Staff

Scottish Fair Trade Forum Coordinator

Betsy Reed took up her role as the first member of staff for the Scottish Fair Trade Forum in August 2007. She has facilitated and led the growth and development of the Forum.

During her first year in this role, Betsy oversaw the evolution of the Forum from a concept with an advisory working group to a legally-constituted charity with a Board of 14 people.

Between August 2007 and August 2008, the Scottish Fair Trade Forum has been mentioned in over 35 national and local news articles and NGO publications and has produced pieces published in the Sunday Herald, The Herald, The Scotsman and on the BBC Scotland website, among others. Over this period, the Forum has also hosted or been involved in over 60 events in 19 different locales in Scotland and around the UK.

Betsy launched the Forum's monthly newsletter, which is now overseen by a volunteer and remains a tool that helps facilitate the ongoing flow of information between the Forum and Scotland's ever-expanding Fair Trade community.

One of the highlights of the past year has been Fairtrade Fortnight 2008. Betsy was responsible for planning and undertaking a tour of Scotland with Kenyan Fairtrade tea farmer Julius Ethang'atha. After attending key meetings and the Fairtrade Foundation launch in London, Betsy and Julius drove around Scotland for 10 days, participating in 24 events in 12 different towns, cities and villages, talking to community, school, faith and council groups and meeting with local MSPs, MPs and MEPs.

Betsy's job is certainly never boring, and she looks forward to continuing to coordinate the work of the Forum and to supporting ongoing Fair Trade activity around Scotland as it works to become a Fair Trade Nation.

You can read more about Betsy's view on the role here.