Anniek van der Krogt

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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 sector has 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 World connectors platform to amplify the impact of initiatives that align with the Earth Charter’s vision and principles.

Persoonlijk motto: Turning negative into positive

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

 

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!”

Riemer Brandsma

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Professional background

Riemer Brandsma started in 2019 at MM-United Nations, initially participating as a delegate in international conferences but later taking a seat on the advisory board and the organizing team of international conferences. Additionally, he works with Montessori Europe as a conference leader and organizer of the annual European Youth Conference of Montessori Europe. In 2021/2022, Riemer served as the Climate Mayor of the Municipality of Wageningen and, as an SDG voice at SDG Netherlands, contributed an additional voice advocating for international collaboration in these goals.

Personal motto

Maintain trust and never give up; we are not alone.

Aniek Moonen

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Professional Background

Aniek Moonen has been the chairperson of the Young Climate Movement since October 2021. As the chairperson of the Young Climate Movement, Moonen represents over 100,000 Dutch young people in the climate debate.

Personal Motto

“I have never done it before, so I think I can do it.” – Pippi Longstocking

Ceacilia van Peski

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Professional background 

Caecilia Johanna van Peski holds an MSc degree in Educational & Cultural Psychology from Tilburg University (2001), an MA degree in Civil-Military Interaction from the German Military Staff College in Hamburg (2021), and a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership from the OSCE Border Management College in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (2021). She is a Commander in the Royal Netherlands Navy, Military Veteran and an authority in the field of Security & Defense, Civil-Military Interaction, Democratisation & Elections and Justice & Equality whose achievements have received national and international recognition. Recipient of the ‘Ambassador for Peace’ Award granted by the Universal Peace Federation (2010), she is regarded as being among the most influential women of her generation in the Netherlands – listed as one of the ‘Viva’ top 400 (2009) and among the top 100 of ‘Opzij’ (2010). October 2010, she was appointed UN Special Representative for her country, addressing the 65th United Nations General Assembly in New York with her statement ‘Deepening Democracy’. She has worked for (inter-)governmental, multilateral organizations, amongst which the Netherlands Foreign Office, the United Nations (UNDP, DPKO), the European Union (EEAS), the European Commission (EIDHR), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR), NATO, and DCAF-ISSAT Geneva.

Personal motto

Partnership for Peace and Prosperity!

Werner Schouten

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Professional Background

Until October 2021, Werner Schouten served as the chairman of the Youth Climate Movement. In this role, he represented the voices of over 100,000 young people, students, and young professionals in the realm of climate policy within politics and the business sector. Werner sees sustainability as an opportunity to build bridges, transcending social divides and bridging generational gaps, with the aim of collectively working towards a thriving future with harmony between people, the environment, and prosperity. Additionally, as the owner of the startup Carbon Clarity, he assists organizations in making their operations more sustainable.

Personal Motto

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.”

Simone Filippini

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Professional Background

Simone Filippini is a former senior Dutch diplomat. Among others, she served as Head of the Gender and Women Rights department in the Netherlands MFA, Consul-General for the Southeastern US and Dutch Caribbean, and Dutch Ambassador to North Macedonia. In 2013 she became CEO of one of the largest Dutch humanitarian and development organizations Cordaid after which she served as interim ED of NIMD, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy. In December 2018 Simone established the not-4-profit Leadership4SDGs Foundation which aims at capacitating and empowering government leadership to lead and drive achieving the SDGs.

Simone has been engaged in multiple voluntary functions and roles, including as the elected International Secretary of the National Board of Dutch political party D66, President of the Skopje International School, Board member of the CIDSE – together for Global Justice and of the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD). At present a.o. she is a member of the World Government Summit Dubai Global Council on SDG16, President of the UN Association for the Netherlands (UNANL), Member of the International Advisory Board of the Athena Management School in Mumbai, Member of the Supervisory Board of the Netherlands-African Business Council, President of the D66 local Chapter in her city of residence, and a regular contributor to Horasis. Mrs. Filippini is also a strategic adviser, communication expert, accomplished speaker (ZijSpreekt and Bookingworldspeakers.com), and facilitator.

Personal motto

If nothing is ventured, nothing is gained

Jack Cox

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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.