Marcel Beukeboom

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Professional background 

Marcel Beukeboom, as a diplomat, is always in search of common interests, with his compass set on the most sustainable solutions. He consistently tries to zoom out and keep the long term in mind. As a climate envoy, he represented the Netherlands in international climate negotiations, translating ‘Paris’ into local action. Now, he does the same as the Dutch ambassador to the United Nations food and agriculture organizations in Rome. Young people can always count on his support and attention, just like his bicycle

Personal motto: 

Everyone is a climate diplomat

 

Ruth van Dijken

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Professional Background

Ruth van Dijken works as an entrepreneur, concept developer, strategist, and change-maker. She creates eco-centric living environments for humans, plants, and animals in real estate and public spaces. She focuses on the importance of multiple value creation where nature, all inhabitants of this planet, are seen as equal partners. Awareness, reciprocity, attention to the whole, positively sharing the message, the new economy, and the shift from ego to eco is her mission. With projects like The Green Mile Amsterdam, she gives shape to these principles.

Personal Motto

Take good care of Mother Earth, and she will take good care of you. Respect all life on Earth, and be the change you want to see.

Laura de Vries

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Professional background

Laura de Vries is dedicated to creating a sustainable future based on broad prosperity. She achieves this by advocating for a resilient, accelerated, and inclusive climate transition. Primarily, she serves as the vice-chair and board member of public affairs at the Youth Climate Movement (Jonge Klimaatbeweging). In this role, she represents the voices of over a million young people to the government and policymakers. Additionally, Laura plays a local role in the climate debate as a Climate Mayor and internationally as a European Climate Pact Ambassador. She emphasizes the importance of being active at the local, national, and international levels to establish strong connections between them. In her daily life, Laura works as a consultant in public affairs, sustainability, and energy transition.

Personal motto 

It always seems impossible until it is done.

Annet de Raadt

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Professional Background

Annet is an enthusiastic development sociologist, coach, policy advisor, and local politician. She has worked with various municipal, national governments, and civil society organizations, with a focus on development cooperation and the social domain. Annet’s core quality, which recurs in all these roles, is organizing and encouraging connection (for example, bridging distances, organizing access, and removing barriers). Annet is committed to this cause at Worldconnectors.

Personal Motto

“You have a no, but you can get a yes!”

Peter Akkerman

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Professional background

Peter Akkerman (1993) is one of the authors of the National Environmental Program (NMP). He has a background in diplomacy and security issues. After starting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he transitioned to sustainability. While peace and security are important, a livable Earth is the prerequisite. Addressing biodiversity loss, the climate crisis and environmental pollution are the challenges of our time, and Peter is passionately committed to tackling them. Peter enjoys working with young people and is the founder of the Youth Environmental Council, chairman of the foundation Bos dat van zichzelf is, and the creator of Serendipity, an app for green cities (under development). He is also one of the organizers of the Symposium 50 Years of environmental policy (2021), the National Environmental Day 2022 – Limits to Growth – and the National Environmental Day 2023 on planetary justice. Additionally, Peter is a creative thinker with thousands of ideas, a lover of good conversations, a networker, a history enthusiast, and an animal lover with a deep appreciation for nature.

Personal motto

He who does not dare does not win.

Mark Schneiders

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In May 2014 Mark Schneiders has become the CEO of KIT, the Royal Tropical Institute, a knowledge hub in the field of interanational cooperation and development. Next to this, Mark Schneiders is chair of the Board Credit Committee of the bank BancABC and he is board member of CEPD, Corporation of European Pharmaceutical Distributors.

Professional background
Mark Schneiders has a background in banking, law and management. During his time at the bank ING he has held various positions at various international locations of ING. Furthermore, Mark has been busy creating a pan-African bank.

Personal motto
Qua patet orbis