Donate

About Fair Trade Wales

Llun/Photo: Nick Treharne

At Fair Trade Wales, we support, grow and promote the Fair Trade movement in Wales.

Since 2009, we’ve campaigned for the rights of farmers and producers in low and middle income countries who are often poorly paid and live with the impact of climate change. We think that all farmers and workers, wherever they live in the world, should receive a living income.

Although Wales is a small nation, we want to play our part in creating a better world – at home and further afield – and we made history in 2008 by becoming the world’s first Fair Trade Nation.

We always put people before profit and our vision is for an equal world that trades fairly so that everyone can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood. Our mission is to be a catalyst for the movement in Wales, and in everything that we do, we strive to be supportive, collaborative and empowering.

We’re known for our expert knowledge and opinion around Fair Trade, trade justice and wider issues around human rights, sustainability and equality. We work with two international Fair Trade bodies – F​airtrade International​ and the W​orld Fair Trade Organisation – and support over 30 active Fair Trade groups who work with local communities and organisations across Wales. We can also support organisations to meet the seven Well-being Goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that requires public bodies to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change.

Fair Trade Wales is a small company limited by guarantee, with two part-time members of staff, volunteers and a board of directors. We’re a partner in Hub Cymru Africa, and part of the UK’s Trade Justice Movement. Fair Trade Wales is funded by the Welsh Government through the Wales and Africa programme.

What we do

Fair Trade Wales has an important role to play in supporting the growth of the movement across Wales and providing Fair Trade producer opportunities internationally.

We work with over 30 Fairtrade communities, 200 schools, 18 local authorities and eight Fair Trade retailers, and connect with faith groups, universities and businesses in Wales each year. We also coordinate campaigns and events including Fairtrade Fortnight and Fair Trade producer tours in Wales. We’re also the only national Fair Trade organisation in Wales offering Welsh-language resources for the whole of Wales.

What we want to achieve

At Fair Trade Wales, we have three main objectives; which are to:

  • Support: To create and support activists
  • Grow: To create partnerships and maximise opportunities
  • Promote: To maintain and enhance Welsh Government’s commitment to furthering Wales as a Fair Trade Nation

We do this because we think it’s right that all producers and suppliers receive a living income.

Find out more about what we want to achieve from our 2025 to 2028 strategy:

Fair Trade Wales Strategy 2025 to 2028Download

Meet the team

  1. Aileen Burmeister

    Head of Fair Trade Wales
    Aileen has been passionate about Fair Trade from a young age, and has been lucky to work for Fair Trade Wales for almost 10 years. She has just returned from a secondment with Welsh Government looking at wider issues throughout supply chains related to global responsibility, and is looking forward to bringing that knowledge back to Fair Trade Wales.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Co-op Irresistible Single Origin Dark Chocolate with Orange

  2. Sarah Stone

    Specialist Advisor
    Sarah’s career has mostly been in the third sector and has been concerned with social justice, mental health and community. Most recently she worked for Samaritans, alongside volunteers across Wales, and with government and other agencies to improve mental health policy and address inequalities. She has a great interest in storytelling and has just finished an MA in creative writing.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Divine dark chocolate fruit & nuts

  3. Millie Belding

    Community and Communications Officer
    Millie grew up in rural West Wales with a passion for sustainability, equality and creative design. Since graduating from Cardiff School of Art and Design in 2022, Millie has taken part in a number of volunteer projects around the world and managed social media content for different Welsh non-profit organisations.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Clipper Organic Fairtrade Tea
  4. Picture of Chair

    Lila Haines

    Chair
    Lila is an independent researcher and writer whose career has spanned journalism, politics, and international development. She speaks Welsh, Irish and Spanish and is particularly interested in equality issues, sustainable development and political history.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Ice-cream - Ben & Jerry’s Karamel Sutra

  5. Rita Singh

    Vice Chair
    Rita has many years’ experience working on sustainability, bringing a wealth of knowledge on policy development, networking, and leading action to deliver change on sustainable development policies in the private, public and third sectors.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Zaytoun Olive oil and Almonds

  6. Tamsin Wallbank

    Treasurer
    Tamsin graduated with a BA(Hons) Philosophy in 1996. She spent several years working for various high street banks before returning to university to do an MSc in Business & IT. Tamsin is currently looking to learn how to eat fire & sky dive.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Bala rugby ball (mini and full sized)

  7. Natalie Rees

    Director
    Natalie is a sustainability expert with over 20 years experience, currently with Transport for Wales, and is also a partner in a vegan catering company. Natalie is passionate about Fairtrade, having set up and gained status for the Fairtrade Neath Port Talbot County Group.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Tony’s Chocolonely (specifically dark chocolate almond sea salt)

  8. Brân Devey

    Director
    Brân is a former employee of Hub Cymru Africa (of which Fair Trade Wales is a partner) and now works in Global Education. His career to date is characterised by a passion for communication, environmental and international issues, a commitment to mental health, and a strong belief in global justice and solidarity.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Paramo jacket

  9. Alex Phillips

    Director
    Alex has worked in Welsh public policy for over a decade with a primary focus on environmental and sustainable development policy and legislation. Alex is passionate about the intersections between the environmental and social/cultural sustainability, especially within the food system.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Everything Fairtrade from Greggs

  10. Trish Goodbody

    Bookkeeper
    Trish has been a bookkeeper for over 20 years and enjoys crime dramas and watching tennis on the TV.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Clipper Fairtrade Organic Italian Style Roast & Ground Coffee

  11. Craig ab Iago

    Director
    Craig is a passionate Welshman who has spent the past 30 years exploring diverse ways to champion social, economic, and environmental justice. His latest expression of this commitment is through his role as a local politician in Gwynedd.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Poblado Coffi

  12. Ffion Dean

    Director
    Ffion’s career has been focused on social justice issues. She previously worked within the charity sector, including at CAFOD (a founder member of the Fairtrade Foundation). She currently works in the trade union movement where she leads on TUC Cymru’s communications and campaigns work. She is also a keen folk singer and dancer.

    Favourite Fair Trade Product

    Green and Black’s 70% Dark Chocolate