The start of 2026 brings several important changes to the OCA Board of Directors. Naveen Patidar was appointed to the Board in the Civil Society category from 1 January 2026. At the same time, we extend our sincere thanks to Anita Chester and Ashis Mondal, whose leadership and commitment have been instrumental in shaping OCA’s journey.
Welcoming Naveen Patidar
Naveen is Chief Executive Officer of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India), where he leads large-scale rural development initiatives focused on strengthening livelihoods, building climate resilience and advancing inclusive economic growth. Over the past 15 years, he has designed and delivered complex programmes that put communities at the centre and focus on practical, scalable solutions. We are pleased to bring Naveen’s experience to the Board as OCA continues to strengthen farmer-centred approaches and drive long-term systems change in organic cotton. His expertise in rural systems, cross-sector partnerships and programme delivery at scale will help ensure our strategies translate into meaningful impact on the ground. Naveen’s commitment to innovation — including the responsible use of digital tools — also aligns closely with our efforts to build more transparent, resilient and inclusive supply chains. Naveen holds a degree in computer engineering and a postgraduate qualification from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), combining technical knowledge with strong grounding in rural development practice.
Thank you to Anita Chester and Ashis Mondal
At the start of this year, we said goodbye to our long-standing Board member and OCA ambassador Anita Chester, who is stepping down after decades of leadership in the sector. During her time on the OCA Board, she brought strategic insight, thoughtful challenge and a strong belief in partnership and collective action. Her commitment to improving livelihoods for farmers and workers, and to advancing more responsible and climate-resilient supply chains, has helped shape OCA at every moment in our growth. We warmly thank Anita for her dedication, her inspiration and her support over many years.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Ashis Mondal for his years of service and steady guidance on the Board. His expertise has supported OCA through key phases of development, and his contributions are greatly valued. Ashis will remain engaged with OCA as a Contributor, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration.
Our Board plays an important role in guiding OCA’s strategy and ensuring we remain accountable to our mission and to our partners. We encourage our Contributors and partners to see the Board as an engaged and approachable part of our governance. Board members welcome perspectives from across the OCA community, and we invite you to reach out through the OCA team if you would like to connect.
Read more about OCA’s governance and our Board members here.
