, the United Nations, government, higher education, and consulting.  After a Lic. In Political Science, she specialised in Gender and holds a Master in Public Management and Policies. Nicoletta communicates and facilitates in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. She is passionate about bringing people together and collaborating for greater collective impact. 

Fabienne Bauer holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography and a Master of Science in Applied Agriculture. She is specialised in Sustainable Production Systems and has worked extensively in applied research in Regenerative Agriculture. Fabienne has worked as Monitoring and Evaluation specialist for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Turkey and as consultant for Good Agricultural Practices in Brazil. She speaks German, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Esther Waldmeier holds a Master of Advanced Studies (M.A.S) in Development and Cooperation from the NADEL Centre for Development and Cooperation at ETH Zurich and a M.A. in Education and International Development from UCL London. Esther brings experience in development-related policy advise and research gained at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), as well as practical experience gained with Swisscontact in the Mekong Region. She is fluent in German, English, French and Italian.

Joël Frei has worked as a journalist and editor for various newspapers and magazines. Besides his B.A. in International Relations, he holds a M.A. in European Studies, a CAS in Specialised Journalism, as well as a CAS in Communication Psychology. He is fluent in German, English, French and Spanish. 

Romane Humbel is a geographer with a Master’s in Food System Sustainability from the University of Bern. Her path has taken her from academia to the cacao fields of the Dominican Republic, where she explored the links between agriculture, environment, and community. Passionate about nature, food, and the stories they tell, she strives to create sustainable solutions with local impact. Fluent in French, German, English, and Spanish, Romane builds connections with people to drive meaningful change.

Laura Ulrich is a business administrator with experience in the international luxury hospitality sector. Several years abroad, most recently in Zanzibar, Tanzania, have shaped her international outlook and her understanding of demanding service environments. She combines commercial expertise with intercultural competence and thinks beyond conventional boundaries. Laura speaks German, English and French and builds bridges between people, cultures and ideas.

Joseph Bandanaa has a multidisciplinary background in environmental science, climate change, and agriculture, with expertise in sustainability, food systems, and gender. He has worked across research institutions, development projects, and international collaborations, contributing to initiatives on agroecology, climate adaptation, and sustainable cocoa. With extensive experience in project management and socio-economic research, Joseph has led and supported key studies for organisations like FiBL, USAID, and GIZ. His work bridges academia and practice, fostering knowledge exchange and policy impact. Passionate about sustainability and collaboration, he engages stakeholders to drive transformative change in agriculture and food systems.