Rainforest Alliance CEO and leadership

As Chief Global Engagement Officer, Alex leads the organization’s activities with external stakeholders including companies, supply chain actors, governments, NGOs, the media, and beyond. He leads a large global team that is responsible for the organization’s company engagements, brand, and reputation, and ensuring technical expertise is deeply embedded throughout each of their engagements.

His team works with companies across agricultural and forestry sectors to develop and execute sustainable sourcing programs, including certification, tailored programs, and beyond. Alex manages the cultivation of new business relationships and oversees existing client relationships, looking to broaden and deepen each company’s commitment to sustainability and impact. Additionally, the team is driving a strong, clear, and consistent brand identity, narrative, and message for the organization. They protect and advance the reputation of the Rainforest Alliance and its value to the organization’s key stakeholders including civil society, companies, donors, farmers, consumers, and staff by inspiring, engaging, and involving others to join our alliance.

He and his team provide leadership, technical knowledge, and strategic vision around the core thematic priorities that underpin the Rainforest Alliance’s mission to ensure coherence, influence, and impact. They drive government and stakeholder advocacy in priority sectors and work with civil society, non-governmental, and inter-governmental organizations to drive change and strengthen alliances.

Alex has worked for the Rainforest Alliance for over thirteen years and is based remotely. He previously worked for Seattle Audubon, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, and other regional non-profit organizations in the Seattle area. He has studied and worked in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Madagascar. Alex currently serves on the Board of Directors of the ISEAL Alliance and on the Sustainable Food Lab’s Leadership Circle. He previously served on the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Sustainability Council and, as an avid backcountry skier, on the Board of the Northwest Avalanche Center.

Based in New York City office, Alik Hinckson oversees all operational support of the Rainforest Alliance including Finance, Human Resources, and Global Administration. With 15 years of senior financial management, he provides strategic planning, operational oversight, and serves as the chief financial officer.

Prior to joining the Rainforest Alliance, Alik was a chief financial officer and executive vice president of Pact, an international NGO focused on providing access to healthcare, financial services, and natural resource management to vulnerable communities in more than 30 countries. Additionally, he has worked for Prep and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as director of International Finance. While at IRC, Alik was responsible for leading a team of finance professionals in 32 countries in managing accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting in compliance with all host countries. He started his career at Deloitte in its Cosourcing Practice, providing international clients with financial analysis and internal audit services.

Alik graduated Cum Laude from CUNY with a BBA in Accounting and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs.

Aparajita Bhalla is a Chief Development Officer at Rainforest Alliance and is based in City Metropolitan Area, New York City, New York. She has worked as Consultant at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Director Market Transformation - Sectors at Rainforest Alliance, and Co-lead internal strategy unit at UTZ Certified. Aparajita attended Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) between 1999 and 2001 and Hindu College between 1996 and 1999.