The World Agroforestry Centre operates under the authority of a legally constituted Board, charged with overall responsibility for the work of the Centre. The board has diverse skills in the areas of agroforestry science, business management and accountancy. The board meets twice a year, once face-to-face and once by teleconference. Additional teleconferences are held for various committees as needed.

The Board of Trustees plays a number of crucial roles.

  • Legal: ensuring the best interests of the Centre and its stakeholders.
  • Functional: participating in policy setting, delegating responsibility to Centre management and evaluating and overseeing performance.
  • Symbolic: assuring stakeholders and securing their goodwill.

Currently the board has six standing committees: Executive and Finance Committee; Programme Committee; Audit Committee; Nominations Committee; Operations Committee; and Resource Mobilization Committee.

The Board of Trustees has delegated implementation of the World Agroforestry Centre Strategy 2008-15 and day to day operations to the Director General and Senior Leadership Team.

Eric Tollens
Chair, Board of Trustees

Hosny El-Lakany
Member, Board of Trustees

Dennis Garrity
Ex-officio member, Board of Trustees


Romano Kiome
Ex-officio, Board of Trustees

Olavi Luukkanen
Member, Board of Trustees

John K Lynam
Member, Board of Trustees


Juan Mayr
Member, Board of Trustees

Paco Sereme
Member, Board of Trustees

Dr Ritah Sharma
Member, Board of Trustees

Dina Nath Tewari
Member, Board of Trustees

Hilary Wild
Member, Board of Trustees

 Linxiu Zhang
Member, Board of Trustees
Board Documents
Former Board Members