Farmers’ leadership
The Board of Directors is appointed by the General Assembly and is made up of one President and six members, each coming from and representing one of the regional constituencies in which WFO is organized (Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, Latin America, North America).
ARNOLD PUECH D’ALISSAC
PRESIDENT
ARNOLD PUECH D’ALISSAC
President of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) since June 2022, Arnold Puech d’Alissac is a dedicated family farmer from the Normandy region in northern France, running a farm that produces free-range poultry, beef cattle, and various crops in Pissy-Pôville.
Arnold Puech d’Alissac has always dedicated his life to advocating for farmers at the national, regional and global levels.
On the national stage, Mr d’Alissac has been serving as a member of the Executive Board of the Fédération nationale des syndicats d’exploitants agricole (FNSEA) since 2014.
At the European level, Mr d’Alissac was the President of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) from 1999 to 2001. He has been an active Member of the European Economic and Social Committee since 2015 and, since 2016 of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organizations (COPA).
Within the WFO, Arnold Puech d’Alissac has represented FNSEA since 2015 and the European Constituency on the WFO Board of Directors from 2017 to 2022. During this period, he held the positions of Treasurer and Vice President of the Organisation.
FIONA SIMSON
VICE PRESIDENT
Oceania
FIONA SIMSON
Fiona Simson is a farmer from the Liverpool Plains in New South Wales, Australia. Together with her husband and her family, she runs a mixed farming enterprise, including broad-acre farming and grass-fed cattle.
Ms Simson is a well-respected and influential voice in the Australian agricultural sector, advocating for the interests of farmers and rural communities at national and international levels.
Elected as the first female President of the National Farmers Federation in 2016, she concluded her tenure in late October 2023.
Fiona Simson has represented the Oceanian Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) since May 2023. In June 2024, she was elected as the new WFO Vice President.
KATI PARTANEN
TREASURER
Europe
KATI PARTANEN
Kati Partanen, farmer and esteemed member of the Board of the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, MTK Finland, since 2011, has played a significant role in the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).
From 2015 to 2022, Ms Partanen served as the Facilitator of the WFO Committee on Women. Since 2022, she has represented the European Constituency on the WFO Board of Directors and held the position of Treasurer of the Organisation for the 2022-2024 term.
With an M.Sc in agriculture economics, Kati Partanen currently works as a senior lecturer of farm economics at Savonia University of Applied Sciences.
GUNSHAM SEEBORUN
BOARD MEMBER
Africa
GUNSHAM SEEBORUN
Gunsham Seeborun is from Mauritius and is deeply committed to agricultural development and empowering farmers. He is the Founder and President of the FALCON Association, where he has led several initiatives to improve the lives of farmers and young farmers in Africa and Asia through sustainable practices, innovation, technology, research, and policy advocacy. With over two decades of experience in agricultural leadership, Mr Seeborun has facilitated collaboration and networking among stakeholders to effectively address agricultural challenges.
In June 2024, he was elected representative of the African Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), a testament to his dedication to promoting farmers’ interests at the international level.
KHEM BAHADUR PATHAK
BOARD MEMBER
Asia
KHEM BAHADUR PATHAK
Mr Khem Bahadur Pathak is a prominent farmer who runs an agro-farm on 31 acres of land in Dhanusha, Nepal. He is the leader of the cooperative movement in Nepal and serves as the Chairperson of Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation Ltd. (NACCFL) and Sana Kisan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha (SKBBL). His leadership has significantly impacted the socio-economic transformation of women, the underprivileged, and small farmers in Nepal.
Mr Pathak has held several significant roles, including Chairperson of the Village Development Committee in Chainpur, Dhading, Secretary of the International Year of Family Farming 2014 National Directive Committee Nepal, Board Member of the National Cooperative Development Board and Vice-Chairperson of the National Cooperative Federation of Nepal.
During the Maoist insurgency, he safeguarded cooperatives and human rights. He has received several awards for his efforts, including the “Prabal Janasewa Shri Fourth” by the President, the Cooperative Award by the Prime Minister, and the FAO Partnership Award in 2023, presented to NACCFL at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.
In June 2024, Mr Pathak was elected representative of the Asian Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).
ELOISA FREDERKING
BOARD MEMBER
Latin America
ELOISA FREDERKING
Eloisa Frederking is a third-generation agricultural producer who breeds and raises cattle on three farms in Cordoba and Buenos Aires provinces. She has been serving as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA) since 2021 and as the Board Member for the Latin American Constituency of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) since May 2024.
She started her involvement with the Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA) as a Delegate, working within the local realities of producers. Over time, she has played a crucial role in bringing together the SRA Board of Directors with other producer associations and governmental agencies. She is a member of the CREA and has had significant involvement with the institution as the president and member of the Business Council of the Southeastern region.
Ms Frederking is also a member of the SRA Foundation’s executive committee and the production manager of the Agricultural College of Realicó (La Pampa), an educational centre known for offering comprehensive training, employability, and productive research for young people.
KEITH CURRIE
BOARD MEMBER
North America
KEITH CURRIE
Keith Currie is an 8th-generation farmer from Collingwood, Ontario. He graduated in Agriculture Production Management from the University of Guelph, Ridgetown College, in 1982. Mr Currie manages the family dairy and cash crop family farm with his wife, Janice, in Simcoe County, where they focus on the production of grains and oilseed, forages for dry hay, and sweet corn and gladiolus flower production. He has represented agriculture boards and organizations at the regional, provincial, and federal levels. Mr Currie is the Past President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and has 25+ years of board experience. He has served on the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) board for several years and was elected as the organization’s 1st Vice-President in 2019 before becoming CFA President in 2023.
Since May 2024, Keith Currie has represented the North American Constituency on the Board of Directors of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).