Nico Roozen (born in The Netherlands in 1953) studied history in Amsterdam and theology in Utrecht.

In 1984 he started working with Solidaridad, an organization for development cooperation which initially focused on Latin America, but later on started operating worldwide. Initially, he was employed as campaigner. In 1990 he was appointed director of Solidaridad. Under his direction Solidaridad has developed into an internationally recognized organization, with a very specific expertise in the development of models which have contributed significantly to bridge the gap between the work of charities on the one hand and industry, trade and retail companies on the other.

In 1988 Nico launched the Max Havelaar label for fair trade coffee. This was the world's first fair trade label and it has formed the basis for local fair trade labeling initiatives in Europe, Japan, Australia/New Zealand and the USA and Canada.

As from 2000 on he started developing a model for fair trade textiles. In 2001 he launched the trendy fair trade jeans brand Kuyichi, which has developed into a European jeans and tops brand.

As from 2003, Solidaridad has been developing or co-developing a number of programmes aiming at creating workable tools for companies willing to take up their corporate social responsibility. Nico is the current President of the Board of Utz Certified.

In 2009, Nico Roozen was invited to become member of the Task Force Biodiversity and National Resources as installed by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (presided by former Minister Hans Alders), as well as the Committee for Biodiversity, recently installed by the same Ministry.