Alan McClay was appointed CEO of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) in September 2015.

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. BCI is a not-for-profit organisation that was founded to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future. Through BCI and its Partners, farmers receive training on how to use water efficiently, care for the health of the soil and natural habitats, reduce use of the most harmful chemicals and apply decent work principles. BCI Farmers implementing this system are licensed to sell Better Cotton.

Together with partners BCI provides training on more sustainable farming practices to more than two million cotton farmers in 21 countries. In the 2017-18 cotton season, licensed BCI Farmers produced more than five million metric tonnes of ‘Better Cotton’ – that accounts for around 19% of global cotton production.

Prior to BCI, Alan worked as a consultant advising firms and trade bodies on not-for-profit strategy and management, and on sustainable sourcing policies and standards. From 2004 to 2009 he was CEO of CIES – the Food Business Forum, an international platform for food retail businesses which has since merged with brand associations to become the Consumer Goods Forum, of which he was the first Managing Director. During his tenure at CIES, the organisation launched the Global Food Safety Initiative and the Global Social Compliance Programme. Alan also serves on the Board of the International Cotton Association. A British national, he holds degrees from the UK (Cambridge University and London Business School) and France (Sciences Po Paris).

Bill Kingdon has lived and worked overseas for much of his professional life as a soldier and senior leader in UK Defence. Bill and his family have been based in Washington DC, Germany and Cyprus and enjoyed being part of those communities and cultures.

Bill learned the benefits of collaboration and partnering as a member of international teams all over the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia-Herzegovina. As brigade commander, Bill prepared large organisations for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the British Army in Germany; managed a varied and fascinating strategic portfolio as the chief operating officer for British Forces in Cyprus and provided the focus for collaboration between international organisations, the Afghan government, diplomats and NATO in Kabul.

Camille is a cotton trader at Louis Dreyfus Company. She is a French national and studied at Dauphine University, Paris, where she graduated with a degree in Finance, and a master’s in International Affairs.

In 2014, she joined LDC, and in the 5 years which followed, worked her way through various departments and countries, eventually taking responsibility for trading the physical flow between the USA and Asia, notably China and Vietnam. Working for a market leader in the industry provides her with a unique opportunity to contribute to the presence and influence of women at every level of the cotton value-chain. She is currently based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Eimear joined Namoi Cotton in 1999 having previously held cotton marketing positions with Cotton Trading Corporation Pty Ltd. Eimear has been involved in the agricultural industry in various management capacities since 1992, both in Australia and in other countries. Eimear has been instrumental in successfully establishing the China, Southeast Asia and Subcontinent markets for Namoi Cotton, she is responsible for export sales, client management, quality and logistics from warehouse to spinning mill.

Joe Nicosia is the Global Platform Head of Cotton for Louis Dreyfus Company as well as a member of the Global Senior Leadership Team. Joe is also Executive Vice President of Louis Dreyfus Company LLC and Chief Executive Officer of Allenberg Cotton Co.
Joe graduated from Dartmouth College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and the same year joined Louis Dreyfus Company as a grain trader in Minneapolis. In 1982 he transferred to Allenberg Cotton Co. and in 1985 assumed responsibility for cotton trading worldwide. Joe is active in several cotton industry associations and is a past Chairman and serves on the board of directors of the American Cotton Shippers Association (“ACSA”). Joe is also the long-time chairman of the Futures Committee of ACSA.
Joe served on the National Cotton Council’s board of directors from 2011-2013 and has been a NCC vice president since 2014. He has served on multiple NCC committees including current membership on the NCC’s Farm Policy Task Force and its Performance and Standards Task Force.