Nicko Debenham

Nicko Debenham has 39 years of experience working on cocoa and other raw material value chains. He started his career in cocoa in Nigeria in the 1980’s, working directly with cocoa farmers. Nicko possesses unique expertise in developing and introducing pioneering traceable and sustainable systems in collaboration with governments in origin countries in Africa, Asia and LATAM.

Nicko established Sustainability Solutions in 2021 to support companies and institutions with developing and operationalising their sustainability strategy

Nicko worked for Barry Callebaut as Head of Sustainability and Chairman of Cocoa Horizons Foundation establishing the Forever Chocolate strategy, having previously worked for Armajaro as Head of Sustainability and Chairman of Source Trust as well as being a founding Director of Geotraceability.

Nicko was also the Chairman of the World Cocoa Foundation for 2013/2014.

His experience is in smallholder supply chains specialising in transparency, traceability and accountability and driving impact on the ground to make transformational change. Highly experienced in supporting businesses through the complexities of sustainability from challenges related to poverty, human rights, the environment as well as the requirements for conformity to regulation and certification.

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