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

Jenny Samaniego

Founder & CEO Conexión Chocolate & Cacao and Chocolate Summit

Bill Guyton

Executive Director Fine Chocolate Industry Association

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