Worldconnectors, affiliate Earth Charter

Girma Segaar

What does it mean to be human? Answering that question is his life’s work. For him, it seems to be primarily about the relationship of humans to themselves, to others, and to the world. That’s why Girma is engaged in contributing to social and ecological justice on a small scale, from how he interacts with himself, family, and friends, to the larger scale, including his role as an entrepreneur in ecological building materials and as an advisor on social and societal issues

Personal motto:

Rivers know this; there is no hurry, we will get there someday.

Anniek van der Krogt

in , , ,

I’ve developed a strong understanding of sustainable development through my academic journey in Innovation and Business Analytics Management. My experience in account management and business development in the energy and FMCG sectors have provided me with practical insights into the challenges and opportunities within the realm of sustainable development. I have been involved in projects that have enabled me to collaborate with experts, community leaders, and policymakers, thereby honing my communication, negotiation, and leadership skills. I am excited about the potential to leverage the Worldconnectors platform to amplify the impact of initiatives that align with the Earth Charter’s vision and principles.

Persoonlijk motto:

Turning negative into positive

Caroline Lubbers

in Agrarisch, , , Worldconnectors

What causes our systems to stagnate, and how can we improve them? Caroline’s fascination with this question emerged early on. During her work for the think-tank LEAP2020, she learned a lot about system changes and, more importantly, how we can contribute to them from Europe. She became inspired by systemic thinking and the potential of the future. She has since incorporated this focus into her daily work in the sustainability of the cocoa chain. The challenges include deforestation, child labor, and a living income for farmers. In addition, Caroline is actively involved in gender equality and has established a network of women in cocoa.

Personal motto

Everything is possible

Nina de Kreij

in , Worldconnectors

Professional Background

Nina was born in Germany, studied in England, and now resides in the Netherlands with her husband and three children. After completing her PhD in Classical Languages at Oxford, Nina worked as a university researcher before transitioning to executive search. Through executive search, she aims to contribute to a world where sustainability and equality play a central role. Diversity is crucial for sustainable leadership, and it is rewarding to select individuals who truly make an impact within an organization.

Personal motto

Keep calm and carry on

Koen Eising

in , , , , Worldconnectors

Koen is the CSR Director at Alliander, one of the three major regional grid operators in the Netherlands, operating at the heart of the energy transition. Before joining Alliander, he worked for various consultancy firms at the intersection of organizational development and sustainability. Koen studied public administration and political science in Leiden and completed the post-academic program in Organization and Change Management at VU University. He recently finished the Comenius Philosophy Course. With this background, he is fascinated by how today’s large corporations dare to make significant decisions that are urgently needed. He is interested in understanding the leadership we should trust or distrust. Koen believes that public companies must play a leading role in the sustainable transition. He shapes this belief as the initiator of the Green Networks coalition, where 8 infrastructure companies collaborate intensively on climate, circular, biodiversity, and impact measurement. He is the chairman of the Infrastructure Value Theme Center of Next Generation Infra. Koen is also affiliated with the Impact Economy Foundation.

Personal motto

A sustainable world requires not money or technology but a different set of values.

Dennis Kerkhoven

in , , Worldconnectors

Professional background

Dennis is one of the founding partners of YesAndMore, a Special Purpose Impact Vehicle for regenerative regions, cases for change, and corporates. They work towards “markets fit for purpose” and “thriving societies” through a “trusted space.” Dennis, as an entrepreneur, executive, investor, and philanthropist, has a broad background in the corporate world, governments, knowledge institutions, citizen movements, and financial institutions.

In addition to his work at YesAndMore, he guides boards of directors, supervisory boards, and shareholders through conflicts and complex situations from the standpoint of good governance. He is a guest lecturer at institutions like Nyenrode and chairman of the foundation 0.0. He coordinates the alliance for SDG 16.

Personal motto

Nature only knows optimized abundance.

Marleen Selten

in , , Worldconnectors

Professional background

As the daughter of a climate scientist, Marleen Selten learned at a young age about the effects of our contemporary actions on our environment. After winning the Young Entrepreneurs Zuyd Award in 2017 with a healthy fast-food concept, Marleen decided to pursue a master’s degree at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. During her master’s, she was active in various network organizations, including Female Ventures, an organization that provides a platform for female (social) entrepreneurs. She also conducted research at Philips on making social impact measurable. After completing her master’s, she decided to dedicate her professional career to making businesses more sustainable. This is reflected in her current role at Schiphol, where she works as a link between strategy and operations to implement the airport’s sustainability targets (zero waste by 2030, zero emissions by 2030). In addition to her work at Schiphol, Marleen is actively involved as the chairperson on the board of Young & Fair, an organization that raises awareness about sustainability and fair trade through guest lectures in high schools and annual festivals.

Personal motto

A goal without a plan is only a wish

Jack Cox

in , , , , , , Worldconnectors

Professional Background

Jack is the director/owner of Forza Asset Management, an independent asset management firm with offices in Maastricht, Eindhoven, and Apeldoorn. In 2018, he founded Econsenso with the aim of bringing attention to the financial aspect of sustainability. His book, “Butterfly Economy: From Growth to Development,” was published in 2019, describing the development of an economy that, following the laws of nature, transforms from a caterpillar, always wanting more, into a beautiful butterfly.

Personal Motto

We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

Nicolette Loonen

in , , Worldconnectors

Professional background

Nicolette is one of the Founding partners of TOSCA, a consulting partnership that helps companies be a ‘force for good’. TOSCA believes in change agents who shape the transformation towards an inclusive and sustainable society. Nicolette specialises in sustainability reporting issues, taking the whole value chain into account, from strategy to embedding in culture and steering for real value. Nicolette is also a member of the Supervisory Board of ABP, the Rutgers Foundation and IPPF. In addition, she is a college member of the CvTA. Nicolette is the founder of WIFS, Women in Financial Services, and was the president of the association of more than 500 women in the financial sector from 2010 to 2016.

Personal Motto

Ieder steentje in de vijver kan een rimpeling veroorzaken.

Any pebble in the pond can cause a ripple.

Hans Reus

in Worldconnectors

Professional background

Hans Reus is a partner at a global executive search firm, Russell Reynolds Associates. He assists companies in appointing senior leaders and supervisors who genuinely believe that financial results and sustainability reinforce each other. He played a key role in a major research project conducted by the firm in collaboration with the UN Global Compact, and he regularly delivers lectures on this topic.

Personal motto

The business of business is sustainable business.