Erik Hofstädter has been Chair of the Management Board of the Tchibo Group since January 2024. Prior to this, he managed the company's Austrian subsidiary from 2021 to 2023, during which time he developed a deep understanding for the unique business model of Tchibo. The distinguished marketing and sales expert has many years of international management experience in senior positions at Red Bull, Lindt & Sprüngli, Coca-Cola and NÖM AG.

Karel J. Golta advocates a new understanding of innovation that places ecological responsibility at the heart of economic activity. In light of the climate crisis, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, he argues that innovation should no longer be seen as a driver of resource exploitation. He emphasises the role of design as an interface between humans and technology, as well as the importance of circular design and digital applications for the sustainable transformation of the economy and society.

Dr. Olaf Deutschbein is the head of UNIDO's Berlin office (ITPO Germany). He has many years of experience in the German government (Federal Ministry of the Interior, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), particularly in development cooperation, and led initiatives such as the "Green Button," the "Green Innovation Centers" in Africa and India, the "AKP Investment Facility" (EIB), and "Cash for Work," which provides 60,000 jobs annually for Syrian refugees.

Markus Kamrad is the managing director of the Berlin Consumer Organisation. An educated economist, trained banker and voluntary business journalist, he was previously State Secretary for Consumer Protection in the State of Berlin and, in addition to many years in political communication, has worked as a management consultant and head of department at a statutory health insurance company. The Consumer Organisation has been dealing with issues of sustainability, health and consumer prices in the field of nutrition for many years.

Andreas Ronken took over as Chairman of the Management Board of Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG in January 2015 and is currently also responsible for innovation, legal affairs and corporate communications, strategy and corporate development, and human resources. His main areas of focus are entrepreneurship, innovation, internationalization, new work, and lean management—shaped by his international management experience and technical background. He is passionate about sustainability, especially in the cocoa sector.

Melanie Rutten-Sülz is a globally minded change and sustainability expert. In management and governance roles, she has successfully established, led, and developed global non-profit organisations and multi-stakeholder networks, including the 4C Association, the Global Coffee Platform, the ISEAL Alliance, Youth for Understanding, and Bonsucro. Since 2021, she has been Managing Director of Solidaridad Deutschland e. V., where she oversees coffee activities in Germany, provides strategic advice to the global coffee team, and has represented the network on the board of the Global Coffee Platform since the end of 2025.

Pablo von Waldenfels is Director of Corporate Responsibility and leads Tchibo's sustainability strategy. He began his career in sustainability management over 15 years ago. Prior to his current role, he headed Tchibo's “Sustainable Coffee” department and actively shaped the transformation toward a sustainable coffee supply chain. He contributes his industry expertise as Chair of the Board at World Coffee Research (WCR) and as a member of the steering committees of International Coffee Partners (ICP) and coffee&climate (c&c).

Katja Weber is a presenter, reporter and editor for radioeins and radiodrei (rbb) as well as Deutschlandfunk Nova. She has been working in radio since 2003 and combines journalistic depth with lively conversation. Her background in the humanities shapes her analytical, cultural and socio-political perspective.

Vern Long is Chief Executive Officer of WCR. Motivated by the transformative power of agricultural technology, Long brings >30 years of experience in crop improvement initiatives across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Financed by 200 companies, WCR operates the only global breeding program for coffee in partnership with 11 governments. A dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., she holds a Ph.D. in plant breeding from Cornell University.