Natural rubber stakeholders align on GPSNR governance

Natural rubber stakeholders have aligned on a governance structure and priority actions for the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), an independent platform to lead improvements in the socio-economic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain.

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A 22-23 January stakeholder workshop in Singapore saw Founding Members of the GPSNR and other stakeholders, align on a multi-stakeholder governance structure that includes a greater share of voting weight for civil society members. “This is a significant development,” said Stefano Savi, GPSNR Director “the model aligned on last week in Singapore comes out of a November 2018 workshop in Geneva – it’s a product of the dedication of all stakeholders to the shared goal of sustainable natural rubber – we’ve seen compromise from all parties, there’s a spirit of cooperation and inclusivity that shows there’s real commitment to make this work.”

The proposed governance structure will be put forward for adoption at the platform’s inaugural General Assembly (GA) planned for 21 March 2019, Singapore, scheduled in conjunction with the World Rubber Summit. Whilst multiple stakeholders have provided valuable input to the development of the platform thus far, governance roles and rights-to-vote are reserved for platform members only.

The platform includes the enrollment of smallholder members amongst its priorities. Despite the challenges associated with recruiting smallholder representatives, the more than 50 GPSNR stakeholders present at the workshop agreed that this critically important stakeholder group should be part of the GPSNR decision making structure. A dedicated working group will be established to coordinate actions to identify and secure adequate smallholder representation.

The workshop also confirmed the need for targeted member-recruitment to bolster the inclusion of rubber processors, NGOs specialized in social aspects relevant to rubber production, as well as non-tire manufacturing rubber makers.

“Agreement on platform governance is excellent progress and means the platform can better focus on the work ahead. We’re all aware of the critical challenges that remain, but there’s a feeling that, together, we can meet those challenges” said Savi, speaking at the close of the two-day workshop.

More To Explore

Impacts and Assurance Associate, Sustainability and Compliance

Impacts and Assurance Associate, Sustainability and Compliance

Department: Impacts and Assurance

Reports to: Impacts and Assurance Director

Employment type: Full time

Salary range: SGD 45,000 to 63,000 annually, excluding employer CPF

Other benefits: Flexible working arrangements, learning and development budget, employee insurance, generous leave allotment

Work arrangement: Flexible, hybrid

Location: Singapore

Start date: As soon as possible

Purpose of the Role

The Impacts and Assurance Associate manages GPSNR’s assurance system, an ESG performance and verification mechanism through which member companies demonstrate progress in making and implementing sustainability commitments to manage social and environmental risks. The role covers the full assurance cycle: policy alignment review, data reporting management, third party audits and assessments, assessor training, complaints handling, and continuous improvement of the assurance model. It also plays a central role in briefing members on their obligations and keeping them engaged with GPSNR’s wider work.

This is a strong fit for someone who wants to build a suite of skills in assurance, auditing, and verification systems within the sustainability and supply chain sector, while working directly with a wide range of companies, NGOs, and other stakeholders across the natural rubber value chain.

About GPSNR

Founded in 2019, GPSNR is an international, multistakeholder, voluntary membership organisation working to improve the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. GPSNR has over 250 members, representing more than 50% of globally traded natural rubber volume.

Our members span every segment of the value chain, from smallholder farmers to tyre manufacturers, and every region of the world. We maintain a flexible, dynamic organisational culture, and we are committed to driving real improvement in the natural rubber supply chain.

GPSNR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity of experience and background, including but not limited to race, gender identity, nationality, age, disability status, parenthood, sexual orientation, and religion. Every employee’s perspective contributes to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

This role covers three connected areas of work:

  1. Policy Compliance and Member Obligations
  • Review, approve, and update members’ policies for compliance with GPSNR’s Policy Framework.
  • Brief members on their obligations under the Policy Framework, Reporting Requirements, and Assurance Assessments
  1. Assurance System Management
  • Oversee the operation of GPSNR’s reporting requirements, including data publication and analysis.
  • Administer training for and approval of third party assessors.
  • Schedule, conduct, and close members’ annual third party assessments.
  • Publish the results of members’ assessments.
  • Handle complaints linked to assurance assessments.
  • Analyse assurance assessment results to identify trends and risks.
  • Conduct regular reviews of the assurance system and propose improvements.
  • Track and manage members’ assurance related terminations and suspensions.
  1. Stakeholder Engagement and Governance
  • Work with the Oversight Body, the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Task Force (MELTF), Assurance System Task Force (ASTF) and internal stakeholders to improve the assurance system.
  • Brief members on the platform’s latest developments, tools, and resources.
  • Brief members on GPSNR’s history and ongoing work.
  • Facilitate member discussion in the Assurance System Task Force.

Duties may evolve as the assurance system develops, and the role may take on other reasonably related tasks over time.

About You

You care about managing social and environment risks well and you’re motivated by creating change at scale in a global supply chain. You’re comfortable reviewing detailed technical and policy documents, and you don’t lose sight of the bigger picture while doing so.

You communicate clearly and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders, including company representatives, NGOs, smallholder farmer representatives, and governance bodies, some of whom may have competing interests. You can hold a firm line on compliance requirements while keeping relationships constructive.

You work well independently, manage multiple concurrent workstreams without losing track of detail, and adapt your approach as the assurance system evolves.

You are comfortable working with data sets to analyze performance, and you are keen on making changes to promote improvements in process.

You actively build positive relationships with those whom you work with, both internal and external to the organization.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical or procedural requirements clearly to non specialist audiences.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, including experience managing sensitive conversations with diverse stakeholders.
  • Ability to manage several ongoing workstreams independently and prioritise in a dynamic environment.
  • Comfort with data analysis to identify trends or issues in reporting and assessment results.
  • Initiative to develop and improve procedures, templates, and processes.

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Experience reviewing compliance, audit, or policy documentation closely and accurately.
  • Experience with assurance, certification, or audit systems (for example ISO 19011, PEFC, FSC, ISCC, or similar).
  • Experience handling complaints, grievances, or dispute resolution processes.
  • Experience working within multi-stakeholder initiatives or membership organisations.
  • Background in agricultural commodities, supply chains, or sustainability.
  • Experience training or coaching others.
  • Proficiency in more than one language.

How to Apply

To apply, email your CV to aidan@gpsnr.org with the subject line “IA Associate Application 2026, [Your Name].” In the body of your email, please include a response in 100 words or less on why this role interests you and what makes you a strong fit.

Applications that don’t follow this format, or that are submitted only via LinkedIn’s Easy Apply, will be deprioritized.

News

A First Look at GPSNR’s second Executive Committee

GPSNR’s Executive Committee comprises Ordinary Member representatives of each membership category, according to the newly approved allocation proposed in the resolution for a standalone category for natural rubber smallholder producers. Each membership category is allocated a total of three seats in the Executive Committee, with representatives chosen by elections within the category.

The Executive Committee serves as a center for overarching ideas of the Platform, and Executive Committee members bear the responsibility of raising awareness of emerging issues to their respective categories, initiating consultation sessions, and encouraging active participation in GPSNR’s Working Groups and activities.

The members of the second GPSNR Executive Committee, according to category, are as follows:

Producers, Processors & Traders

SIPH – represented by Marc Genot (Managing Director, Societe Africaine des  Plantations  d’Heveas SA)

Socfin – represented by Philippe De Groote (Head of Agronomy – Rubber)

Southland Global – represented by Tim Leong (Associate Director)

Tire Makers and Other Natural Rubber Product Makers

Bridgestone Corporation – represented by Andy Thompson (Global Director, Sustainability Strategy, Policy & Integration) 

Continental AG – represented by Claus Petschick (Head of Sustainability)

Michelin – represented by Segsarn Trai-Ukos (Managing Director, SociĂ©tĂ© des Matières Premières Tropicales Pte Ltd)

Car Makers, Other Downstream Users, and Financial Institutions

BMW Group – represented by Vanessa Buchberger (Purchasing and Supplier Network, Sustainability, Innovation Management, Cooperations)

Civil Society

HCV Resource Network – represented by Arie Soetjiadi (SEA Representative)

Mighty Earth – represented by Margaret Kran-Annexstein (Campaign Director)

WWF – represented by Amy Smith (Deputy Director, Forest Sector Transformation)

Smallholder Producers

Baroan Roland – CĂ´te d’Ivoire

Dang Quoc Thong – Vietnam 

Soontorn Rakrong – Thailand

The Executive Committee holds a monthly conference call to discuss proposals put forth by the Working Groups, and other issues pertinent to the Platform.

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