Daphne Hewitt
Daphne oversees the delivery of Preferred by Nature’s forestry services across the United States and Canada. She is responsible for guiding the regional team, ensuring high-quality audit delivery, and overseeing service development and performance management across the forestry portfolio. Daphne also plays a key role in engaging stakeholders and clients, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and contributing to the organisation’s strategic presence in North America.
As USC Forestry Regional Manager, Daphne provides strategic and operational leadership for Preferred by Nature’s forestry certification service delivery in North America. Daphne’s work at Preferred by Nature includes managing complex certification audits, strengthening team capacity, and ensuring consistent alignment with internal procedures and external standards. She supports the introduction of new services and system improvements and collaborates with peers across the organisation to promote effective resource sharing, regional risk management, and client care. Daphne also contributes to regional outreach and maintains strong professional relationships with key accounts, industry partners, and certification stakeholders.
Daphne brings more than 25 years of experience in forestry, forest governance, and international forest product trade. Before joining Preferred by Nature, she held leadership roles in USAID, FCDO, and EU-funded projects across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, including serving as Chief of Party, Senior Technical Expert, and Team Leader. She previously led the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme, coordinating efforts to build legal timber value chains and support forest governance reforms across tropical timber producing countries.
Daphne has been part of Preferred by Nature since June 2025.
"Sustainable resource management is fundamental to build human and environmental resilience and secure our future. I am delighted to be working with an organization that puts practical solutions at the heart of its mission and provides tangible tools for change. With over twenty years’ experience in forest management, production, and trade, I see the power of certification to transform the entire supply chain right down to the end consumer. I find it inspiring to support clients in their journey towards sustainability."
- Sustainable forest management and certification (FSC, SFI/PEFC)
- International forest governance and trade
- Project leadership and donor coordination
- Team management and mentoring
- Policy development and stakeholder engagement
- MSc in Forestry and BSc in Biology
- Countries worked in: Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, México, Panamá, Perú; Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi; Kazakhstan, Vietnam
- Languages: English and Spanish
