InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR – The career path of Sangeetha Umakanthan has been anything but linear.

She began her professional journey as an accountant-in-training in Australia and Malaysia—an occupation she quickly realized was not meant for her. From there, she reinvented herself in the world of communications, embarking on a career that would take her across the Middle East and Africa.

Today, that journey has brought her back to Malaysia as Deputy Director of Communications at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

For Sangeetha, returning home to work in the palm oil sector feels like coming full circle.

From Qatar to Africa

Throughout her career as a communications consultant, Sangeetha has worked on a wide array of global projects. These include designing communication strategies for Hamad International Airport in Qatar, collaborating with innovators and startups in Africa, and writing for Boston Consulting Group.

She later served as a consultant for the Presidency of Côte d’Ivoire, where she gained deeper insights into challenges facing the cocoa sector, including farmer livelihoods, deforestation, and child labour.

“It was there that I truly understood the link between poverty and sustainability, and the inequalities that still exist,” she said, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from RSPO on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).

This realization eventually led her to pursue a career focused on sustainable development.

Tackling Misconceptions About Palm Oil

Despite her global career, palm oil has always been close to Sangeetha’s life. Growing up in Malaysia, she spent time visiting relatives who lived on plantations—experiences that shaped her affinity for the industry.

In her new role, she believes one of the biggest challenges in the sustainable palm oil sector is public misunderstanding.

According to her, negative perceptions about palm oil continue to circulate widely in mainstream media despite increasing data showing that palm oil can be produced sustainably.

“It’s frustrating to see misconceptions persist when there is strong evidence that palm oil can be grown sustainably,” she said.

Embracing a Digital-First Strategy

Looking ahead, Sangeetha believes communication strategies must shift toward a digital-first approach.

She envisions RSPO expanding its storytelling through podcasts, videos, documentaries, and other digital media platforms to reach broader audiences.

Her arrival at RSPO also coincides with an important milestone: the organization’s 20th anniversary.

For her, this moment provides an opportunity to highlight two decades of progress in sustainable palm oil while shaping the industry’s narrative for the future. (T2)