Melissa Duncan boasts an extensive leadership career in the global ethical trade movement. 

She has served on the Fairtrade International Board since 2015 and was elected as Treasurer in 2017 and Vice Chair in 2020. Ms. Duncan was appointed Executive Director of Fairtrade International in 2021.

Prior to joining Fairtrade International, Ms. Duncan also worked for a leading Fair Trade organization and development charity in the United Kingdom and served as a Trustee and Vice Chair of the UK-based Fairtrade Foundation. Most recently, she was appointed to the Board of Shared Interest, an impact investment non-profit with a global focus on empowering workers through fair trade initiatives. 

In addition to her leadership work in the ethical trade movement, Ms. Duncan has also built a 20-year career in marketing and communications, spanning both corporate and charity sectors, including WHSmith plc, where she was Head of Communications, and professional experiences in East Asia.     

Ms. Duncan holds an MBA from Cranfield University. She is a United States citizen and a resident of the United Kingdom.