Born in the Netherlands and raised in Canada, I developed a deep love for the outdoors and a lifelong commitment to conserving nature from an early age. Inspired as a teenager by trailblazing urbanists like Jane Jacobs and James Howard Kunstler, I began questioning the imbalance between nature and the sprawling suburbs I saw around me.
Today, as an ecological engineer, I combine my love for ecology with a fascination for technology to develop and bring to market emerging solutions that reconnect people with nature. I call this concept the “Internet of Nature” (IoN)—a global movement that uses technology to create nature-rich, resilient communities in the face of climate change, public health challenges, and ecosystem degradation.
Through my Internet of Nature Podcast, with nearly 30K+ downloads, I highlight courageous innovators and entrepreneurs who are turning this vision into reality.
Nature for everyone
Photo credit: Roger Cremers for National Geographic
With over a decade of academic experience across four continents, scientific research is firmly in my wheelhouse. But what sets me apart is my ability to bridge disciplines—combining research with real-world implementation, working in tech startups, launching global products, and leading teams to success.
My work has been featured internationally, including documentaries by BBC Earth and arte.tv, multiple radio shows across the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and in Newsweek, ELLE, and National Geographic, where my Ph.D. research earned a five-page feature.
I am proud to have been recognized for both academic and entrepreneurial achievements, including:
• Fulbright Scholar at MIT’s Senseable City Lab (where I remain a research affiliate)
• The European Space Agency’s “Space Oscar” for combating urban deforestation
• Named to Forbes’ and Elsevier’s “30 Under 30” lists
• Selected for the Sustainable Young Top 100 list (three consecutive years in a row)
In 2024, I was named a National Geographic Explorer, researching how rapidly growing cities across Latin America are embracing the Internet of Nature to create greener, healthier futures.
My debut book, The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet (HarperCollins), became a #1 Amazon bestseller, was featured by Bloomberg, NPR, CNBC, and the New York Post, and has also been translated into Dutch (Lannoo).
I take pride in translating complex scientific and technological discoveries into actionable knowledge and inspiring stories. Whether through keynotes, global events, podcasts, or product launches, my mission is to inspire a new vision for cities—places where nature thrives, people flourish, and technology serves as a bridge—not a barrier.
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