TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In an official announcement, the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) welcomes Dr. Musdhalifah Machmud as Deputy Secretary General and Mdm. Izzana Salleh as the next Secretary General, serving from June 2025 to May 2028, according to a press release received by Tempo on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
With this change, CPOPC enters a new stage in its strategic commitment to advancing equity, sustainability, and international collaboration in the palm oil industry.
Through proactive involvement, data-driven advocacy, and cooperative innovation across geographies and value chains, the new Board seeks to further CPOPC's goal.
Legacy of the 2022–2025 Board
At a news conference at the CPOPC Secretariat in Jakarta, the leadership change was revealed.
CPOPC organized the event with the departing Board of Directors (2022–2025), which included Dr. Rizal Affandi Lukman as the Secretary General, Datuk Nageeb Wahab as Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Witjaksana Darmosarkoro as Director of Sustainability and Smallholders, and Dr. Puah Chiew Wei as Director of Policy and Strategy.
During their tenure, the Board greatly increased CPOPC's policy relevance and global influence.
Under the present leadership, CPOPC had a new strategic identity that united the interests of producers and consumers, protected smallholders, and promoted sustainability with purpose and practicality.
Dr. Rizal Affandi Lukman's term set the stage for a more inclusive and powerful CPOPC by increasing the organization's multilateral reach and spearheading intricate policy discussions with the EU.
Five Key Pillars and Achievements
By concentrating on five main pillars—which are communication (advocacy) and promotion, sustainability, smallholder support, research & development, and consultation—CPOPC improved its strategic positioning under the current leadership.
According to CPOPC, their key achievements include:
First, securing UN ECOSOC observer status, enabling CPOPC to advocate at the highest multilateral platforms.
Secondly, launching the Sustainable Vegetable Oils Conference (SVOC) as a global forum for dialogue across the vegetable oil sector.
Thirdly, establishing the Ad Hoc Joint Task Force (JTF) with the EU, Indonesia, and Malaysia to engage directly on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
Fourth, driving targeted engagements in consuming countries including the EU, UK, India, China, and Pakistan to counter misinformation and advocate for transparent, science-based trade.
Fifth, joining the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), positioning palm oil within the energy transition narrative toward Net Zero 2060.
And sixth, promoting youth engagement through the #YoungElaeis Ambassadors program, reaching over 380 participants globally.
A Visionary Path Forward
Mdm. Izzana Salleh, a graduate of California State University Pomona, Imperial College London, and Harvard Kennedy School, and also the incoming secretary general, offers to CPOPC a unique combination of expertise from corporate leadership, international non-profit campaigning, and public policy.
She co-founded Girls for Girls International (G4G), a worldwide mentorship network that operates in more than 40 countries, and is a Board Trustee of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).
She is also the founder of RISE Human Capital and has held leadership positions across several of Malaysia's leading agencies and businesses.
Dr. Musdhalifah Machmud, a well-known Indonesian policy expert with more than 30 years of public service, will be joining her.
Important national policies pertaining to sustainability, agriculture, and food security have been influenced by Dr. Musdhalifah's leadership at Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
She has served as CoChair of the Forest, Agriculture, and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue, among other significant international projects, on behalf of Indonesia.
As she takes the helm, Ms. Salleh emphasized that she is stepping into an important role alongside Deputy Secretary General Ibu Musdhalifah Machmud.
"I am honored to lead CPOPC at a time when the voices of producing countries must be stronger than ever. We will work to ensure that palm oil, as it is responsibly and sustainably produced by our Member Countries, is recognized globally as a force for good — supporting livelihoods, contributing to food and energy security, and driving real climate action," said Ms. Salleh.
"Our focus will be on strengthening regional collaboration, harmonizing sustainability standards, and championing the rights of smallholders in global value chains. We are committed to engaging more actively with partners around the world, building trust through transparency, science, and shared responsibility," she added.
Dr. Rizal Affandi Lukman also agreed with the statement mentioned by Ms. Salleh, adding that it has been an honor for him to lead CPOPC during such a transformative period. "Over the past three years, we have worked tirelessly to reshape how the world perceives palm oil— placing facts, fairness, and smallholder welfare at the heart of the conversation," he said.
"We’ve strengthened our institutional foundations, expanded our global network, and engaged directly with policymakers, producers, and communities alike. This is not the end, but a continuation. I am confident that with the leadership of Ms. Izzana Salleh and Dr. Musdhalifah Machmud, CPOPC will move forward with renewed energy to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead," said Dr. Rizal.
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