Grow Asia, a platform that brings together farmers, governments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for more sustainable agriculture systems in Southeast Asia, has appointed Beverley Postma as intermin executive director.
Postma was previously chief executive director of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the lead certifier for the palm oil trade, which she led for a year before resigning in May.
She will replace Graham Dixie, who recently retired after five years running the organisation. Grow Asia works with 580 partners in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam to reach over 2 two million smallholder farmers to drive sustainable agriculture in the region.
Grow Asia works closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, whose head of food, agriculture and forestry, Pham Quang Minh, said Postma’s hire would maintain the organisation’s momentum in demonstrating “real impact” and support ASEAN Community Vision 2025, a manifesto for sustainable development in the region.
Postma brings more than 30 years of experience in the agriculture, food and international development sectors to the role. She was previously at the helm of HarvestPlus, working with smallholders in Asia, Africa and Latin America to improve the nutrition of staple crops, and held senior corporate affairs and marketing roles with Kellogg’s and Syngenta.
She was also executive director of Food Industry Asia (FIA), an industry group she founded to represent the region’s food and beverage companies.
Postma said in a statement that Grow Asia “plays a crucial role in supporting inclusive and sustainable food systems in Southeast Asia by bringing together diverse groups of governments and solution providers.”
“By brokering these impactful partnerships and overcoming the region’s complex challenges, I am confident that Grow Asia will continue to drive vital and timely initiatives that support resilient food production, improved nutrition, and a climate positive future for all,” she said.
