Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 35 years of experience, the expert excels in protected area management, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihood development. Key skills include buffer zone management, participatory approaches, and program and project management. The expert has led international and local initiatives, providing technical assistance and strategic planning. Previously held roles such as Senior Technical Advisor and Chief Technical Advisor have involved developing management plans and conservation strategies, enhancing community participation, and improving institutional frameworks across projects in Asia and Africa.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving collaboration with international donors such as USAID, EU, World Bank, FAO, and the German Ministry for Development Cooperation (KfW). Involvement has included project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building, focusing on biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable development. Projects have been regional and national in scope, taking place in countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and several African nations. These initiatives have often integrated conservation with community development, emphasizing participatory approaches and sustainable livelihood development.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in rural development, environment and natural resource management, and biodiversity conservation, the expert has assumed roles such as Senior Technical Advisor, Chief Technical Advisor, and Program Manager. Responsibilities have included project management, strategic planning, and capacity building. The expert's interdisciplinary knowledge includes integrating community development with conservation efforts. The geographic scope of work spans Southeast Asia and Africa, with significant contributions in countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and various African nations, focusing on sustainable development and participatory approaches. The expert has extensive geographic experience, particularly in Southeast Asia and Africa. Notably, long-term assignments have been completed in Vietnam and Indonesia, with other countries of experience including the Philippines, Malaysia, Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Madagascar. The expert possesses deep familiarity with local governance and cultural dynamics, contributing to regional development issues through roles in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management.

Languages and education

The expert is a native Dutch speaker and fluent in English, with strong proficiency in German and French. Additionally, the expert has fair competence in Indonesian and basic skills in Vietnamese. These language skills have been utilized extensively in international settings, working with multilingual teams across various countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, and others in Asia and Africa. The expert's language abilities have supported effective communication and collaboration in diverse and multicultural project environments. The expert holds an MSc in Biology and a Teacher’s Degree in Biology from the State University of Leiden, Netherlands. Additional education includes a seminar on international aspects of environmental problems at the same institution. Further training includes a technical workshop on tropical wetland management by the Asian Wetland Bureau in Malaysia, and a course in Environmental Sciences from the Open University in Heerlen, Netherlands. In 2009, the expert attended a focus seminar on balancing conservation and development needs in Germany.