Speakers & Panelists
The Third Annual International Ecuador Cacao and Chocolate Summit took place virtually this year, on May 26–27, 2021. We brought together the many sectors of the cacao and chocolate value chain, including cacao producers, exporters, scientists, industry experts, government representatives, chocolate makers, and consumers. During the summit, we discussed the current opportunities and challenges in the fine chocolate industry for Ecuador and Latin America. For each of the last three years, our goal with this summit has been to elevate the fine chocolate industry and increase consumer demand, both domestically and internationally.
Carla Martin
Executive Director Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute
Jerónimo Pruijn
CEO SPP Small Producers’ Symbol
Jody Hayden
Co-Owner Grocer's Daugther Chocolate
Michael Recchiuti
Pastry Chef & Co-Founder Reccchiuti Confections
Monica Rogan
Founder & Chocolate Maker Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Michael Laiskonis
Creative Director Institute of Culinary Education
Esperanza Dionisio
Manager Pangoa Coop
Andrés Guzmán
Co-Founder & CEO Hacienda Victoria
Hector Ballesteros
Agribusiness Advisor
Lauren Adler
Founder & Chief Chocophile Chocolopolis
José Lopez Ganem
Non-Resident Fellow Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute
Johanna Renkens
Partnership Development Manager Rikolto in Latin America.
Francisco Miranda
General Manager Guangala
Verina Ingram
Associate Professor & Research Wageningen University
Fernando Crespo
Manager NWS SOLBESO
Esther Bobbin
Executive Director United by Chocolate
José Rodríguez
Agribusiness Advisor ACODEA
Regina Varolli
Founder & Editor-in-Chief Food Activist Magazine & CulEpi
Oliver Hanke
Chief Sustainability Officer 12Tree Finance GmbH
Gabriel Arteaga
Co-owner Latam Food Solutions LLC
Roland Waardenburg
Founding Partner Inclsve
Anian Schreiber
Managing Director & Co-Founder KOA
Pavel Arana
Marketing and Sales Manager Ingemann Fine Cocoa
Sergio Villa
CEO Colombian Cacao Company UMAU
Juan Carlos Urgiles
Manager Cooperative Savings and Credit Jardín Azuayo
Dr. Kristy Leissle
Author and Scholar, Doc of Choc
Marika Van Santvoort
Founder, Moving Cocoa Consultancy, Gaia Cacao, Pacha de Cacao
George Fletcher
Permaculture and Regenerative Agriculture Consultant
Erika Alegria
Quality Bean Coordinator, Cofina
Matt Whiteman
Co-Founder Partnership & Growth, Choco4Peace
Sergio Figueredo
Founder & Executive Director, Choco4Peace
Sonia Guachizaca
President, UROCAL
Jessica Granillo Solórzano
Community Leader, Fortaleza Del Valle Corporation