Changemaker Tour Recap: Melbourne.
By Susanna Bevilacqua - Fair Trade Association of Australia Executive Committee Member. | Blog, News |
Melbourne had the distinct pleasure of hosting Mitos Urgel, the esteemed President of the World Fair Trade Organisation (Asia) and the CEO of WEAVE, from the 8th to the 10th of August. This visit aimed to foster a meaningful dialogue with young people about Fair Trade principles and to strengthen connections within the existing fair trade and social enterprise communities. The primary focus was to underscore the importance of Fair Trade, especially during these times of global turmoil, and engage in conversations regarding the symbiotic relationship between Fair Trade practices, Fair Trade labelling, and the burgeoning social enterprise sector.
Mitos delivered insightful presentations at two prominent institutions, the RMIT Business and Human Rights Centre and St. Aquinas Secondary College. The latter was in the midst of preparations for a substantial fair trade fair, and both institutions expressed a keen interest in deepening their association with the fair trade movement.
Furthermore, Mitos seized the opportunity to interact with Melbourne's vibrant social enterprise community at the "Future of Social Enterprise Networking Event." Here, she had engaging discussions with Clea Smith, the CEO of SENVIC, and key board members, including social enterprise luminary Rebecca Scott, CEO of STREAT, and Nathaniel Diong, SENVIC Board Member and CEO of Future Minds Network, among others.
An enriching dinner gathering was also held, bringing together many long standing members of the Fair Trade Association, who had congregated in Melbourne for the Melbourne Gift Fair. Among the attendees were Nimmity Zappert, All of the Good Things and Chair of FTAANZ; Michelle Kerr from This is Eden; Diana Akkerman from Koguis; Rosemary Frank of Afribeads; Cynthia Cheong of My Fair Baby; Cecile Menard, Only Just and FTAANZ Board Member, and numerous others.
The pinnacle of the visit was the Changemaker Tour event at the Immigration Museum, which emphasised the importance of the World Fair Trade Organisation Movement, Fair Trade Labelling, and Social Enterprise. Mitos delivered an inspiring speech, followed by a panel discussion that reinforced the pivotal roles of these sectors in poverty alleviation and the betterment of lives, both locally and globally. The panel featured distinguished personalities such as Senthil Nathan, CEO of Fair Trade Australia; Georgina Cohen, Head of Certification at Social Traders Australia; Nick Savaidis, founder of Etiko, and a diverse audience including fair trade advocates and individuals with a vested interest in the sector. Notable attendees included Geoff Manchester, Founder of the renowned global travel company Intrepid Travel, as well as members of the Committee of Melbourne and representatives from the State Library of Victoria.
Melbourne feels deeply honoured to have had the privilege of hosting Mitos Urgel. Her visit has opened doors to exciting possibilities for furthering the fair trade movement in Australia.
Susanna Bevilacqua - Fair Trade Association of Australia Executive Committee Member.
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