A pharmacist by profession, she started her career in the pharma industry at Ciba/Novartis. After spending the first part of her career in multinational companies in 1999 she became CEO of the Max Havelaar Foundation- a Fair Trade organization. During the same period, she was appointed as member of the Board of FLO International (Fair Trade Labeling Organisations) and was elected President and Chairwoman of the FLO Board from 2001 to 2004. Since 2005, Paola Ghillani is Member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She is also member of the board of different organizations, among them diverse ethical investment funds. On the 1st of September 2005, Paola Ghillani has founded her own company, the Paola Ghillani & Friends Ltd., active in corporate strategies and management consulting, and in promoting and implementing sustainable development and ethic in business. More than a company, it’s a philosophy with the vision: For a better world through the economy. Paola Ghillani graduated with a degree in pharmacy from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. She completed her business background at the IMD in Lausanne, with a degree in International General Management and the International Program for Board Management. In addition to her many achievements, Ms. Ghillani was selected in 2000 as Global Leader for Tomorrow (GLT) by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.