Ralien Bekkers

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Professional Background

After two years serving as the Dutch Youth Representative for Sustainable Development to the UN, from Rio+20 to COP20, Ralien Bekkers moved to the United States for a master’s program at Yale University. There, she worked on the agreement and implementation phase of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including at the office of the UN Secretary-General. Currently residing in Washington, Ralien works with an international coalition for the implementation of the Paris Agreement: NDC Partnership (ndcpartnership.org). From 2019-2021, the Netherlands co-chairs this coalition. Ralien collaborates with developing countries to accelerate the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), mobilize necessary financing, and enhance international ambition to implement climate actions in alignment with the SDGs.

Personal Motto 

“The greatest gift that life has to offer is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing”
– Theodore Roosevelt

Imad el Fadili

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Professional background

Imad has worked as an adviser in different private and public agencies (a.o. Deloitte) in the financial field. For the past three years, Imad has focused on the world of Islamic Finance and more specifically, Islamic social finance. This is a discipline that implements innovative and sustainable solutions for present-day challenges (e.g. debt issues and poverty reduction).

Personal motto 

”Don’t aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.”
This quote includes two core values that are central in Imad’s life, humility and determination.

Douwe van der Stroom

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Professional background

Douwe works in the energy transition team of the Port of Rotterdam. Here, he is involved in the decarbonization of the largest energy system in the Netherlands, currently accounting for 20% of the national CO2 emissions. He guides and supports various projects, including those related to hydrogen, wind energy, and smart energy systems.

Douwe completed his high school education at the United World College in Italy, followed by studies in economics and digital innovation at King’s and Imperial College London. “No values, no show” is a creed that Douwe firmly believes in because it is challenging to fight for a just world without a moral foundation. In addition to his studies in London, he strongly supported the Remain campaign (unsuccessfully), the start of Extinction Rebellion, and organized a congress on the ethics of artificial intelligence.

Personal motto

No values, no show