IWCA at the Women in Tea & Coffee Conference 2025 – Uniting Voices Across the Supply Chain
On May 2, 2025, IWCA proudly participated in the inaugural Women in Tea & Coffee Conference, hosted by Tea & Coffee Trade Journal at The View in London. This groundbreaking event brought together leaders from across both industries to advance gender equity and create meaningful career connections from bean and leaf to cup.
Representing the International Women’s Coffee Alliance was Anke Erichsen, IWCA Global Board Member and long-time champion of women in specialty coffee. With a career that spans over two decades—including leadership roles at Mahlkönig, Orang Utan Coffee, and WAVE Investments—Anke brought a wealth of insight into how women’s leadership has shaped and strengthened the global coffee community.
During a joint presentation with representatives from the International Women in Tea Association (IWTA), Anke spoke about IWCA’s expanding global network, now active in 35 countries. She highlighted IWCA’s efforts to support women throughout the coffee value chain through programs in leadership development, business training, advocacy, and partnerships that build local and global opportunities.
Together, IWCA and IWTA offered a powerful vision for cross-industry collaboration—one rooted in inclusivity, knowledge sharing, and visibility for women at every level of the supply chain. Their session underscored the value of collective action and the importance of creating spaces where women can lead, learn, and thrive.
The conference itself was a vibrant gathering of changemakers, featuring keynote presentations from Vanusia Nogueira of the International Coffee Organization and Rona Tison of ITO EN, as well as panel discussions on sustainability, speed-networking sessions, and collaborative presentations that showcased the remarkable contributions of women in both sectors.
As the coffee and tea industries continue to evolve, IWCA is honored to stand alongside like-minded organizations like IWTA to amplify women’s voices and build a more sustainable, equitable future.
Thank you to the organizers, speakers, sponsors, and all who attended for making this a landmark moment. We look forward to continuing this conversation and deepening our shared work in the years ahead.
