Council Members
The VSS Academic Advisory Council gathers an international and multi-disciplinary mix of academic experts involved in research on voluntary sustainability standards. Through its annual conferences, it offers the opportunity to discuss latest research as well as ‘hot topics’ on VSS (see Objectives of the AAC).
The AAC permanent members will typically be invited to the AAC annual conferences, gathering academics from diverse background and, potentially, other stakeholders in the VSS system (with a stakeholder member status). However, the participation in the AAC annual conferences is not mandatory. Participating members on the other hand, are not required to present their latest research or papers during the annual conferences but are rather expected to provide input to the discussions, drawing on their expertise and their knowledge of the literature on VSS.
Co-Chairs
Permanent Members
Archna Negi
Associate Professor
Jawarhalal Nehru University, India
Link
Benjamin Cashore
Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
National University of Singapore
Link
Engela Schlemmer
Professor
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Link
Eve Fouilleux
Research Director
CIRAD – French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development
Link
Jan Orbie
Professor
Ghent University
Link
Jorge Pérez
Professor
Universidad Anáhuac, Mexico
Link
Marcelo Olarreaga
Dean, Geneva School of Economics and Management
University of Geneva
Link
Niggli Urs
Director
FiBL
Link
Stefano Ponte
Professor, Centre for Business and Development Studies (CBDS)
Copenhagen Business School
Link
Vera Thorstensen
Professor
Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil
Link
Ariel Hernandez
Professor
Managing Global Governance/ Uni Duisburg-Essen
Link
Clara Brandi
Senior Researcher
German Development Institute
Link
Eric Lambin
Professor and Senior Fellow, Woods Institute for the Environment
Stanford Woods Institute
Link
Graeme Auld
Director, School of Public Policy and Administration
Carleton University
Link
Junji Nakagawa
Professor, Institute of Social Science
University of Tokyo
Link
Lars Gulbrandsen
Deputy Director / Research Director Climate and Energy
Fridtjof Nansen Institute
Link
Miet Maertens
Senior Economist at LICOS – Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance
KU Leuven
Link
Philip Schleifer
Assistant Professor
University of Amsterdam
Link
Thomas Dietz
Professor
University of Muenster
Link
Verena Bitzer
Research Fellow
Maastricht University
Link
Membership of the AAC is by invitation. As the AAC is striving for global reach, applications are welcome.
The following criteria will be used to assess membership of the AAC:
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- Affiliation to an academic institution
- Geographical location
- Disciplinary background
- At least 5 publications focusing explicitly on voluntary sustainability standards
- Publication on VSS in the last 3 years
- At least 5 years seniority as a post-doctoral researcher at an academic institutions
Members’ appointment procedure will be based on ensuring a balanced representation of countries/universities of affiliation and of different disciplines involved in VSS research.
Membership in the AAC is free of charge.
Names, academic affiliations, and hyperlink to publication list of permanent members may be referenced.
