International Year of Camelids 2024
30 March, 2024
On February 19, the 2025 Ordinary General Assembly of the International Alpaca Association was held, and as part of it, the new IAA Board of Directors was elected for the period March 2025 – March 2027, being made up as follows:
- PRESIDENT: Jessica Rodriguez Gutierrez
Founder and CEO of Art Atlas, a renowned exporter of the Peruvian textile sector, created in 2000 with a firm vision of sustainability and social development, generating decent employment opportunities, especially for women.
Since 2013 she has also led ANNTARAH, a sustainable fashion brand with a presence in the retail market, which promotes the use of natural fibers such as alpaca, with a focus on responsible design and commerce.
She is president of the Art Atlas Foundation, from where she promotes social programs for women in vulnerable situations, and actively participates in women’s leadership networks such as IPAE, Women Caregivers and Leaders for Equity.
In 2010 she was recognized by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her participation in the Pathways to Prosperity initiative. She has represented women entrepreneurs in the country in international forums such as APEC Women and UN Women. She also founded the Arequipa Chapter of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs.
Jessica Rodriguez made history by becoming the first woman to assume the Presidency of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Arequipa in its 133 years of existence (2019–2021).
Today she assumes with pride and commitment the presidency of the International Alpaca Association, from where she will continue promoting the excellence, sustainability and global positioning of this unique fiber.
- VICE PRESIDENT: Maria del Carmen De La Fuente Alvarado
Co-founder and General Manager since 1986 of ALLPA, a world-renowned handicrafts export company.
Sociologist from PUCP with postgraduate studies at The Sorbonne, Paris.
Active member of the World Fair Trade Organization for the last 15 years.
Founder of INPAT, Peruvian Institute of Crafts and Founder of the Crafts Council PERU created in 2016 to promote and protect Peruvian Handicrafts nationally and internationally.
- DIRECTOR: Juan Pepper Pastor
Commercial Director of Michell & Cía. S.A., the main international alpaca textile conglomerate.
He is also a member of the board of directors of La Joya Mining S.A.C., a member of the board of directors of the Alpaca Civil Association of Peru ASCALPE, a member of the board of directors of the Peruvian Tennis Federation FDTP.
With a specialty in international business with Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East, and more than 30 years of experience in managing high-performance teams and sustainability issues.
Juan Pepper holds an MBA in International Business from the University of Philadelphia in the United States, and a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Católica Santa Maria, Arequipa.
- DIRECTOR: Mateo Macedo Gomez de la Torre
Deputy Commercial and Operations Manager of Classifier of Wools Macedo-CLAMASA. Specialized in Communications and Business Image, and with experience in foreign trade, industrial operations and community relations, working more than 5 years with high Andean communities in Peru.
- DIRECTOR: Silvia Crosato Bruni
Commercial Director of Textile Industries of South America-ITESSA, a Peruvian textile factory dedicated to the manufacture of industrial yarns.
Born in Lima with studies in Marketing and Foreign Trade, and with more than 30 years of experience in the Alpaca industry.
- DIRECTOR: Ines Vizquerra Benavides
General Manager of Andes Textiles Peru S.A.C. (DBA: Wayra).
Specialized in Business Administration and Marketing, with more than 15 years of experience in the Alpaca industry and with special interest in sustainable development projects in Peru and that generate jobs especially for women.
Since 2020, she has been actively participating in the International Alpaca Association, being part of the Organizing Committee of Alpaca Fiesta 2024.
- DIRECTOR: Nátaly Fonseca Cateriano
General Manager of the Silkeborg Uldspinderi office in Peru, a company dedicated to the manufacture and sale of alpaca blankets and flat knit accessories.
She was in charge of the implementation of the Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS) in the Silkeborg Group.
She has more than 15 years of experience in the Alpaca Industry and was president of the Academic Committee of Alpaca Fiesta 2024.
She is an Industrial Engineer from the Catholic University of Santa Maria in Arequipa and an MBA from the University of the Pacific in Lima.
