Meet the 2026 WIN Board of Director Candidates

Voting begins March 23 thru April 6, 2026. Voting link will be emailed to WIN members.

The nutraceutical and natural products industry is powered by innovation, collaboration, and strong leadership. As Women In Nutraceuticals continues to grow, our Board of Directors plays an essential role in guiding the organization’s impact and advancing gender equity across the industry.

This year, there are two open seats on the WIN Board of Directors.
WIN members in good standing may vote for two candidates from this year’s slate of seven nominees.

Voting Opens: March 24
Voting Closes: April 7

Ballots will be automatically emailed to eligible WIN members.

We’re proud to introduce this year’s exceptional candidates — leaders who are committed to helping shape the future of WIN.

Meet the 2026 Board candidates:

Ewa Hudson - Director of Insights, Lumina Intelligence

• Ewa Hudson - Candidate Statement

  1. Why I Am Seeking a Board Position

  For decades, women were treated as a variable in clinical research — too complex, too hormonal, too difficult to study. Women continue to spend significantly more of their lives in poor health, shaped by gaps in research, data and care.

  These inequities extend into entrepreneurship and leadership, where credibility, visibility, and access to funding remain barriers.

  At the same time, the nutraceutical sector is entering a decisive moment, with innovation increasingly shaped by intellectual property, AI, and deep technology.

  This moment matters.

  WIN is uniquely positioned to ensure this shift benefits women — in health outcomes and professional opportunity.

  I am seeking a position on the WIN Board because I believe in WIN’s mission to elevate women through stronger, women-centred scientific evidence, as well as through confidence, leadership, and connection.

  I believe the next phase of WIN’s growth requires strong governance, international perspective, and strategic clarity — alongside passion and purpose.

  I am committed to supporting that evolution in a structured and sustainable way.

  2. Experience Relevant to Board Service

  My experience structuring global insight frameworks, guiding senior decision‑making, and leading international research platforms has given me the judgement and strategic oversight essential to board service.

  As Director of Insights at Lumina Intelligence, I lead market intelligence across health and wellness.

  I develop frameworks that inform strategy, translate evidence into recommendations, and support commercial, R&D, and executive teams.

  I present at leading conferences.

  Previously, as Global Head of Health&Wellness Research at Euromonitor, I led research across 54 countries, built and mentored analyst teams, and advised senior leadership on portfolio decisions.

  Beyond corporate roles, I chair the NutraIngredients Awards Europe and have introduced the Innovations in Women’s Health Award to highlight evidence-based progress and women-led innovation.

  I also serve on the IPC Scientific Committee and as WIN Co-Chair for the UK and CEE, actively contributing to WIN’s European development.

  3. What I Will Contribute to the WIN Board

  My long-standing focus on women’s health — from the First 1000 Days to Menopause White-space Analysis — reflects my commitment to areas where women’s biology and unmet needs intersect.

  I bring the ability to identify meaningful white spaces early.

  I also bring expertise in data analytics and visualisation. For more than two decades, I have helped organisations interpret complex information, and translate insight into strategic decisions.

  These capabilities can help WIN strengthen measurement, build simple insight loops across regions, and make its impact more visible and measurable.

  4. How I Will Help Advance WIN’s Mission

  I would support WIN’s international growth by helping build clear regional structures, listening mechanisms, and shared insight frameworks that reflect diverse cultures.

  I would also strengthen governance processes, clarify priorities, and ensure that board decisions are practical, scalable and expand WIN’s reach and long-term sustainability.

  Closing

  I bring strategic clarity, a sustained commitment to advancing women, and a collaborative leadership style grounded in evidence and accountability.

  It would be an honour to help guide WIN into its next stage of global impact.

Elspeth Roza-Slocum - Business Development Manager, IMCD Group

• Elspeth Roza-Slocum - Candidate Statement

  Hello, and thank you for taking the time to consider my candidacy for the Board of Women in Nutraceuticals. 

  My professional journey in the nutraceutical industry is not just a career path — it is a lifelong commitment. I was raised in this industry, beginning in my father’s vitamin and health food store and stepping into my first formal role in Quality Assurance at the age of 16. From those early experiences, I developed a deep understanding of the full product lifecycle — from sourcing and validating ingredients, to quality testing, production oversight, and ultimately supporting retail sales. 

  Throughout my career, I have intentionally sought experience across each facet of our industry. Today, my focus centers on advancing clinically tested ingredients and ensuring evidence-based solutions reach the marketplace. I believe strongly that nutraceuticals are more than consumer products, they are transformative solutions that have the power to elevate health, improve quality of life, and support individuals managing chronic conditions. 

  I became involved with Women in Nutraceuticals shortly after its inception and proudly became a member in 2023. Since then, I have actively supported organizational events and networking initiatives. I see tremendous opportunity for growth and impact within our community. 

  If elected to the Board, I am committed to strengthening our organization by: 

  • Expanding membership and increasing engagement 

  • Positioning Women in Nutraceuticals as the premier resource for mentorship and professional development 

  • Championing leadership pathways for women at every stage of their careers 

  • Elevating the visibility and influence of women across the nutraceutical industry 

  My vision is clear: to help establish Women in Nutraceuticals as the definitive platform for mentoring, collaboration, and leadership development within our industry. 

  It would be an honor to serve and to contribute meaningfully to the continued growth and success of this organization. 

  Thank you for your consideration. 

Kimberly Summers - Chief Revenue Officer/Treasurer, RamAayanaM Clinical Solution

• Kimberly Summers - Candidate Statement

  I am honored to be considered for board service with Women In Nutraceuticals at a time when our industry has both the responsibility and the opportunity to close gaps in equity, leadership access, and representation.
  
  I currently serve as Chief Revenue Officer and Treasurer of RCS Inc., a global clinical research organization. I’m also a ranking Wellness Executive with multiple certifications that complement my readiness and a desire to empower my communities.
  
  As a commercial leader, I bring 25 years of experience across regulated markets, the last decade being within the nutraceutical sector. I specialize in commercial strategy, go-tomarket execution, portfolio support, and global launch readiness. I’ve had the great fortune to support three large nutraceutical suppliers with robust clinical programs, translating scientific, clinical, and regulatory requirements into scalable commercial outcomes and enterprise value creation. I serve as a trusted partner to executive leadership and regularly liaise with medical, regulatory, and R&D teams across U.S. and international markets.
  
  However, what most defines my candidacy for WIN is my historical volunteer and servant leadership experience. 
  
  From 2008-2011, I served as Chapter Chair of a faith-based Steering Committee for a women’s division group (ages 35–45). I facilitated structured dialogue, leadership development, and collective accountability. In 2018-2019, I served as Vice President of Operations and Communications on my university’s Alumni Council, supporting governance coordination and mission-driven initiatives. Within WIN, I have volunteered for approximately 2.5 years supporting sponsor engagement, gaining firsthand insight into the importance of measurable impact, inclusive collaboration, and transparent leadership.
  
  A guiding principle in my life is “taking empathy and turning it into compassionate action.” Rooted in my reformist Buddhist practice, this translates professionally into courage in difficult conversations, disciplined self-reflection, and a commitment to measurable progress. 
  
  Three examples reflect this in action:
  • I co-hosted WIN’s webinar “Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions: Navigating Difficult Conversations,” equipping professionals with practical tools to address workplace disparities constructively and respectfully.
  • Through my mentorship cohort, I co-hosted “Leadership in Nutraceuticals- Women Are Leading the Way,” encouraging industry peers to identify and embrace diverse leadership styles that strengthen innovation.
  • As CRO and Treasurer at RCS, I implemented an Alternative Dispute Resolution policy that balanced fiduciary responsibility with early, solution-oriented conflict resolution demonstrating that governance discipline and compassionate business practices can coexist.
  
  I strive for what I call Work Peace, creating professional environments where diverse perspectives including the future generations, are engaged, respected, and empowered to drive innovation. While I personally aspire toward broader peace, I believe advancing equity and inclusive leadership within our industry is a practical and immediate expression of that commitment.
  
  If elected, I will bring strategic clarity, transparent governance, measurable accountability, and a steadfast commitment to advancing WIN’s mission through compassionate, action oriented leadership with disciplined stewardship.
  
  With sincerest gratitude for your time and consideration,
  Kimberly Summers

Rajat Mittal Shah - Founder & Executive Director, Nutriventia

• Rajat Mittal Shah - Candidate Statement

  I am honored to stand for election to the Women in Nutraceuticals Board.

  WIN exists to ensure women have an equal voice in leading and shaping our industry. My commitment to this mission is both professional and personal.

  As my career expanded across geographies, so did my family. Navigating leadership growth alongside motherhood taught me an enduring lesson. Growth without structure creates imbalance. Sustainable progress, in organizations and in life, requires intentional systems, clear priorities, and shared support. That lived experience fuels my commitment to WIN.

  I hold an MSc in Computer Science and Engineering and an MBA in Marketing and Strategy. I have built and scaled organizations across India and the United States, serving as Cofounder and President of Inknowledge, then as Director, Promoter, and Board Representative at Inventia Healthcare, a pharmaceutical company operating in over 28 countries and successfully exited to a U.S.-based private equity firm. I now serve as Co-founder of Nutriventia, where we build science-backed nutraceutical solutions grounded in disciplined, systems-driven growth.

  When I helped initiate WIN in India, I began alone. I quickly learned that meaningful growth is a team effort. In supporting WIN’s expansion across APAC, we have engaged national chairs and strengthened regional coordination. That experience reinforced a core governance principle. Expansion requires alignment, structure, and shared ownership.

  Board service demands a mindset distinct from operational leadership. Governance is not execution. It is judgment, oversight, financial and risk fluency, and long-term value creation. It requires asking the right questions, protecting institutional integrity, and ensuring accountability without overreach.

  If elected, I will focus on three priorities.

  First, strengthening global alignment so our chapters operate as a connected learning system rather than isolated successes.
  
  Second, designing measurable, regionally responsive programs in partnership with sponsors and leaders. We must establish shared global standards while adapting thoughtfully to local realities. Every member, regardless of geography or career stage, should feel represented and supported.

  Third, safeguarding a culture strong enough to endure growth and leadership transitions, rooted in transparency, accountability, respect, and purpose. A tree does not grow tall because of where it stands. It grows tall because of how deeply it is rooted in its values.

  As WIN expands, I am committed to ensuring our roots remain strong and our growth remains intentional.

  With gratitude,

  Rajat Mittal Shah
  
  

Petra Erlandson - Vice President of Sales, Alkemist Labs

• Petra Erlandson - Candidate Statement

  My name is Petra Erlandson, and I am happy to introduce myself as a candidate for the WIN Board.

  For the past two and a half years, I have proudly volunteered with WIN. I started as Science Committee Marketing Chair and currently serve as Programming Awards Chair. Through this work, I have seen the passion and powerful dedication of our members and volunteers, and what that can achieve. It is impressive to see the support, momentum, and community that WIN has created globally in such a short time.  It has been an honor to facilitate WIN’s work in these leadership roles, and I am excited to continue building on that solid foundation in a governance role as a WIN board member.

  My background explains my strong motivation to further WIN’s mission.  I have worked in the nutraceutical industry for 20 years in third-party testing and reference material production, currently as Vice President of Sales at Alkemist Labs.  I also have extensive international experience collaborating with international clients and distribution partners.  I have a degree in Chemistry and much of my educational and professional experience has been gender lopsided.  (As an example, only 25% of my college student body was women.)  Having had very few female role models and mentors in my early years, I am strongly committed to ensuring today’s developing leaders have the support and guidance that I did not.

  Serving in mission driven nonprofit organizations is personally rewarding for me. During the COVID pandemic, I led a school district wide parent council. As president of this volunteer group, I coordinated communication between school leaders and families and advocated for critical mental health and online learning resources. Those memories stir strong emotions for me and I am proud to have made a difference.  I also volunteer in several industry working groups including the all-volunteer SoCal Dietary Supplement Consortium which offers low-cost regulatory training and open dialog with US FDA to all.

  I am seeking WIN board service because I believe in stewarding our mission for the long-term benefit of our members and industry. With continued effective governance, we can ensure our impact for future generations to come, creating and supporting the collective upward career growth of our members. I am deeply driven to move the needle on executive level gender equity especially in building strong pipelines where women are traditionally underrepresented.  Specifically, I want to create member education initiatives to build financial and revenue skills, such as P&L understanding, which are critical to C-suite advancement and often lacking for many professional women.   Another area of my focus will be intentional board level sponsor stewardship which is essential to sustaining and growing our impact.

  My leadership style is pragmatic, warm, and inclusive. I am a consensus builder who believes diverse perspectives, united around a shared mission like WIN’s, can create lasting change.  It would be an honor to help guide WIN’s next chapter. 
  
  Thank you for your consideration and vote.

Haeri Roh-Schmidt - Vice President, Global Product Development, Herbalife

• Haeri Roh-Schmidt - Candidate Statement

  With 20+ years of executive and board-level experience across nutrition, consumer health, and technology-driven innovation, I bring a deeply informed, governance-focused perspective grounded in science, commercial strategy, and ethical leadership. My career has centered on aligning boardroom decision-making with global growth, operational resilience, and stakeholder trust - priorities I would be honored to support as a member of your board.

  As a current member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), I help shape the organization’s scientific and public health agenda, oversee regulatory engagement, and contribute to fiduciary decisions around research investment and strategic planning. In parallel, I also advise a few early-stage companies on science-backed innovation governance, IP strategy, and organizational design, ensuring that founding teams embed transparency and accountability into their growth trajectories from day one.

  My executive experience at Herbalife Nutrition (where I led both Central Product Innovation and Global Strategic Sourcing) equipped me with firsthand insight into global compliance, cross-functional transformation, and enterprise risk management. I built governance frameworks that unified R&D, regulatory, and commercial teams around product integrity and ESG accountability. This governance-driven approach has been a constant across my roles, including P&L responsibility at DSM in ASEAN markets and technical and regulatory leadership at Amway.

  Across each of these roles, I have fostered collaboration between diverse stakeholders, translated scientific complexity into strategic opportunity, and built structures that ensure long-term resilience. I have also maintained a clear commitment to inclusive leadership, ethics, and boardroom transparency—hallmarks of effective oversight in today’s business landscape.

  I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring this experience to your board and to contribute to your mission, governance strategy, and long-term success. Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Sara Lesina - General Manager, SIRIO Europe

• Sara Lesina - Candidate Statement

  My professional background

  I have been in the food & bev, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry for the better part of 20 years. I have started as a Marketing Specialist at Cargill, a fortune 500 food ingredients giant, then moved onto Lonza, pharmaceutical CDMO, to lead their global Marketing and Product Line Management teams in the capsule business, and ultimately have joined Sirio Group, APAC-based nutraceutical CDMO, as the European GM. I have also been Americas GM for Sirio Group in 2023-2024.

  My current role - General Manager Sirio Europe

  I own the full P&L of the European Business Unit, with all functions reporting directly to me (Commercial, Operations, HR, Finance, Supply Chain, R&D).

  I increased the turnover from 35M EUR when I took office to 98M EUR (2025 FY) with entirely organic growth, while also improving operating and net profitability, the efficiency of our manufacturing site in Germany, and building an international Leadership Team that is 50-50 gender balanced.
  

  My motivation

  Being honest, my biggest career breakthroughs happened when someone (usually, a man in a senior position) took a chance on me based on my potential, instead of my track record. Which is quite rare for women in the workplace.

  I recognize that those chances are few and far between for most of us, especially young women at the beginning of their career. 

  I thus would like to serve on the WIN Board because WIN’s mission resonates deeply with me on a personal level. Advancing equality, access, and opportunity in the nutraceutical industry—an industry that directly impacts the health and wellbeing of consumers around the world, most of whom are women—is fundamental to me as a person and as a leader. 

  Throughout my career, I have seen how inclusive leadership and diverse perspectives lead to stronger, more sustainable outcomes, especially in global and cross-cultural environments. I have also seen the damage that can be done when people who do not fit "the mold" (whether gender, race, identity or culture wise) are kept at the margins and do not get given chances to succeed in their role, despite being brilliantly gifted for it.

  Having experienced it on my own skin, in the good and the bad, I have taken a conscious approach to being a leader ever since being appointed one. When I joined Sirio Europe, to make but one recent example, I was the only woman in a senior position. I have since grown my leadership team and am proud to state we have 50/50 balance in management positions across functions. I have witnessed first-hand young women come work for me and blossom into wonderful managers, innovators, challengers and all around leaders for tomorrow's industry, simply by being given the chance to be themselves.

  Having led teams across all continents, it's clear environment and challenges differ from country to country, but the innate desire to lean in and be recognized for our contributions cuts across lands: women in all regions need the same level of unbiased support, simply to be able to show us what they are capable of.

  Serving on WIN's Board would be a wonderful, meaningful opportunity to help shape WIN’s long-term direction and ensure the organization continues to deliver real impact to make our industry a more accessible, equitable one for the future. 

Shaping the Future Together

WIN’s strength has always come from the passion and engagement of its members. This year’s candidates bring the experience, perspective, and commitment needed to help guide the organization forward. As WIN continues to grow its impact, the leadership of these individuals will play an important role in advancing gender equity and supporting the next generation of industry leaders.

Voting Begins March 23 - Voting Ends April 6