Plenary Session - FSC Global Strategy: Branching into the Future
As FSC moves into the development of its 2027–2032 Global Strategy while the 2021–2026 chapter approaches its close, the plenary offers a moment to reflect on FSC’s future direction. The session will take participants through FSC’s strategic journey — where the organization stands today, the lessons learned along the way, and how the course for the years ahead is being shaped. Combining internal perspectives with insights from social, economic, and environmental dimensions, it will explore ways to amplify the true value of forests and reinforce FSC’s role in the stewardship of the world’s forests.
At the heart of this reflection lies FSC’s 2050 Vision: Resilient Forests Sustain Life on Earth. Building on this vision, the plenary will underscore the role of responsible forest management in strengthening resilience and consider how FSC solutions can be further focused and refined to respond more effectively to urgent and complex global challenges. It will also provide insights into the ideas shaping the next global strategy and outline how members and stakeholders will be able to engage with and influence this process — both through other spaces at the General Assembly and in the months ahead.
Speakers will include key members of the FSC Secretariat and the Board of Directors, as well as Christina Niemelä Ström, Head of Sustainability at IKEA; Dr. Joeri Zwerts, assistant professor at Utrecht University; and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, chair of the Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad (AFPAT).
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
In April 2024, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed Astrid Schomaker Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Prior to her appointment as Executive Secretary of the CBD, Astrid was the Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism with the European Commission in Brussels. There she promoted a global transition to resource-efficient, low emission, nature-positive circular economies. She also focussed on increasing the EU's effectiveness in addressing international environmental challenges, strengthening multilateralism and international environmental governance, and working towards the full implementation of multilateral environment agreements, among other priorities.
Astrid also worked as the Director for Global Sustainable Development at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment. In this role, she oversaw international and interinstitutional relations, as well as environment policy strategy, supervising the implementation of the EU's 7th Environment Action Programme. Astrid studied English, history and law in Hamburg and Norwich and has an LLM in international legal cooperation from Brussels' Free University. After briefly working at the law schools of the Universities of Hamburg and Ann Arbor (Michigan), she joined the European Commission in 1992, working on EU - US
relations.
She returned to Brussels in 1999 where she oversaw regulatory cooperation with Japan. In 2001, she became Head of Unit for Relations with the Andean Community in the Directorate-General for External Relations. Astrid moved to the Environment Department in 2004 and led work on a variety of issues within the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment, ranging from bilateral and multilateral relations to chemicals, oceans, and the water industry, including as Director of Strategy; Head of Unit for
Global Sustainability, Trade and Multilateral Agreements; Head of Unit for Marine Environment and Water Industry; and Head of Unit for Chemicals and Nanomaterials, among other roles. Astrid is fluent in English, French and German.
Stuart Valintine, Chairperson, FSC International Board of Directors.
Stuart was born and raised in Zimbabwe where he spent the first 23 years of his career working in forestry and timber processing. For the last 15 years Stuart has been working as a consultant based in Zimbabwe but working across 12 countries in Africa and in Papua New Guinea. Stuart has been involved with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) since 1996 where he developed the Management Systems for a Zimbabwean timber company to be certified to FSC Forest Management, Chain of Custody and ISO standards. Since then he has assisted numerous clients to achieve and maintain certification. His experience extends from large multinationals through to small forest woodlot owners in group schemes. Stuart has also specialized in developing management systems and management plans for forestry and timber processing. Stuarts 38 years of experience working in forestry and multiple timber processing in developing countries has given him a good understanding of various countries, their cultures, the challenges they face and ways to find solutions to some of these challenges, particularly in Africa. Stuart also has a working background in commercial productive forestry, training, environmental management, occupational health and safety management and a consultative background in management planning and systems, auditing and risk Management.
Amanda Carvalho de Andrade, Vice-chairperson, FSC International Board of Directors.
Amanda’s journey with FSC began in 2015 when she attended a member’s meeting in Belém, in the Amazonian State of Pará, and was immediately found fascinated by the diversity of people involved with FSC. Since that first meeting, Amanda has attended all the national members’ events and served two terms on the Brazilian Conflict Resolutions Committee. This experience has showed her the impact that FSC has on people´s wellbeing. It taught her when to trust the system and its governance and when to push for stronger accountability. Today, she sits on the Board of FSC Brazil representing not only the Environmental Chamber but all its members, building a constructive network of people from very different backgrounds and cultures to strengthen the organization. On an international level, Amanda has been an active member, attending two General Assemblies (Vancouver and Bali) and two regional Latin American members’ meetings (Cancun and Panama City). She has also taken part in the Focus Forest Advisory Group, working closely with motions’ proposers and stakeholders from all over the world to find common ground on how to approach Intact Forest Landscapes. By expertise, Amada is a biologist with a master’s degree in Ecology and Natural Resources, and a project manager with over 15 years of experience in multiple sectors, including forestry and restoration. She is also an eternal scholar at heart, always eager to dive into the details and complexities that characterize FSC and the ecosystems it aims to protect.
Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General, FSC International
Subhra Bhattacharjee is Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). She brings 23+ years of experience in climate, sustainable development and poverty reduction across central banking, academia and the United Nations, with postings in Bahrain, Bangladesh, Germany, the occupied Palestinian territory, the United States and India. Subhra has led government-UN development frameworks, built cross-sector coalitions for climate action, and helped deliver first-ever climate-finance estimates and nationally determined contributions in challenging contexts. She holds an MPhil in International Economics (Jawaharlal Nehru University) and a PhD in Environmental & Macro-Economics (Iowa State University). At FSC, she focuses on strategy, policy and partnerships to strengthen credible forest solutions for markets and communities.
Christina Niemelä Ström, IKEA
Christina Niemelä Ström is the Global Head of Sustainability for IKEA Supply at the Inter IKEA Group. She is responsible for both the IKEA supply chain sustainability agenda and the Inter IKEA Strategic Sustainability Assignments. In her role, Christina leads the sustainability initiatives across IKEA supply chain, including purchasing, transportation, wholesale, manufacturing, and supply chain operations. Additionally, she leads the sustainability agenda for the entire Inter IKEA Group, related to responsible sourcing, climate action, biodiversity, water stewardship, and human rights advocacy.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad (AFPAT)
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is a Mbororo Indigenous woman from Chad. Her background as a pastoralist, geographer, and Indigenous Knowledge researcher has made her an expert in climate change, biodiversity, land restoration and Indigenous Peoples rights. She has invested her expertise as a local project implementer, and as an activist and negotiator at the national and international levels. She has actively supported Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the three Rio conventions.
She chairs the Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad (AFPAT). She has been appointed as an SDG Advocate, and vice-chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).
Joeri Zwerts, Utrecht University
Joeri Zwerts is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University. His research focuses on wildlife conservation in tropical forest landscapes where agro-commodities, such as timber and palm oil, are produced. He also focuses on the advancement of wildlife monitoring methods, in particular using acoustic recordings and thermal drones. Central themes in his research are responsible forest management, landscape connectivity and human wildlife conflict. His goal is to develop evidence-based strategies that promote sustainable practices that benefit both wildlife and human well-being, to address the challenge of combining growing resource needs with nature conservation. He has lived and/or worked in Suriname, Western Equatorial Africa and in Indonesia.
Anakarina Pérez Oropeza, Head of Strategy, FSC International
Anakarina Pérez Oropeza is Head of Strategy at FSC International. She joined FSC in 2010 and has worked at the intersection of strategic development, governance, advocacy, communication, and stakeholder engagement. She also leads the United Nations One Planet Network Group on Biodiversity, Communication, and Consumption, and serves as Head Tutor for the course Communicating for Influence and Impact at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Anakarina brings extensive experience in international and multilateral processes related to forestry, sustainability, biodiversity, and climate change. She is Venezuelan and holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the Central University of Venezuela, a Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Value Chains from the University of Cambridge.
Event Details
- Tuesday, 28 October
Time: 14:30 - 16:00 (EST - Panama) / 20:30 - 22:00 (CET) / 03:30 - 05:00 (WITA)