Sandra Uwera who has been serving as the Chief Executive of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Business Council is leaving to join Fairtrade as its Global Chief Executive.

 Fairtrade is an international organisation involved in impacting trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in developing countries.

Uwera has been heading the Business Council for about 7 years.

Uwera joins the organisation with a wealth of experience in Eastern and Southern Africa. As CEO of COMESA Business Council (CBC), the private sector institution of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), she represented 34 business sectors across 21 countries.

As part of her work she led projects and programs on sustainable solutions for small and medium enterprises, advocacy, technical capacity-building, industry competitiveness and market access, digital financial inclusion, and programs focused on women and youth empowerment.

She holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Strategic Planning, a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications, and has undertaken advanced professional training in international trade policy and law, digital inclusion, and leadership for business sustainability. She is an Eisenhower fellow and sits on various Boards in Africa and internationally.

She will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.