Expocacer (the Cerrado Coffee Growers Cooperative) in Brazil has appointed Mariana Velloso Heitor as its first female Chair of the Board of Directors.
Heitor is part of the third generation of a coffee-farming family and has been managing the group’s farm for the past 12 years. As the new Chair, she promises to continue the successful work she has been doing throughout her journey at Expocacer, where she previously served as Vice-President.
“I am honoured to be part of this historic milestone, and I thank the board for trusting me with this role,” says Heitor. “I am committed to being available for our cooperative, it is important for me to listen to them so I can support in the implementation of initiatives that provide the solutions we need, always with the goal in mind of promoting Expocacer and high-quality coffee with a positive impact.”
According to a survey by the International Coffee Organization (ICO), between 20 and 30 per cent of coffee farms are run by female leaders and they account for up to 70 per cent of the production workforce, depending on the region. In Brazil, 13.2 per cent of establishments are run by women.
Heitor says the programs she has created over previous years have defined her journey in the coffee industry. This includes the Elas no Café project, which was launched 10 years ago to train and encourage women’s participation in the sector through both theoretical and practical courses.
“This is a project I consider a milestone in my career and in the cooperative. Over 400 women have been trained through this program, which reinforces that we are on the right path, committed to diversity and inclusion. We, women, have made a difference in the history of coffee farming, and we will continue to do so for future generations,” says Heitor.
Heitor served as a member of the Board of Directors from 2016 to 2019, before joining the Fiscal Board in 2021. In 2023, she became the first woman to serve as Vice-Chair of Expocacer’s Board.
She was awarded the ‘Woman of the Agro 2022’ accolade presented by Bayer and the Brazilian Agribusiness Association (ABAG) for her work in the coffee industry.
“The executive board is fully aligned with the mission of Expocacer and the guidelines established by the Board of Directors. Mariana Heitor and Antonio Mazzo, now serving as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively, will continue the cooperative’s strategic planning, leading with the quality, competence, dedication, and experience that have made them outstanding administrators. This is an excellent choice by the Board of Directors,” says Simão Pedro de Lima, Executive President of Expocacer.
