Violeta Stevens Keynote Speaker

Violeta Stevens is a leading expert in sustainable value chains and Managing Director at Union Hand-Roasted Coffee, the leading UK speciality coffee brand and a B Corporation. Union was the first UK company to link sustainable development with exceptional quality coffee through its pioneering sourcing initiative Union Direct Trade, and remains a leader in this area.

Joining the company in May 2016, Violeta is driving Union’s growth while ensuring the business remains at the forefront of sustainable business practices.

Union has received many accolades over the years recognising its work. In 2022 Union was awarded Most Ethical Brand Europe and Best Specialty Coffee Roasted Europe. The company also received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development.

Violeta has over 25 years of experience working for large multi-national businesses as well as small to medium sized ethical enterprises. She has a strong background in developing sustainable business models, enhancing resilience across supply chains and building a culture of sustainability within a business. Additionally, she has knowledge on how to develop and lead the strategic business case for organisational change and how businesses can drive wider system-level change.

Prior to her role at Union, she spent over 10 years with Cafedirect, the UK’s first and largest Fairtrade hot drinks brand and a social enterprise.

Violeta is a coffee connoisseur; she is a certified Q grader (a similar accreditation to a Sommelier in wine). Violeta has travelled extensively to coffee, tea and cocoa growing countries and has developed a deep understanding of the key challenges smallholder producers face.

Violeta is passionate about coffee, and it is dedicated to adding real value to people and businesses.

Violeta holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Value Chains from the University of Cambridge, MBAe in LSE London and MSc in International Business and Marketing.