About
Leading Harvest
Our Mission
Leading Harvest mobilizes the entire value chain through third-party audited standards, outcome-driven collaborations, and a learning network to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and resilient global agricultural system.
We envision a transparent, sustainable, and resilient global agricultural system, one that nourishes people, protects and restores nature, and delivers equitable value across the supply chain.
Our Team
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Kenny Fahey
President and CEO
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Maggie Eason
Manager, Operations
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Scott Hansen
Director, Standards and Education
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Laura Robey
Manager, Partnerships and Programs
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Peter Miller
Director, Supply Chain Engagement
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Rebecca Gildiner
Director, Strategic Partnerships
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Scott Vokey
Legal and Governance Advisor
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Claire Kneller
General Manager, Australia
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Chris Blake
Chief of Staff
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Robbe Verhofste
Senior Programs Manager
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Chloe Boyd
Membership Coordinator, Australia
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James Perrin
Business Development Manager, Australia
Board of Directors
Leading Harvest is governed by an independent Board of Directors with representation across social, environmental, and economic sectors. By representing diverse viewpoints across the agricultural landscape, the Board reflects the multiple interests that make up the agricultural community from farmers to food retailers, environmental NGOs, labor organizations, investors, and consumers.
Economic Chamber
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Christine Daugherty
Vice President, Sustainability, Conagra Brands
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Kenny Traynom
Chief Executive Officer
Landform Capital -
Peter Headley
Head of Agriculture Investment Management
Cottonwood Agriculture -
Oliver S. Williams IV
Global Head of Agricultural Investments
Manulife Investment Management
Environmental Chamber
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Suzy Friedman
Senior Director of Food Policy
World Wildlife Fund -
John Piotti
President
American Farmland Trust -
Larry Selzer
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Conservation Fund -
Ben Thomas
Senior Policy Director for Agriculture
Environmental Defense Fund
Social Chamber
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Harrison Pittman
Center Director
National Agricultural Law Center -
Rupal Patel
Founder and Board Chair
California Harvesters -
Dr. Bruce J. Sherrick
Director of the TIAA Center for Farmland Research
University of Illinois
Resource Group
The Resource Group at Leading Harvest plays a vital role in supporting the Board of Directors by providing research, insights, and informed feedback on key initiatives and projects. As an integral part of our governance structure, this group was created to assist Board members in fulfilling their responsibilities by offering expertise on technical matters and special projects.
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Alyssa Go
Managing Director, Sustainability/Impact, RRG Capital Management
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Benjamin Thomas
Senior Policy Director, Agriculture, Environmental Defense Fund
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Bruce Sherrick
Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Director, TIAA Center for Farmland Research
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Caroline Orlowski (Resource Group Co-Chair)
Senior Agricultural Asset Manager, Cottonwood Ag Management
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Harrison Pittman
Center Director, The National Agricultural Law Center
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John Piotti
Chief Executive Officer, American Farmland Trust
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Neil Jehle
Senior Asset Manager, Cottonwood Ag Management
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Peter Headley
Head of Agriculture, Cottonwood Ag Management
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Suzy Friedman
Senior Director, Food Policy, WWF
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Wade Needham (Resource Group Co-Chair)
Director, ESG & EHS, Fresh Country Farms
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Anna deRoque
Sustainability Specialist, Conagra Brands
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Holly Evers
Certification Specialist, Manulife Investment Management
Independent Review Panel
The Independent Review Panel (IRP) is comprised of experts and advisors responsible for ongoing review of and reporting on the public-facing programs and procedures established by Leading Harvest. The IRP is intended to contribute to the transparency of Leading Harvest and to the overall long-term success of Leading Harvest in achieving its intended outcomes of agricultural sustainability.
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Ann Bartuska
Former Chief Scientist of Department of Agriculture
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Sally Ericsson
Natural Resource Conservation and Climate Policy Consultant
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Carl Evers
Director of Sustainability, AgIS Capital
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T.C. Richmond (IRP Co-Chair)
Partner, Van Ness Feldman LLP
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Carly Hicks (IRP Co-Chair)
Senior Associate, Quality Assurance at SCS Global Services
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Alli Greenberg
Managing Partner, The Development Practice LLC
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Øistein Thorsen
Chief Executive Officer, FAI Farms
Ready to lead the way?
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Leading Harvest Welcomes Chris Blake as Chief of Staff
“We need a new force in agriculture that brings us together with a unifying mission. Leading Harvest creates the necessary harmony that will accelerate collective action and lead to outcomes at scale.”
SUZY FRIEDMAN Leading Harvest Board Member, Social Chamber