Elaine Ashley

Chair of the Board

Elaine has volunteered with Bristol Fair Trade since 2005, and has been a supporter of Fairtrade since its early days. She gained a reputation in the 1990s for encouraging her colleagues to eat more Traidcraft Fairtrade chocolate biscuits than was good for them. Today, Elaine works for Bristol City Council and in 2014 was the first person to receive an Advocate Award at the South West Fairtrade Business Awards for her instrumental role in encouraging the use of Fairtrade products in council outlets. She believes that shifting the power balance in trade towards small-scale producers and businesses is one of the best ways to achieve greater equality and social justice in the world.  

Fair Trade favourite - A chilled glass of Coop Argentinian Pinot Grigio