Team & Board

About us

Meet our team & board!

Way of Working

Our team includes specialists from different backgrounds: science, corporates, marketing, and NGOs. These are our cultural values:

Open – Positive – Bold – Caring – Team up

We create major impact through close partnerships with local and international volunteers, organisations and corporations. From other NGOs to advertising agencies: By joining forces with small and large partners we scale-up our regreening programmes and campaigning activities as fast and efficiently as possible.

Want to be part of our team?

Take a look at our jobs

Meet our Team Team

Marjolein Albers

CEO

'‘Our planet is what we all have in common, so let’s unite and take action to re-green and restore the earth, when it is still possible.''

Niels Dierckx

COO

"Every day we are being flooded by negative news. Justdiggit gives a backlash: We can take action to make the world a little better!"

Kate Nkatha Ochieng

Head of Regional Office East Africa

Phyllis Ndiinu

Operations & Procurement Manager Regional Office East Africa

"The earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Floice Ashilaka

Young Professional Admin, Finance & Logistics

"Procurement isn't just about negotiating deals; it's about forging strategic partnerships that drive sustainable growth and innovation. Let's procure success together, one collaboration at a time."

Suzanne van Esser

Head of Business Development, Fundraising & Partnerships

"There are a lot of worthy causes to fight for, but climate weaves them all together — shaping poverty, health, education, and nearly every urgent challenge we face today. And what could be more tangible and hopeful than regreening dry land, hand in hand with the communities who live and work there? The opportunities for partnerships are limitless. So dig in with us, reach out, and let’s explore how together we can help cool our planet!"

Emma Holthuis

Corporate Partnerships Manager

"Ubuntu reminds us that we exist through others: 'I am because we are'. That spirit drives me to build partnerships that go beyond sharing value: they create lasting, collective impact."

Lewis Smith

Partnerships Lead, United Kingdom & Institutions

"Humanity’s greatest challenge can become our greatest triumph. Let’s turn the tide on climate change together."

Eva Esser

Young Professional Business Development

Adriaan Kauffmann

Head of Impact

"Very excited to contribute to a greener planet."

Mary Sengelela

Country Manager Tanzania

“If our landscapes are degraded, sustaining our lives is jeopardized. This is the decade of doing; DIG IN!”

Christina John

Landscape Coordinator

“Our future depends on how we treat our earth today, lets join hands to make sustainable solutions.”

Francis Mkilema

Landscape Officer

"The present has no limit"

Hillary Rotich

Lead Impact

"Nature is beautiful, preserve and restore it to realize its ecological, economic, and social benefits."

Caroline Kerichu

Landscape Manager Kenya South

"Rebuilding Mother Nature's lost glory is a symphony of resilience, where each act of restoration becomes a note in the melody of renewal, echoing the beauty that once was."

Fridah Makau

Landscape Manager Kenya North

"Lets unite efforts for a greener and cooler planet!"

Samwel Jakinda

Partner Manager Kenya

“I am enthusiastic about ensuring sustainable access to water and sanitation for all with special focus in rural communities. The use of landscapes for rainwater harvesting for human, livestock, wildlife and plants is something that has always interested me. I am therefore delighted to make my contribution to the Justdiggit restoration programme which uses sustainable models to restore degraded lands.”

Marie-Louise Thioye

Landscape Manager Senegal

“Dream big and dare to fail”

Gjalt van der Hem

Young Professional Impact

"I'm driven to use my knowledge to make a meaningful impact. That's why I'm proud to work at Justdiggit, where the mission provides a powerful and positive solution to the world's biggest challenges."

Carl Lens

Head of Scaling

"Within Africa's rapidly advancing internet adoption, let us harness the power of digital technologies to foster a greener world, smarter, faster and better than ever before."

Angelina Tarimo

Program Coordinator

''We have degraded our environment for decades and we are responsible to restore it, I join the combined effort and a positive outlook for Earth to be greener again. Earth has hugged us, it's time to hug it back.''

Patricia Jizwalo

Digital Community Coordinator

"Nature provides us with so much; let's work towards making our lands greener and our planet cooler"

Victor Mathias

Content Coordinator

"Don’t shine so others can see you, shine so through you people can see Christ."

Bea de Andrés

Principal Scaling Expert

"Every breath, every action, every intention shapes what comes next. The Earth holds infinite wisdom: the power to heal, restore and regenerate. It is our duty to protect and nurture it, as we are deeply connected to it. By living in the present and caring for the Earth, we find deeper connection, balance and the power to create lasting change.”

Milga Liban

Principal Social Behaviour Change Expert

George Omollo

Landscape Coordinator

Peter Ochuka

LRE Coordinator

Fey Mallonga

Communications Manager Tanzania

“You are in your current state because it is acceptable to you”

Mokinyo Sintoyia

Rural Communications Coordinator

"Ensuring that the voices of indigenous people echo through the winds of change."

Thysa Beekman

External Communications Manager Africa

Rabieth Paskali

Social and Behaviour Change Communication Coordinator

“Through social and behaviour change communication, regreening becomes the visible outcome of changed hearts and minds”

Merel Rikveld

Head of Communications

Axelle Vergnaud

Communications Manager Netherlands

Romy Gähler – de Groot

Social Media Manager

"Devoted to spreading the word and sharing the inspiring regreening efforts of Justdiggit with our social audience. I am truly honoured and thrilled to be a part of this incredible journey."

Giulia Bianchi

Social Media & Online Community Management

Stuart Taylor

Country Director United Kingdom

"The natural world is suffering and climate change is the most urgent issue of our time. The Justdiggit solution is proven, scalable and makes a long term impact by hitting the sweet spot in helping people, wildlife and the planet. It's a privilege to be part of this amazing team."

Rebecca Blinston-Jones

Head of Marketing & PR United Kingdom

"What I love about Justdiggit is how they use positive storytelling to drive change amongst the communities they work with. With climate change being at the top of the agenda for governments, businesses and consumers alike, this role is an amazing opportunity for me to be part of something that is making a real difference."

Alexander Brown

Visual designer

"With a burning desire to help reverse the drastic effects of climate change on many parts of the world, I am thrilled to join this wonderful team of environmentalists and apply my creativity to such a meaningful cause."

Luna Beeker

Visual Designer

"I’m super excited and proud to be working for a company whose mission is to regreen and restore degraded land in Africa, to ultimately bring back climate change. Like Jane Goodall once said: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

Xanthe Buruma

Digital Communications Coordinator

"Taking my knowledge and using it for good, is something I always strive to do. And here at Justdiggit, this is exactly what I can do. Through communications we are able to spread our positive message all over the world. With the help of a motivated and enthusiastic team we are set on regreening as many degraded landscapes as possible!"

Theresa Ebert

Communications Coordinator

Virginia Ndala

Young Professional Communications

Tran Le Quynh Bao

Young Professional Communications

Tessa Witte

Lead Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

“A little less conversation, a little more action!’ This quote represents the key reason why I love working at Justdiggit. My personal mission is to ensure that also Justdiggits’ MEL system is Inspirational, Actionable, and Empowering. The MEL function aims to provide evidence that our approach to regreening works, inspiring others to act and join the movement."

Sospeter Mumbo

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor

"Understanding the intricate balance between ecological renewal, community empowerment, and sustainable land management, and capturing the stories of transformation within landscapes to drive evidence-based decision-making for a greener, more resilient future, is what our comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) approach at Justdiggit aims to deliver."

Thijs van der Zaan

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor

“One of the biggest challenges of our time is figuring out how to live as a part of nature, instead of working against it. Contributing to solving this problem is one of the greatest motivators there is!"

Carlos Nyabuto

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer

Catherine Ngina Ndungú

Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Officer

Jesse Owino

Senior Technical Expert – Sustainable Land Management & Research

“The space to improve our environment resides in the many small actions we take and in such nature changes and we regreen.”

Jackie Kemboi

Landscape Restoration Quality Assurance Coordinator

"I’m motivated by the challenges in the rangelands that need solutions. Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. It’s high time we Just Dig, restore the ecosystem and cool down the planet."

Lana Müller

Senior Restoration Expert

Cletus Lunalo

Landscape Restoration Expert

"This is the decade of action! Let’s engage and collaborate with communities to design, train, and implement innovative nature-based solutions that restore landscapes, boost local incomes, and create sustainable futures for people and the planet—because our collective action today shapes tomorrow. Join us, and let’s dig in!"

Clément Cheruiyot

Landscape Restoration Technician

"Together, as guardians of our planet, we hold the key to halt and reverse land degradation, ushering in a new era of vibrant green landscapes."

Sander de Haas

Chief Technical Officer & Regreening Expert

"By taking action we can really make an impact for the communities, the environment and the climate!"

Cindy van der Top

Head of Finance & IT

"Just digging it to work for this wonderful organisation full of enthusiastic and professional people, doing good for Africa!"

Rico Samson

Manager Finance & Control

“Inspiring and motivating farmers to regreen Africa and creating positive awareness of the opportunities to cool down the planet. That’s a pretty cool business to work for!”

Daniela Rojas

Finance & Operations Officer

"I think it’s pretty cool to help the Earth cool!"

Ruth Wamugi

Finance Manager, Africa

“The environment we live in requires to be protected so let honor it”

Lilian Kiruri

Finance Officer, Africa

"Don’t count the days, make the days count’’

Felix Oriwa

Grants Manager

"All I want is to stand in a field and feel the cool and green nature."

Lelo Koinange

Head of People & Culture

“I believe restoring the Earth begins with how we show up for one another. It's where collective care becomes the courage to heal landscapes"

Kizzy Pemberton

Operations & People Manager The Netherlands

Simon Kagima

Driver

Daniel Kishoyian

Driver

Natasha Ogeli

Intern Digital Regreening Analyst

Daniël Sap

Intern Evidence Based Impact

"A significant gap between science and practice exists. We know what to do, now we just have to do it. So let’s go digging for a better world!"

Matisse Bloem

Intern Marketing & Communications

Cornelius Czech

Intern Business Development, Fundraising & Partnerships

"Protect what we love"

Meet our Supervisory Board Board of Supervisory

Jos Huijbregts

CFO, strategist and teacher

Eddy Moors

Rector at IHE Delft Institute for Water Education

Harold Knebel (chairman)

CEO & Partner bij IBS Capital Allies

Vineel Agarwal

Media and Communication expert & Former CEO Havas Africa Network

‘'I support Justdiggit's mission and I am proud to associate myself and Havas Media with them. With a strong belief in building meaningful connections, as a marketer, I would like to work together with an impact towards such initiatives and social causes.'’

Seynabou Ba

Founder of ESG Africa | 22 years international E&S risk management| Partner with private sector 2 drive impact via SDGs

‘'I dig Justdiggit because it just makes sense, the earth is heating up so let’s cool it. I was attracted by the fact that there is a simple and effective solution that everyone can understand and contribute to. Let’s stop bullying the earth and instead protect trees.'’

Meet our Advisory Board Board of Advisory

Marlene Wickel

Managing Director at Jean Mineur Mediavision

Volker Schlöndorff

Movie director

''I am happy and proud to join JUSTDIGGIT’s advisory Board. For more than 2 years now I have been criss crossing the Sahel zone, and I can certify: no regreening is more efficient and more fun than JUSTDIGGIT’s! Using the wisdom of farmers and bishops alike, spreading the word by comedians and experts alike, JUSTDIGGIT educates, motivates and simply DOES.''

Wessel Koning

IMPACT ENTREPRENEUR | CO-FOUNDER | FORMER JUSTDIGGIT MT & DIRECTOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS (2016 - 2022)

"For 6 years I've had the privilege to be part of the Justdiggit team to onboard global brands as partners and funders to help Regreen, Cool down the Planet and make lasting impact on Nature, Climate and People. As Entrepreneur and part of the Advisory Board I will keep an eye out for new Justdiggit partners and think of ways how to scale and make more positive Impact"

Judith Peters

Vice President Head of Channels & Marketing at ViacomCBS Benelux

''I find it fantastic to see how Justdiggit fulfills her mission and makes dry land green again - with 'simple' techniques and communication. It has so much impact on farmers and the climate. We should all contribute to this!''

Jenny Elissen

Founder at Giantleapers.com, Founder at theinterdependent.nl

Susan Mashibe

Executive Director at VIA Aviation Limited

Mashiri Zvarimwa

Building entrepreneurial synergies and sustainable ecosystems of innovation The planet Earth and its Nature are a special GIFT to humanity.

''I am super proud to be part of a movement that is giving back to this GIFT that keeps on giving. You too can join the re-greening bandwagon and make a difference today.''

Allard Ruyl

CEO @ Talpa Media Solutions

Ignace Schops

Director at RLKM - President EUROPARC Federation

Titus Eikeleboom

Entrepreneur | Consultant in Media, Content & Communications | Investor

Bas van Schouwenburg

Legal Director Offshore Energy - Van Oord

Dennis Kuperus

Director Auke Media Partners

Meet our Kenyan Board Kenya Board

P Wanjiku Kamau

Strategy | Governance | Program Leadership

“Restoring Africa's land creates resilient communities and sustainable economic opportunities. I am honored to support Justdiggit as we scale community-driven restoration for future generations”.

Stellamaris Mulaeh

Certified Board Director, governance professional and fundraiser

"Regreening starts with people. When communities have the knowledge, confidence, and support to restore their land, they strengthen their livelihoods, build resilience to climate change, and create a healthier environment for future generations."

Vineel Agarwal

Media and Communication expert & Former CEO Havas Africa Network