MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

Dear Valued Members,
I am honoured to welcome you all to the 2023 RSPO General Assembly (GA20), which marks a significant new chapter in the RSPO global partnership.

Since assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer in March 2022, I have spent much time visiting our members across the world, from executive board rooms in big cities to palm oil plantations in remote rural areas. My experience this past year has been an eye-opening and inspiring journey that has given me a deeper understanding and appreciation of our multi-stakeholder alliance that has been built over the past two decades.

It has been invigorating to see the commitment from RSPO Members who truly believe in the sustainable transformation of the palm oil value chain, and are working hard and investing in innovative ways to make this a reality. I am deeply grateful for the conversations and invaluable lessons I have shared with our members. These insights have helped refine and reframe our strategy to steer RSPO forward as a sustainability organisation and agent of positive change.

This year’s Assembly commemorates RSPO’s 20th anniversary since it first began its sustainability journey in 2004. So much has been achieved over these past twenty years – growing from a small alliance of a handful of countries, to a formidable global organisation counting over 5600 members, cultivating a mindset and approach that embraces sustainability as a core value. By mobilising a multi-stakeholder process to certify 20% of global palm oil production, RSPO has helped improve the lives and livelihoods of countless smallholders, workers and local communities across the world.

The RSPO’s track record of the past two decades has demonstrated that no vision is too ambitious with an effective and committed partnership. As we look towards the next stage of scaling up the sustainable palm oil industry, I’d like to reiterate my call for all RSPO Members to continue to strengthen our collaboration and shared responsibility, and take the RSPO partnership to even greater heights over the next twenty years and beyond.

Here’s to a successful GA20!

Joseph JD D’Cruz
Chief Executive Officer, RSPO