Future For Nature Office Members

The Future For Nature Office is responsible for organising the application process, providing administrative support to the Selection Committees, organising the FFN events, carrying out public relations and communication activities, fundraising and supporting the FFN Family and learning network.

Dr. Rascha Nuijten

Director

I’m the director of the Future For Nature Foundation. As such, I am responsible for developing our mission and goals, and monitoring our complian [...]

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I’m the director of the Future For Nature Foundation. As such, I am responsible for developing our mission and goals, and monitoring our compliance and progress towards them. To this end, I am working on a daily basis to improve our relationships with partners, and to look for opportunities to further support our winners. All in close cooperation with the FFN Board and FFN Office.

From an early age I have been fascinated by nature, and never missed an opportunity to learn more about it. While studying biology and during several projects abroad, I also started to realize that nature is very much under pressure. And often by our own actions! With this understanding, there grew a passion in me to try and do something about it.

I am a strong believer in conservation optimism, and am confident that positive and optimistic stories will help increase awareness and create a feeling of hope and empowerment that we can turn this around. The growing Future For Nature Family has many of these stories, and together we can lead by example.

The Future For Nature winners dedicate themselves to safeguard species and ecosystems by mobilizing communities, governments and the public at large. They inspire me to give my best every day, for them and for nature.

Marije Nieuwenhuis

Communication and project manager

As Future For Nature’s communication and project manager, my goal is to support the FFN community by fostering connections in the network and sha [...]

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As Future For Nature’s communication and project manager, my goal is to support the FFN community by fostering connections in the network and sharing content that highlights the message and initiatives of Future For Nature. The winners of the Future For Nature (FFN) Award constitute a growing Family of dedicated conservationists and it is a privilege to contribute to sharing their stories and generating awareness about their inspiring and essential work.

My professional background is rooted in communications for non-profit organisations, and my lifelong passion for animals and nature has driven my commitment to this cause. I am a keen bushwalker and lived in Australia where I relished the opportunity to see some unique landscapes and plant and animal species. On my travels, I learned to scuba dive and witnessed how coral reef ecosystems are affected by human impact.

This experience reinforced the profound responsibility we hold to care for our planet and cohabit with other species. In my quest to contribute to nature conservation, the message of Future For Nature resonated with me. It is a message of optimism and the power of collaboration.

I am excited to be part of this impactful movement dedicated to nature conservation. Together, we can make a positive change and contribute to the well-being of our planet and its diverse inhabitants.

Reyhaneh Roohi MSc

Coordinator Awards Cycle

At Future for Nature (FFN), I work as a coordinator. Here I work behind the scenes, arranging, organising, and helping where necessary so everything ru [...]

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At Future for Nature (FFN), I work as a coordinator. Here I work behind the scenes, arranging, organising, and helping where necessary so everything runs smoothly for the annual award event. I am in charge of internal and external communications, onboarding and guiding FFN’s interns and volunteers as well as performing daily tasks of the FFN’s office.

My academic background and work experiences are rooted in nature conservation. I studied Natural Resource Engineering for my bachelor’s degree and to extend my knowledge in the marine realm, I attended a Marine Science master’s program. I worked in different nature conservation NGOs and projects as a Coordinator, Event Manager, Facilitator, Trainer, and Researcher in the field of wildlife and ecosystem conservation.

In 2017, I was working on one of the projects of Future for Leopards in Iran. Here I got the opportunity to attend the 10th Future for Nature’s award ceremony. I was really impressed with their work and mission and now it is my honour to be part of the FFN team. I admire passionate conservationists and I believed in the impacts of their endeavours in ecosystem conservation; it is my pleasure to support and help the FFN family with their impressive works.

Charlotte Betel

Academy Coordinator

Future For Nature and its growing pool of Award winners continue to inspire a new generation of conservationists. Years of story-telling and success-s [...]

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Future For Nature and its growing pool of Award winners continue to inspire a new generation of conservationists. Years of story-telling and success-sharing have led to a united network of passionate students and young graduates: The Future For Nature Academy. As the coordinator of the Future For Nature Academy, I am responsible for the communication within the network and to the FFN Office. I am the general point of contact for the FFN Academy members, and I make sure the network runs smoothly by organizing meetings, helping members set up events, and maintaining the optimistic conservation spirit!

As a child, Animal Planet was my favourite channel and the shows there sparked my passion for nature and traveling. During my MSc in Animal Sciences I was able to delve deeper into learning about ecology and conservation, and travelled to Australia and Guinea-Bissau where I had the chance to see some very endangered habitats and species. This made me realize more than anything that the time for action is now, and I started looking for likeminded people. In 2019 I joined the Future For Nature Academy as a volunteer, and got inspired stories of the FFN Award winners. I am very honored that I now get to coordinate this amazing network of young and passionate future nature conservationists.