Woensdrecht, North Brabant, Netherlands
As an executive leader with over 30 years of experience in sustainable development and environmental conservation, I specialise in aligning organisational vision with evidence-based impact. My work spans Africa and Europe, focusing on strategic NGO leadership, institutional fundraising, policy advocacy, and programs centred on One Health, livelihoods, animal welfare, and terrestrial/marine conservation. With a background in tropical animal husbandry and conservation management, I’ve led international teams and managed multi-million-euro programs funded by the EU, USAID, UN agencies, and the World Bank. I’m particularly passionate about working with local partnerships at the intersection of economy, environment, and community well-being—mobilising coalitions and campaigns that drive systemic change. Currently, I serve as Executive Director of Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Belgium (VSF-B), where we focus on integrated livestock development in fragile arid and semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. We promote the Planetary/One Health approach, advocating for its importance at national, EU, UN, and WB levels, and believe sustainable livestock-based livelihoods can be a force for environmental, economic, and social resilience in the Global South. Previously, I was Regional Director Europe at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), where I led fundraising and advocacy on wildlife/marine conservation and disaster response. I also served as Senior Advisor in Animal Production Systems at Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation. Earlier in my career, I was also the General Director of VSF-B (2009–2016), leading programs across 9 African countries and education/advocacy efforts in Belgium. I began my journey in 1992 with Heifer International in Cameroon as a dairy program coordinator, later becoming Deputy Country Director. In 1997, I founded Heifer Nederland, which grew to support projects in 10 countries with a €2.1M budget. Specialties: • One Health | Animal Welfare | Livestock & Value Chains • Natural Resource Management | Conservation (North & South) • Strategic Planning | Program Cycle Management | M&E • Institutional Fundraising | Grant Writing | Reporting • EU & International Advocacy | Public Awareness • Capacity Building | Education | Networking
Managing a Family Estate of about 170 Ha. of forest Located in the cross border national park "Grenspark De Zoom-Kalmthoutse Heide" Based on practical and academic know how promote and advocate our approach.
Wageniningen University & Research Centre for Development Innovation (Wageningen CDI) stands for innovation for sustainable and equitable development. At Wageningen CDI we focus on the global challenges of secure & healthy food, sustainable markets, adaptive agriculture, ecosystem governance and conflict, disaster & reconstruction. We link cutting-edge processes of innovation and learning with Wageningen University & Research's world-leading scientific and technical expertise. Our work fosters collaboration between citizens, governments, businesses, NGOs and the scientific community. Our worldwide network of partners and clients links with us to help facilitate innovation, create capacities for change and broker knowledge. My job is bringing in the expertise of the Animal Production Systems side of our work.
Rounding up my seventh year with VSF-Belgium. With a terrific team we are turning around a difficult period into an opportunity to reinforce the administrative organisation/internal control (AO/IC). Allowing VSF-B to be strong in 8 African countries and to have an interesting Advocacy and Development Educational and Awareness Raising program in Belgium/Europe. And prepare VSF-B to venture into more "Social Profit" activities. I joined VSF-B as Coordinator East Africa, main duty was to assist the East Africa team to transition towards a de-centralised team, which was done in about 7 months, After that I was offered the Director's position.