RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/W/487  
 
5 June 2019 
(19-3863) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration    
 
 
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE WTO STAFF COUNCIL  
 
Annex  A contains  a letter from the WTO Staff Council.  
 
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  WT/BFA/W/487  
 
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ANNEX A 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ambassador Dagfinn Sørli  
 Chairman  
 Committee on Budget, Finance and  
     Administration (CBFA)  
 World Trade Organization  
 Geneva, Switzerland  
 
 
 Geneva, 18 March 2019  
 
 
Dear Ambassador Sørli, 
On behalf of the Staff Council, we would like to congratulate you on your election to the post of 
Chairman to the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration (CBFA).  
The Staff Council would like to respectfully request the right for members of the Staff Council to be 
present at the meetings of the CBFA, on an ad hoc  basis, where issues of systemic interest to the 
staff will be discussed.  
The Staff Association elects the Staff Council to represent staff members and their interests, as a 
whole. The current 2018 -2021 Staff Council is composed of twelve staff members with a wide -range 
of backgrounds, coming from several Divisions across the WTO Secretariat (see Ann ex I).   
Members of the Staff Council participate in several joint bodies that are of relevance to the 
Administration of the Organization, such as the Appointment Board, Joint Advisory Committee, Joint 
Appeals Board and the Medical Insurance Manag ement Committee (see Office (19)/5/Rev.1, 
attached as Annex II). Through the creation of these joint bodies the WTO has recognized that the 
Secretariat staff are important stakeholders and play a critical role in ensuring that policies, 
procedures and admi nistrative practices remain relevant, coherent, and applied according to existing 
rules. Thus, staff members through the Staff Council and these joint bodies are recognized as 
necessary to ensuring that the WTO Secretariat discharges its functions at the h ighest standard 
possible to the best interest of WTO Members.  
The prior Staff Council made a similar request in 2017 (see WT/BFA/429). However, no consensus 
emerged amongst the Members on how to respond to the request. We would like to clarify, that the 
present Staff Council does not seek to be able to intervene or make statements nor do we seek to 
attend every meeting. Rather, our objective is to be present at CBFA meetings where systemic 
issues, particularly those relating to the terms and conditions of employment are discussed. This 
would enable us to understand the various positions of the Members as they relate to these critical 
issues. It would also greatly assist us in our duties on Joint Bodies, in representing staff members, 
and in cooperating with  the Administration in the development and implementation of relevant 
policies and practices, which have long -term effects on the use of resources of the Secretariat. Our 
presence in the meetings would also facilitate the Staff Council responding to any qu estions that you 
or the Members of the CBFA might have with respect to the views of a critical stakeholder in the 
operation of the WTO – the Secretariat staff – as you undertake your important work in guiding the 
WTO's financial position and use of funds.  ..... ..... WT/BFA/W/487  
 
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  We would like to take this opportunity to thank you in advance for your kind consideration of this 
request. Should you need any further details, please do not hesitate to contact us.  
         Sincerely,  
 
 
 
 
 
         Muriel Salette Carroz  
         President  
         WTO Staff Council  
 
 
 
cc. DDG Karl Brauner  
 Ms Nthisana Phillips  
  WT/BFA/W/487  
 
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ANNEX I  
 
2018 - 2021 STAFF CO UNCIL  
 
Ms Alengi Akina (Treasurer)  
Administration and General Services Division  
 
Ms Maria Bressi  
Languages, Documentation and Information Management Division  
 
Ms Marisa Beth Goldstein  
Legal Affairs Division  
 
Mr Paulo Gonzalez  
Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation  
 
Mr Shashank Kumar  
Rules Division  
 
Mr Yannick Levrat  
Administration and General Services Division  
 
Mr Simón  Padilla (Vice -President)  
Agriculture and Commodities Division  
 
Ms Muriel Salette Carroz (President)  
Administration and General Services Division  
 
Mr Tommaso Soave  
Appellate Body Secretariat  
 
Ms Saskia Shuster (Secretary)  
Legal Affairs Division  
 
Mr Raúl Torres  
Development Division  
 
Ms Christiane Wolff  
Agriculture and Commodities Division  
 
 
 
 
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  WT/BFA/W/487  
 
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ANNEX II  
One copy per  OFFICE(19)/5  
Staff member  24 January 2019  
 Page 1/4  
  
WTO  
NOTICE TO THE STAFF  
Composition of in -house committees  
You will find below the composition of the in -house committees1 with the following changes 
concerning:   
 
a) The Appointment Board (AB) with the replacement of Mr Xinyi Li by Mr  Raul Torres and 
Ms Sara Thizy Nilsson by Ms  Maria Bressi.  
 
b) the J oint Advisory Committee (JAC) with the replacement of Mr Jesse Kreier by 
Mr Roy Santana and the replacement of the former members appointed by the Staff Council 
by Mr  Shashank  Kumar, Mr Simon Padilla, Mr  Tomaso Soave, Ms Christiane Wolff and 
Ms Anne Gauduc hon (alternate);  
 
c) the Joint Appeals Board (JAB) with the replacement of Ms Susan Hainsworth by 
Mr Jesse  Nicol (member), Mr Jesse Nicol by Ms  Mireille Cossy (alternate);  
 
d) the Medical Insurance Management Committee (MIMC) with the appointment of 
Mr Yannick  Levrat and the swap between Ms  Akina  Alengi and Mr Eric Ng Shing as member 
and alternate appointed by the Staff Council;  
 
e) the Contracts Committee with the replacement of Ms Roberta Piermartini by Mr Aik Hoe Lim; 
and 
 
f) the Joint Catering Committe e with a new member, Mr Rachad Fakhouri and the replacement 
of the former members nominated by the Staff Council, Mr  Paulo  Gonzalez and 
Ms Samantha  Evans.  
APPOINTMENT BOARD (A B) 
Dr Karl Brauner  Chairman  
  
Appointed by the Director -General  
 
Mr Alexander Keck  ) Term of office expiring in April 2021  
Ms Kerry Allbeury  ) Term of office expiring in April 2021  
Mr Josep Bonet  ) Term of office expiring in September 2020  
 
Appointed by the Director -General on the recommendation by the Staff Council  
 
Ms Jo sefita Pardo de Leon2 ) Term of office expiring in April 2019  
Mr Raul Torres  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
Ms Maria Bressi  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
 
Mr Cristian Zuccarini  Secretary  
 
 
                                                
1 The term of office for a staff member to serve on an in -house committee should be for a three -year 
period unless otherwise indicated in a Committee's statute.  
2 Ms Saskia Shuster will replace Ms Pardo de Leon as of 1 May 2019.  WT/BFA/W/487  
 
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  JOINT ADVISORY COMMI TTEE (JAC)  
Mr Roy Sant ana Chairman   
Appointed by the Director -General  
Ms Maika Oshikawa  ) Term of office expiring in June 2021  
Mr Christian Dahoui  ) Term of office expiring in June 2021  
Ms Bridget Chilala  ) Term of office expiring in September 2019  
Mr John Adank  ) Term of office expiring in January 2020  
 
Appointed by the Staff Council  
Mr Shashank Kumar  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
Mr Simon Padilla  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
Mr Tomaso Soave  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
Ms Christian e Wolff  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
Ms Anne Gauduchon (Alternate)  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
 
Ms Laura Amharrar  Secretary  
 
JOINT APPEALS BOARD (JAB)  
Ms Suja Rishikesh Mavroidis  ) Chairperson  
 Term of office expiring in April 2021  
Appointed by the Director -General  
Mr Jesse Nicol  ) Term of office expiring in October 2021  
Ms Mireille Cossy (Alternate)  ) Term of office expiring in October 2021  
 
Elected by the Staff Association  
Mr Wolf Meier -Ewert  ) Term of office expiring in October 2019  
Ms Ulla Kask (Alternate)  ) Term of office expiring in February 2021  
 
Ms Anne -Caroline Müller  ) Secretary  
 Term of office expiring in March 2021  
 
MEDICAL INSURANCE MA NAGEMENT COMMITTEE ( MIMC)  
Mr John Breckenridge  Chairman3 
 
Appointe d by the Director -General  
Mr John Breckenridge  ) Term of office expiring in June 2021  
Ms Ludivine Tamiotti  ) Term of office expiring in June 2021  
Ms Xiaolin Chai  ) Term of office expiring in April 2021  
Mr Victor do Prado (Alternate)  ) Term of office expiri ng in April 2021  
 
Appointed by the Staff Council  
Ms Akina Alengi  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
Ms Marisa Goldstein  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
Mr Yannick Levrat  ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
Mr Eric Ng Shing (Altern ate) ) Term of office expiring in November 2021  
 
                                                
3 Members of the Committee shall elect the chairperson annually.  The chair shall not serve for more than 
three consecutive terms. It is recommended that the chairmanship alternate between members designated by 
the Director -General and those designated by the Staff Association (ref.  paragraph 8.4 of the Internal Rules of 
the Medical Insurance Plan (OFFICE(18)/20).  WT/BFA/W/487  
 
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Appointed by the Association of Former Staff Members  
Mr Larry Emler  ) Term of office expiring in June 2021  
Ms Christina Schröder  ) Term of office expiring in June 2021  
Ms Iffet Kayili  ) Term of office expiring in April 2021  
Mr Michael Finger (Alternate)  ) Term of office expiring in June 2021  
 
Mr Atanas Sabev  ) Secretary  
The MIMC may consult outside experts, including the Occupational Health Service or other medical 
specialists, as and when needed. The s election of the medical specialist will be made based on the 
speciality/skills required.  
 
CONTRACTS COMMITTEE  
 
Mr Karl Brauner  ) Chairperson  
DDG in charge of Finance  
 
Ms Nthisana Phillips  ) Director of AGSD  
  
Appointed by the Deputy Director -General in ch arge of Finance  
 
Mr John Adank  ) Term of office expiring in January 2020  
Mr Robert Koopman  ) Term of office expiring in December 2020  
Mr Lauro Locks  ) Term of office expiring in December 2020  
Mr Aik Hoe Lim  ) Term of office expiring in October 2021  
 
Mr Yves Renouf  
Non-voting capacity  ) Legal Counsel  
 
Ms Alessandra Caratozzolo  ) Secretary  
Chief of the Procurement Section  
Non-voting capacity  
  
JOINT CATERING COMMI TTEE4 
 
Nominated by the Administration  
Ms Sandra Gripari Sublet  
Mr Rachad Fakhouri  
Ms Charbanou Jochum  
 
Nominated by the Staff Council  
Mr Paulo Gonzalez  
Ms Samantha Evans (alternate)  
  
Secretary of the Committee  
Mr Olivier Phoeun  
 
 
 
 Roberto Azevêdo  
 Director -General  
 
 
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4 The Joint Committee on Catering Services has the mandate to ensure the quality and to monitor the 
performance of catering services provided at the WTO.