THIRST is an independent charity working to transform the tea industry to make it resilient and fair for all. They tackle the root causes of human rights breaches by bringing together people involved in every part of the tea industry. Together, they generate inclusive, constructive dialogue, share knowledge, develop practical solutions, and call on decision makers to put these solutions into practice.

Represented by: Jane T Nyambura

Jane is Chair of the THIRST Trustees. She is also a tea farmer, and she has over 15 years of experience as a sustainability and partnership professional working with companies in the Kenyan tea sector. She has been the Kenya country representative for the Ethical Tea Partnership, a trustee of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Foundation, and a member of Mondelez cocoa life advisory team, among various other advisory boards and trusts. Jane will be supported by THIRST's CEO and Founder, Sabita Banerji.

"THIRST welcomes Typhoo's radical new approach to tackling GBVH in the tea sector. We take our role on the Fear Free council very seriously, and will apply the full extent of our knowledge and experience on this issue to help ensure that it genuinely delivers on its promise to move towards a future in which women working in tea are free from fear of abuse."

“Women Working Worldwide is delighted to join the Fear Free Council as Typhoo paves the way for a bold new approach to business. Together, with other members of the Council, we will provide both support and accountability, driving meaningful change. Our focus is clear: to combat the pervasive threat of gender-based violence and harassment on tea plantations, and to build a safer, fear-free working environment for all. We’re excited to support Typhoo in shaping a future where every worker is empowered and protected.”

Women Working Worldwide (WWW) is a UK-registered charity dedicated to empowering female workers in global supply chains to claim their rights and gain decent wages. They partner with grassroots organisations and unions globally to facilitate worker voice initiatives, deliver training and conduct gender-focused research. WWW also advises companies on how best to meet their commitments to gender equality and women’s rights across their supply chains.

Represented by: Caroline Downey

Caroline is the Executive Director of WWW. She is a passionate advocate for women's rights and gender equality. With a wealth of experience working across Africa, Asia, and Europe, Caroline fosters cross-sector collaboration among governments, NGOs, and businesses to drive lasting change as well as delivering on-the-ground practical solutions. Her expertise spans gender equality, worker voice, sustainability and ethical trade.

T-Evolve Limited is a tropical agriculture sustainability consultancy that advises and supports companies involved in tropical agriculture chains including tea, coffee and palm oil. A strong focus on making workplace human rights and environmental sustainability relevant, practical, and impactful. They became recently known for their groundbreaking paper addressing gender-based violence in the tea sector, "Consent. Just consent. Then you can come to work," which they co-authored with our other Fear Free Council members, THIRST and Women Working Worldwide.

Represented by: Michael Pennant-Jones

Michael has over 20 years in the tea industry including roles at Typhoo and Finlays, working on tea estates worldwide. Michael is a former Director at Impactt, a human rights consultancy, and has served as Vice-Chair at ETP (Ethical Tea Partnership), a Board Member at ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) and a trustee of THIRST.

"GBV&H permeates all walks of society and thrives in the shade. The response has to be, to bring the issue into the light of day and drive practical solutions that work for the women, their community and tea producers creating sustained change. Typhoo have set out an ambitious and innovative approach, our role on the FFC will be to ensure that the credibility, rigour and impact of the approach stands up to scrutiny."

“Ending sexual violence in the tea industry is not just a corporate responsibility - it's a human one. At Typhoo, we're stepping up where others have fallen short, transforming our supply chain and setting a new standard for the entire industry. Our mission is to create a safer, fear-free environment for the women who work and depend on tea, and to drive the change that other tea brands should have championed long ago.”

The oldest tea brand in Britain has been transformed and re-launched with an important mission at its heart; to end sexual violence against women who work on tea plantations. Typhoo is raising awareness of the issue of sexual exploitation on tea plantations, and revolutionised its recipe to encourage tea drinkers to choose fear free tea.

Represented by: Mike Brehme

Mike is the Chair of Typhoo Tea and a passionate advocate for social responsibility. He has a long-standing history in the tea sector as the co-founder of Clipper Teas, where he pioneered Fairtrade in the UK tea market. Mike brings his deep experience and dedication to championing meaningful change in the tea industry.

Represented by: Rocío Ortiz

Rocío is Typhoo’s Responsible Sourcing Manager. She works closely with the tea plantations’ social welfare teams, acting as our eyes on the ground to understand how Typhoo can be a force for good. With years of experience working with farming communities in Africa and Asia, Rocío has been a strong advocate for gender equality and rural development through her work with organizations like the Spanish Red Cross.

"I joined Typhoo because, simply by being responsible and ethical with their sourcing, they can make tens of thousands of tea workers’ lives better. In a sustainable way! It is by far the most impactful project I have ever been involved in."