Summary of Nominations

Mr. Kamal Prakash Seth is the Global Palm Oil Director at WWF, where he leads the organisation’s global efforts to mainstream sustainable palm oil production, trade and consumption. He also serves on the Board of Governors of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and co-chairs its Market Development Standing Committee and Shared Responsibility Working Group. Previously he co-chaired the Assurance Standing Committee.

With over 20 years of experience across responsible sourcing, market transformation, nature-based solutions, policy and advocacy, and strategic communications, Kamal has worked across several local, regional and global initiatives. He previously led RSPO’s market transformation strategy and operations in India, China and the Asia-Pacific region, including efforts to strengthen sustainable palm oil uptake. He was also involved in the formation of the Sustainable Palm Oil Coalition for India (I-SPOC) and helped strengthen the China Sustainable Palm Oil Alliance (CSPOA).

He brings extensive experience in working with businesses, governments, financial institutions, smallholders, retailers and civil society to develop practical solutions for sustainable production and consumption. His work focuses on building partnerships, driving policy advocacy, leading startegic communication initiatives and driving systemic change towards more responsible and resilient supply chains.

Palm Oil | WWF

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamalseth1/

Based in Gland, Switzerland, WWF International is the secretariat for WWF's global organisation. Its role is to lead and coordinate the WWF Network of offices around the world, through developing policies and priorities, fostering global partnerships, coordinating international campaigns and providing supportive measures in order to help make the global operation run smoothly.

WWF is an independent foundation registered under Swiss law, governed by a Board of Trustees under an International President. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: - conserving the world's biological diversity - ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable - promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF International is committed to the RSPO's vision of sustainable palm oil, as demonstrated by the role it played in establishing the RSPO in 2004 and its ongoing engagement in the RSPO process since then.

https://wwf.panda.org/

Melissa Thomas is Senior Director of Sustainable Palm Oil & Soy at Conservation International, where she leads global strategies to transform palm oil and soy supply chains while advancing resilience, nature conservation, and sustainable development. Working across key production landscapes in Indonesia, Brazil, and Ecuador, she partners with leading companies, governments, NGOs, and Conservation International's field programs to develop jurisdictional approaches that strengthen sustainable sourcing, reduce environmental and social risk, and deliver measurable outcomes for nature and communities.

With more than 20 years of experience building high-impact partnerships between the private sector and civil society, Melissa’s expertise spans certification systems, landscape and jurisdictional initiatives, nature-related corporate commitments, environmental and social risk management, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. She works with global companies to translate sustainability commitments into scalable, on-the-ground action that supports resilient supply chains and long-term business value. Melissa serves on the RSPO’s Jurisdictional Working Group and the Accountability Framework Initiative Coalition.

Conservation International (CI) is a global nonprofit organisation that works to protect nature because healthy ecosystems are essential for people’s well-being. Founded in 1987, CI focuses on conserving forests, oceans, wildlife, and other natural resources that provide clean water, food, livelihoods, and climate stability. The organisation operates in more than 100 countries and collaborates with governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, businesses, and other partners to achieve conservation outcomes.

CI’s approach combines science, partnerships, and sustainable development. Rather than separating conservation from economic growth, it aims to create solutions that benefit both nature and people. Its work includes protecting biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, supporting sustainable agriculture and fisheries, advancing climate solutions, and developing innovative financing mechanisms that invest in conservation. The organisation’s overall philosophy is that protecting nature is essential for long-term human prosperity and resilience.

The palm oil sector is particularly important to CI’s mission because it can be a significant driver of economic growth in developing countries, create employment opportunities in rural areas, and supply one of the world’s most productive and widely used vegetable oils. At the same time, poorly planned and managed oil palm cultivation can contribute to forest conversion and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services that underpin agriculture and human well-being. For this reason, CI actively engages with the palm oil sector and related agribusiness industries to promote better production practices, science-based land-use planning, and supportive government and market policies. The goal is to help protect environmental values while supporting economic growth, strengthening rural livelihoods, and advancing more sustainable palm oil production.