Dorothee Lötscher recently became head of the Pakka Foundation. In this role, she is responsible for projects in the countries of origin of our raw materials and works closely with local producers. Dorothee has many years of experience in the areas of sustainable development and international cooperation. Her professional career has taken her from Cameroon to Haiti and Nepal. With her wealth of experience and her network, she has everything the foundation needs for the next development phase. She has already completed her first weeks in her new role, as well as her first trip to Georgia to visit the Pakka nut partners. In a short interview, she explains how she got off to a good start at Pakka, what she is taking away from her first business trip to Georgia and what she is most looking forward to at the Pakka Foundation.
Interview
Zurich, January 2025
Pakka: You took over the helm at the Pakka Foundation shortly before the end of the year. What surprised you most when you took over?
Dorothee: I made a very conscious decision to join the Pakka Group: Pakka is an innovative company that is orientated towards sustainable principles and works in an exciting network of players in the value chain. After completing my degree in corporate sustainability, I was curious to develop further in this environment. In this respect, I was not surprised that many things work a little differently than in my previous positions. In particular, the market orientation and business thinking of the partners brings great added value to the work of the Pakka Foundation.
Pakka: How does your professional experience help you in your work at the Pakka Foundation?
Dorothee: In terms of content and methodology, I can contribute my many years of experience in the promotion of market systems, value chains, agricultural advisory services and the promotion of farmers' organisations to the Pakka Foundation. Personally, I have always enjoyed working with different stakeholders - farmers, cooperatives, government extension services, development agencies and other foundations. My understanding of the different interests and realities of these actors and my intercultural experience remain central to the Pakka Foundation. I also regularly draw on management experience, be it to ensure smooth processes or to work with the country leads on site.
Pakka: You are currently on your first trip to Georgia, visiting the hazelnut processor Pakka Georgia and the almond project of NCC. The timing is perfect, because we are currently launching the the world's first Fairtrade certified hazelnuts. What made the biggest impression on you? What do you find particularly interesting in Georgia?
Dorothee: I was most impressed by the working atmosphere at Pakka Georgia. There is a respectful and friendly relationship between the management and the employees - mostly ordinary labourers who carefully ensure the processing of quality nuts. This corresponds to the values that I know from Pakka and which also positively characterise my day-to-day work in Switzerland. Our collaboration with nut cooperatives and farmers is also based on these values, albeit in a very competitive environment. Here, the work of the Pakka Foundation is central to supporting farmers in producing nuts sustainably despite the extra effort and challenges and delivering the necessary quality to Pakka Georgia, the processor of the nuts.
Impressions from the trip to Georgia in January 2025 - 1st photo: Dorothee at Pakka Georgia in the hazelnut warehouse, 2nd photo from left to right: Giorgi Vasadze (Managing Director of Pakka Georgia), Dorothee, Shorena Gamsakhurdia (Country Lead Pakka Foundation), Ueli Baruffol (Founder Pakka), 3rd photo: Dorothee and Shorena enjoying a typical Georgian meal.
Pakka: Do you already have a feeling for what lies ahead for you and the Pakka Foundation in the coming years?
Dorothee: I and our partners in Colombia and Georgia have lots of ideas! The foundation was reorganised in November. The projects in Georgia and Colombia are now managed by country leads. It is important to consolidate this new structure and build a good Pakka Foundation team that works together effectively and with pleasure. Another focus will be the development of projects in Kenya and Tanzania. In addition, the professional operational and financial management of the foundation, as well as the careful monitoring of the projects, is a task that is very important to me. This is where I want to continue the work of my predecessor.
Pakka: What are you most looking forward to?
Dorothee: The diversity of my tasks and the collaboration with different partners and continents makes my work varied. I have the opportunity to develop new ideas and rely on experienced colleagues - both within the Pakka Foundation and within the Pakka Group. I'm really looking forward to that!
Interested in finding out more about the work of the Pakka Foundation? Then go to here to the Pakka Foundation website.