# Our people Global Standards is supported by an independent governance structure, a global network of certification experts and a dedicated international team. Together, the Governing Council, Certifiers Council and Global Standards team provide the leadership, technical expertise and operational support needed to develop, implement and continuously improve voluntary sustainability standards that drive positive social and environmental impact across global textile value chains. ![](https://global-standards.org/images/people/global-standards-team-.jpg) ## Governing Council The Governing Council provides strategic direction and governance oversight to help ensure that Global Standards remains independent, transparent, and aligned with its mission. Its members are appointed through a nomination process designed to ensure an appropriate balance of expertise, international perspectives and experience from across the global textile sector. Appointments are made for fixed terms and are governed by clear conflict of interest policies, helping to safeguard the organisation's independence, impartiality and long-term integrity. ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/7a/james-cashmore-7a48dca9.png) James Cashmore former Managing Director, Soil Association ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/f0/nicole-palicke-f0e0034c.png) Nicole Pälicke Director, People Wear Organic and Board Member, Internationaler Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft (IVN) ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/10/george-schurmann-10e1a9b8.png) Georg Schürmann Chair, UmweltBank Supervisory Board, Member of Supervisory ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/8e/laurence-tanty-8e15c8e8.png) Laurence Tanty Former Chair of Fairtrade International Board ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/b1/christian-berg-b10f4a11.png) Prof. Dr. Christian Berg Member of the GLS Bank Investment Committee and of the German Association of the Club of Rome ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/92/pietro-bertazzi-92a27c25.png) Pietro Bertazzi Chief Policy, Projects and Interim Growth Officer at Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/dd/tom_chapman_ota-dd0df8cd.jpg) Tom Chapman Organic Trade Association ![image Herbert Ladwig GOTS Policy and Legal Advisor](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/6d/herbert-3-6da698d4.jpg) Herbert Ladwig Governing Council Founding Chair, Policy and Legal Advisor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ![image tsuyoshi maeda from gots advisory council](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/2f/tsuyoshi-maeda-2fcbbc60.jpg) Tsuyoshi Maeda Japan Organic Cotton Association --- ## Certifiers Council Approved Certification Bodies are responsible for the implementation of the Global Standards quality assurance system. In this function they use the standard, procedures and tools of the GOTS/GRTS Programme on a daily basis. Drawing on the broad expertise gathered during this work is vital for Global Standards in order to further develop its functioning and practical programme in the market. For the purpose of facilitating this, Global Standards established the Certifiers Council in which each approved Certification Body is represented by a responsible expert. The Certifiers Council has an advisory function with regard to all issues related to the Global Standards quality assurance system. The collaboration of all approved Certification Bodies in this unique forum is an important prerequisite for a consistent interpretation of the criteria and requirements of the standard. ![image Dr Mustafa Akyüz GOTS Certifiers Council](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/56/mustafa-akyuz_etko-564ef9c9.jpg) Dr. Mustafa Akyüz ETKO ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/5a/rahul_bhajekar-5a40d590.jpg) Rahul Bhajekar Managing Director ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/ec/Priya_Billava_GCL-ec48c64d.jpg) Priya Billava GCL International ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/d4/Jan_Bures_Intertek-d4a0e469.jpg) Jan Bures Intertek This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ![image Dr Binay Kumar Choudhury GOTS Certifiers Council](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/ab/binay_kumar-choudhury_cu_india-ab8302d8.jpg) Dr. Binay Kumar Choudhury CU Inspections India ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/25/Armagan_Demirbag-25de034c.jpg) Armağan Demirbağ CCPB ![image Vincent Duret GOTS Certifiers Council](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/61/vincent-duret_ecocert-61e90794.jpg) Vincent Duret Ecocert Greenlife ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/db/ana_fernandes_cu_certifications-db66415b.jpg) Ana Fernandes Control Union Services SAC ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/40/adam-golubowski_cu-nl-405856c3.jpg) Adam Golubowski Control Union Certifications ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/9b/Sumit-Photo-Sep24-9b39edcb.jpg) Sumit Gupta Eurofins Assurance India ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/c7/Stacey_Han_IDFL-c798065c.jpg) Stacey Han IDFL ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/c0/fms_7258-c0341371.jpeg) Selin Işlakca Control Union Gozetim ve Belgelendirme ![image Ulrike Kisteneich GOTS Certifiers Council](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/d8/ulrike-kisteneich_kiwa_bcs-d81ab637.jpg) Ulrike Kisteneich Kiwa BCS ![image Pedro Landa GOTS Certifiers Council](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/52/pedro-landa_oia-522d0ec7.jpg) Pedro Landa OIA ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/96/carol-liu-bureau-veritas-9679d4f5.jpg) Carol Liu Bureau Veritas ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/98/Abdul_Mottaleb_GSCS-98102c1a.jpg) Abdul Mottaleb GSCS International Ltd. ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/b6/clean-globe_mahesh-b601d986.jpg) Mahesh Nabadawewa Clean Globe International ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/58/Ullhas_Nimkar_NimkarTek-5825a089.jpg) Ullhas Nimkar Nimkartek Technical Services ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/ca/rui-oliveira_apcer-ca646113.jpg) Rui Oliveira APCER ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/c8/sara-oliveira-c8c0790f.jpg) Sara Oliveira CTV ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/08/Ed_Palairet_SACL-08ff4571.jpg) Ed Palairet Soil Association ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/d0/giuseppe-portarapillo_icea-d0459e2c.jpg) Giuseppe Portarapillo ICEA ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/14/Diogo_Rodrigues__Agricert-14e6e7bf.jpg) Diogo Rodrigues Agricert ![image Nesrin Serin GOTS Certifiers Council](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/53/nesrin-serin_usb-53539e37.jpg) Nesrin Serin USB Certification ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/23/Yubing_SONG__Kaixin-23020a25.jpg) Yubing Song Beijing Cotecna Kaixin Certification ![image Elizabeth Tigan GOTS Certifiers Council](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/83/elizabeth-tigan_oregon_tilth-83dee12e.jpg) Elizabeth Tigan Oregon Tilth ![](https://global-standards.org/media/yootheme/cache/c9/jimi-wang_tuev-rheinland-c93e5cdd.jpg) Jimi Wang TÜV Rheinland (China) ---