Trase is a partnership made up of over 35 people across nine countries, bringing a diversity of perspectives, skills and experiences that is essential to deliver our mission.

Team

Ailsa is a graphic designer who joined the Trase team in 2021. She is part of the visual communications team. Prior to joining Trase, Ailsa produced design work for the BBC, Mayor of London, Premier League, Red Cross and UEFA. Ailsa also creates large-scale typographic paintings and neons that have been exhibited internationally. Ailsa holds degrees in Graphic Design from University of Southampton (BA Hons, 2012) and MA Visual Communication from the Royal College of Art (MA, 2016). She works part-time on Trase.

Global Canopy

Content and communications

André is the Global Engagement Lead at Trase, Global Canopy's supply chain mapping initiative in partnership with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). Based in Oxford, UK, André coordinates the team's engagement activities involving dialogue and solutions building with global actors to make agricultural commodity supply chains more sustainable. Over the last five years his work has focused on deforestation and supply chains, with a particular emphasis on the exposure of Chinese and European markets to deforestation and climate impacts.

Engagement

Management

Bernardo is a data scientist and urbanist who joined Trase in 2021. He leads the development of our internal and external data visualization tools. Before joining Trase, Bernardo worked as a freelance data scientist and developer for NGOs, government, academia, and private companies. He has experience communicating complex data insights in an accessible and engaging manner. Bernardo holds a degree in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons The New School (MS, 2016) and a degree from the University of São Paulo (BArch and Urban Planning, 2013).

Products

Carina is a sustainability scientist who joined Trase in 2023. Her work aims to improve methods and data to account for carbon emissions from land use change and agricultural practices linked to commodity supply chains (such as soy, beef, palm oil and wood pulp) and to drive uptake of improved data and methods by companies, governments and financial institutions. Prior to joining Trase, she has been working for a consumer goods company contributing to the application and methodological development of Life Cycle Assessment. Carina holds a degree in Environmental Economics from the University of York (PhD, 2022) and Environmental Science from the University of Bayreuth in Germany (BSc, 2008; MSc, 2012).

Stockholm Environment Institute

Spatial intelligence

Research

Chris is a research scientist with expertise in ecology, supply chain modelling, and private sector engagement. He joined Trase in 2018 and works in the impact and research teams, leading engagement with the corporate sector. Chris has helped develop models, tools and associated projects at SEI that explore the role of consumption and supply chain activities on environmental degradation and sustainable development. Chris holds a degree in Ecology, Conservation and the Environment (BSc, 2005) and Ecology (PhD, 2010) from the University of York. He works part-time on Trase.

Supply chain mapping

Clement is an Earth scientist and software developer who joined Trase in 2015. He is a co-founder of Trase and leads the development team behind Trase's data systems. He developed the first prototype of the Trase Earth platform. Before joining Trase, Clement was a researcher in planetary geophysics. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he developed tools to study the magnetism of extraterrestrial rocks, including lunar samples from the Apollo missions and meteorites. Clement holds degrees in geosciences from Grenoble University (MSc, 2005) and Aix-Marseille University (PhD, 2009).

Data

David is a data scientist/engineer and a creative coder who joined Trase in 2023. He is responsible for keeping track of Trase’s vast amounts of data and improving the efficiency of data processing pipelines. Before joining Trase, David worked at Public Health Scotland where he lead their open data initiative, helping analysts from across Scotland develop and publish easily accessible data for researchers, journalists and whoever else was interested! David holds degrees from the University of Glasgow (BSc., 2019; MSc., 2020) in psychology.

Enaty is a Finance professional who joined Trase in 2021 as a Finance Business Partner. She has extensive background in Financial Management and Management Accounting. Before joining Global Canopy, Enaty worked in multiple values-driven organisations in both profit and non-profit sectors. Enaty is a qualified Accountant, and holds a degree in International Business Administration (BSc, Hons) and a first class degree in Applied Accounting (BSc, Hons).

Finance

Erasmus is a scientist studying global food systems. He is based at UCLouvain and since 2018 has been working with the Trase research team to map commodity supply chains and analyse data for priority agendas. Erasmus is a qualified veterinarian and has a PhD on sustainable livestock farming, focusing on the impacts of the cattle ranching and animal feed sectors. Erasmus holds degrees from the University of Cambridge in Veterinary Medicine (MA VetMB, 2013), Food Security (MRes 2014), and Sustainable Livestock Production (PhD, 2018).

Université catholique de Louvain

Florian Gollnow is a land systems scientist who joined Trase in 2023. At Trase, he develops methods to assess the impact of agricultural commodities and leads Trase’s component on corporate sustainability. Before joining Trase, he investigated the impact of zero-deforestation supply chain commitments, worked on soy expansion’s socio-ecological outcomes, forest degradation, land-use displacement processes, and sustainable intensification across multiple countries. Florian holds degrees in Geography from Humboldt-University of Berlin (PhD, 2018, Dipl. Geography (MSc) 2018).

Harry is a mathematician and software engineer and all-round cool cat. Harry joined Trase in 2019 and leads the development of software tools to map commodity supply chains. Before joining Trase, Harry was in the Frankfurt startup scene working on SaaS products to enable the decentralised green energy revolution. He has a strong background in numerical computing and software engineering of complex data projects and holds degrees in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing (MSc, 2011) and Mathematics (BA, 2010) from the University of Oxford.

Helen is a natural scientist and jack of all trades. Helen joined Trase in 2018 and leads the Trase impact team, coordinating content management, engagement with target users and communications. She leads the Trase team at Global Canopy and is a member of the Trase Management Team. Before joining Trase, Helen was Global Canopy's Programme Director and managed a programme on water, energy and food security in Latin America and Indonesia. Helen holds a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (BA, 2010) and captains Global Canopy’s derby winning six aside football team.

James is an experienced business journalist specializing in corporate sustainability, green finance and environmental policy who joined Trase in 2020. James is the managing editor and leads the content workstream for Trase, including insights, briefings and multimedia content. Before joining Trase he was editor of The Economist Group's World Ocean Initiative, research editor at Trucost, part of S&P Global, and sustainability editor of The ENDS Report. James holds a degree in Politics from the University of Strathclyde (BA).

Jason is a geospatial data specialist and researcher. He started collaborating with Trase in 2018 and works on Indonesian supply chains. Previously, Jason was the Data Analytics and Visualization lead at The Forest Trust (now Earthworm Foundation) focusing on geo-data management, supply chain mapping, and data collection support for field assessments and smallholder engagement. He has broad experience in geospatial data analysis working in the private sector and non-profits in Malaysia and Australia. Jason holds a degree in Remote Sensing from the University of Technology Malaysia (BSc, 2004).

University of California, Santa Barbara

Jolene is an experienced communications professional and novelist (two books and counting) who joined Trase in 2021. She leads Trase’s communications work. Before joining Trase, Jolene worked for a decade on research and policy communications in Singapore, with a particular focus on equalities and human rights. She has also worked in London as a capital markets and financial regulation solicitor. Jolene holds degrees in law from Harvard Law School (LLM, 2005) and the University of Cambridge (BA, 2004).

Jonathan is a conservation scientist and joined Trase in 2018. Jonathan works across Trase's impact and research teams mapping commodity supply chains and analysing Trase data for priority agendas. Before joining Trase, Jonathan investigated the ecological impacts of coastal land conversion, worked closely with business and sustainability managers, and researched the impacts of agricultural commodity consumption on biodiversity. Jonathan holds degrees in Zoology from the University of St Andrews (BSc, 2007) and the University of Cambridge (PhD, 2012). Jonathan works part-time on Trase.

Kate joined Trase in March 2023 as a Communications Assistant. She supports delivery of digital content across websites, emails and events. Prior to joining Trase, Kate spent time teaching English in Japan and Spain. She holds a 1st class degree in Asia Pacific Studies from the University of Leeds (BA, 2022).

Mairon is a sustainable development policy and governance expert who joined Trase in 2018. Mairon leads the Trase research team. Before joining Trase, Mairon worked on multiple issues of agri-food system sustainability, landscape approaches, and bioeconomy politics. His work experience includes extensive field research in Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Southern Africa. Mairon holds degrees in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo (MES, 2008) and the VU University Amsterdam (PhD, 2014).

Maria is a researcher specialising in commodity supply chains and their social and environmental impacts. She joined Trase in 2017. Maria works across Trase's impact and research teams mapping commodity supply chains and analysing data for key audiences in Latin America. Before joining Trase, she worked as a research assistant for a range of environmental NGOs and academic institutions and completed fieldwork in Brazil’s semi-arid zone. Maria holds degrees in Latin American studies from the University of Liverpool (BA, 2012) and Human Geography from the University of Cambridge (MPhil, 2014).

Mark is a conservation scientist and ecologist interested in the global drivers of biodiversity loss. He joined Trase in 2021, helping to map the international supply chains of commodities driving deforestation and assess their impacts on ecosystems. He also presents Trase at events, and helps companies, governments and financial institutions get the most out of our data. Before Trase, Mark completed a PhD exploring how the combination of land-use change and climate change shape global patterns of biodiversity loss (Durham University, 2022). He also holds degrees in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (BA, 2016) and in Ecosystem and Environmental Change from Imperial College London (MRes, 2017).

Mia is a graphic designer who joined Trase in 2021. She works on the visual communications team. Previously, Mia worked in Hong Kong educating different stakeholders in the fashion industry on sustainability and circularity. She is passionate about designing interdisciplinary engagements that facilitate the transition towards a livable and flourishing future. Mia holds a degree in Environmental Management and Technology from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (BSc, 2014) and a degree in Design from Linköping University (MS.,2020). She works part-time on Trase.

Michael is an ecohydrologist and water footprint specialist who joined Trase in 2018. He leads Trase's supply-chain mapping team and research on priority agendas. Michael is a member of the Trase Management Team. Before joining Trase, he conducted research in Brazil and studied both water and carbon cycles in natural and agro-ecosystems. Michael holds degrees in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia (BSc, 2002) and Resources, Environment and Sustainability from the University of British Columbia (MSc, 2011; PhD, 2018).

Michaela is a Data and Policy Analyst at the European Forest Institute (EFI) who joined Trase in 2021. She analyzes Trase data in support of EFI’s work to promote transparency in forest-risk commodity supply chains. Prior to joining EFI, Michaela completed a PhD at Yale University on the impacts of natural resource policies on land use change. She holds degrees in Forestry and Environmental Studies from Yale University (PhD, 2021; MPhil, 2017), Natural Resources from North Carolina State University (MS, 2015), and Environmental Science and Policy from Duke University (BA, 2013). She works part-time on Trase.

European Forest Institute

Nicolás is a data engineer, data scientist and systems engineer who joined Trase in 2024. He supports the mapping of commodity supply chains, building and improving Trase’s data pipelines. Before joining the team, Nicolás co-directed for 20 years "Somos Más", an international non-profit that works with social and environmental innovations supported by technological platforms. In this role, he led several Open Data and Open Government initiatives, supporting multi-stakeholder collaborations and networks. He holds degrees from Uppsala University (MSc, 2023), and Los Andes University (BSc, 2003).



Osvaldo is a geographic information systems specialist who joined Trase in 2021. He works on mapping supply chains and analysing data for key audiences in South America and China. Before joining Trase, Osvaldo worked at The Nature Conservancy Brazil as the technical coordinator of the Agroideal decision support system, with a focus on soy and beef production chains in Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco biomes. Osvaldo holds degrees in Geography from the State University of São Paulo (BA, 2008), and Agronomy from the University of São Paulo (MA, 2011) and the University of Toulon-Var (PhD, 2014).

Paula is the South America Engagement Lead at Trase, with special focus in Brazil, since 2024. Based in Rio de Janeiro, Paula promotes engagement activities involving dialogue and solutions building with Brazilian actors to make agricultural commodity supply chains more sustainable. With over 15 years of experience on land use and deforestation, she has worked at civil society and philanthropy organizations and participated in networks and multistakeholder coalitions.

Paula holds degrees in Environmental Management from University of Sao Paulo (BA, 2007) and in Economic Development from University of Campinas (MSc, 2013).

Rafaela is a researcher who joined Trase in 2022. She is based in Stockholm, and works with investigating connections between water resource use in agriculture and commodity trade. Before joining Trase, Rafaela worked as a Water Resources Engineer with water and wastewater services in Brazil, and as a researcher on agricultural economics, water footprints, and crop modeling. Rafaela holds a degree in Environmental Engineering from the Universidade Federal do Paraná (BSc., 2010) and degrees in Sustainability Science from Linköping University (MSc, 2015) and in Earth System Modelling from Hamburg University (PhD, 2020).

Rhian is a project coordinator who joined Trase in 2021. She works in the engagement team, working on trader and multiplier strategy development. Prior to joining Trase, Rhian has worked in a number of project coordinator roles in a range of fields, including wildlife conservation, climate change and social services. She holds a degree in Natural Sciences: Biology and Earth Sciences from Durham University (BSc, 2012) and Sustainable Cities from the University of Leeds (MSc, 2019). Rhian works part time on Trase.

Robert is an interdisciplinary land system scientist with expertise in environmental economics and remote sensing who started collaborating with Trase in 2018. Robert works on supply chain mapping and sustainability research on the Indonesian palm oil and wood pulp sectors and is also a member of the Trase Scientific Advisory Committee. Robert holds a degree in environment, economics and politics from Claremont McKenna College (BA, 2006) and degrees in economics (MA, 2015) and environment and resources (PhD, 2016) from Stanford University.

Rosa is a sustainable trade policy analyst who joined Trase in 2020. Rosa leads on operations and resourcing across the program and is a member of the Trase Management Team. Before joining Trase, Rosa managed sustainable trade and supply chain programs in Latin America, the United States and Southeast Asia. She has a strong background in international trade law and policy. Rosa holds degrees in International/Intercultural Studies and Spanish from Pitzer College (BA, 2011) and a degree in International and Comparative Law from Columbia University (JD, 2014).

Ruby is a financial controller who joined Trase in 2023. She supports Trase on financial management which includes budget, forecast, financial reporting and audit. Prior to joining Trase, she worked as a financial specialist at GWPO responsible for the financial management and audit of the regions and projects funded by Governments and UN agencies. She holds a degree in entrepreneurship from the University of San Carlos (BSc., 2010) and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of San Jose-Recoletos (MBA, 2013).

Samuel George Baugh is a Social Media Officer who joined Trase in 2023. Samuel runs the social media accounts for Global Canopy, Forest 500 and Trase. Before joining Trase, Samuel was a producer and journalist at Thomson Reuters Foundation covering climate change, inequality, technology and LGBTQ+ stories. Samuel holds a degree in Journalism from the University of the Arts London (B.A., 2022).

Shirish is a product manager who joined Trase in 2021. He leads the work on Trase’s product development work. Before joining Trase, Shirish worked in various roles implementing technology for social impact. He has strong experience in managing projects in the ICT4D space and developing digital products. Shirish holds a degree in Economics from Hampshire College (BA, 2015) and a degree in Business and Development from the Institute of Development Studies (MA, 2020).

Simon is a mathematician and modeller who joined Trase in 2018. He works across Trase's data and research teams mapping commodity supply chains and analysing Trase data for priority agendas and target users. Before joining Trase, Simon worked on global supply chain mapping and consumption based models. He has experience developing and applying methods for quantifying the flows of goods and their associated impacts. Simon holds degrees in Mathematics and Theoretical Ecology from the University of York (MMath, 2006; PhD, 2012). He works part-time on Trase.

Thomas is a land-use governance expert who started collaborating with Trase in 2015. Thomas is the Trase lead at the European Forests Institute. His work focuses on target users in Europe, Indonesia and West Africa. Before joining EFI, Thomas worked on programs to address drivers of deforestation at the UN Environment Programme in Kenya, the World Bank in the United States, and for philanthropic foundations. Thomas holds degrees in Environmental Policy from the University of Cambridge (MPhil, 2008) and Public Policy from the Paris Institute of Political Studies.

Toby is the Director of Trase and supports work across the initiative with a focus on the research and impact agendas. He co-founded Trase in 2014. Between 2015-2019 Toby co-led SEI's global initiative on Producer to Consumer Sustainability. Prior to joining SEI, Toby was a research fellow at the University of Cambridge where he helped found and coordinate the Sustainable Amazon Network, a multi-institutional research network working on sustainable land use in Pará, Brazil. Toby holds degrees from the University of Edinburgh (BSc, 2001) and the University of East Anglia (MSc, 2001; PhD 2007).

Valentin is an economist researcher who joined Trase in 2023 and works in the Supply Chain Mapping and Research teams. He is in charge with updating and developing the cocoa supply chain models, in Ivory Coast and Ghana. Before that, Valentin was a PhD student at MCC Berlin and PSAE paris, where he did research on Indonesian palm oil deforestation and on pan-tropical indirect land use change, using econometrics. Valentin holds degrees in economics from Université Paris-Saclay (BSc, 2015; MSc, 2017; PhD, 2022) and in geography from Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (cotutelle PhD, 2022).

Vivian is a researcher and data scientist who joined Trase in 2019. She works across the research and development teams and leads work on analysing indicators for supply chain sustainability. Prior to Trase, Vivian researched the implementation of environmental public policies, private initiatives to promote sustainable use, and dynamics of land use and land cover. Vivian holds degrees in biology from the University of Goias (BSc, 2012) and ecology from the University of Brasilia (MSc, 2014; PhD, 2018).

Yani is a low-carbon transition analyst and program manager who joined Trase in 2021. She manages across teams to meet program objectives, engages in policy discussions, and facilitates program development. Before joining Trase, Yani was a policy and program coordinator at UNDP China, working on low-carbon development and global partnerships. She has diverse experience in sustainable finance and international cooperation in East and Southeast Asia. Yani holds degrees in Development Studies from the SOAS University of London (MSc, 2018) and Southeast Asia Studies from the Beijing Foreign Studies University (MA, 2017).

Team

Ailsa Sinclair

André Vasconcelos

Bernardo Loureiro

Carina Mueller

Chris West

Clement Suavet

David Aikman

Enaty Readman

Erasmus zu Ermgassen

Florian Gollnow

Harry Biddle

Helen Bellfield

James Richens

Jason Benedict

Jolene Tan

Jonathan Green

Kate Rampersad

Mairon G. Bastos Lima

Maria Tyldesley

Mark Titley

Mia Shu

Michael Lathuilliere

Michaela Foster

Nicolás Martín

Osvaldo Jose Ribeiro Pereira

Paula Bernasconi

Rafaela Flach

Rhian Ebrey

Robert Heilmayr

Rosa Indenbaum

Ruby Coquilla

Samuel George Baugh

Shirish Bhattarai

Simon Croft

Thomas Sembres

Toby Gardner

Valentin Guye

Vivian Ribeiro

Yani Wang