The Team
Our team brings together a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, collaborating to build capacity and develop projects focused on scaling up ecosystem restoration. Our collective expertise spans areas such as rewilding, biodiversity conservation, regenerative agriculture, and ecotourism, as well as science, spatial technologies, and nature-based entrepreneurship. We are also outdoor adventure enthousiasts.
Board of directors
Purnima Devi Barman
Director of Species Restoration & Community Climate Education
Time Magazine Woman of the year 2025. Purnima Devi Barman is a wildlife biologist and the founder of the Hargila Army, an all-female conservation initiative protecting the greater adjutant stork, in Assam, India. In 2022, she was awarded the Champions of the Earth award in the Entrepreneurial vision category, UN’s highest environmental honour.
Euridice Leyequien Abarca
Training & Research Director
Eurídice Leyequién is International Training and Education Director at the Rewilding Academy. She is a Professor-Lector Management of Forested Landscapes, ecologist and an advocate for climate resilient rural communities and landscape restoration. Specialised in science-policy-practice interface by developing climate smart ecosystem management and regenerative agriculture.
Arend de Haas
Ecosystem Restoration & Capacity Development Director
Restoration and conservation ecologist with 25 years of experience with ecosystem restoration and conservation, carbon project development, ecotourism and sustainable community development. Co-founder of the African Conservation Foundation and a specialist in GIS, remote sensing and project impact measurement and monitoring.
Marc Wilbers
Education Director
Marc Wilbers is a passionate naturalist with extensive expertise in topics concerning wolf behaviour and bison reintroduction. His lifelong fascination with nature has endowed him with a deep understanding of flora and fauna, and how they interact with each other and their physical environment within a specific area or habitat.
Programme Coordinators
Michele Robson
Communication Coordinator
Michele is the Multimedia Communication Coordinator at the Rewilding Academy, using strategic marketing and digital technologies to promote nature-based solutions. She specializes in networking, partnership development, and impactful storytelling. An experienced public speaker, mentor, and trainer, she brings decades of global experience to advancing education in rewilding and ecosystem restoration.
Han Ypes
Volunteer Coordinator
Han Ypes, born in Indonesia and raised in South Africa, is an entrepreneur dedicated to environmental sustainability. With experience in waste recycling and waste-to-energy projects, he advocates for ecosystem health through initiatives like rewilding. Han believes that future generations hold the key to creating lasting environmental change.
Sylvia Jacobi
Event Manager
Sylvia Jacobi, a nature enthusiast and IVN Nature Education Program participant, brings expertise in ICT, merchandise management, and office administration. As an event manager, she supports the planning of our upcoming conference, Rewilding Our World: Global Perspectives and Local Actions. and prepares for a future role in guiding.
Conference Team
Sylvia Jacobi
Event Manager
Sylvia Jacobi, a nature enthusiast and IVN Nature Education Program participant, brings expertise in ICT, merchandise management, and office administration. As an event manager, she supports the planning of our upcoming conference, Rewilding Our World: Global Perspectives and Local Actions. and prepares for a future role in guiding.
Noortje Looijenga
Intern Wildlife Ecology, Conference Organisation
Noortje Looijenga, a 22-year-old ecology student, discovered a new moth species during her MBO internship at Naturalis. Now focused on rewilding and animal behavior, she researches wildlife ecology and assists with conference organisation, contributing to golden jackal conservation with the Rewilding Academy.
Jeroen de Wit
Wildlife Guide / Educator
Jeroen’s passion for nature led him to pursue an associate degree in ecology, deepening his understanding of ecosystems. A natural educator, he inspires others to connect with and protect the environment. With extensive experience as a nature guide, Jeroen combines storytelling and ecological knowledge to create engaging outdoor experiences, fostering a lifelong appreciation for nature.
Han Ypes
Volunteer Coordinator
Han Ypes, born in Indonesia and raised in South Africa, is an entrepreneur dedicated to environmental sustainability. With experience in waste recycling and waste-to-energy projects, he advocates for ecosystem health through initiatives like rewilding. Han believes that future generations hold the key to creating lasting environmental change.
Cor van Emst
Volunteer
Cor van Emst has dedicated his career to the meteorological sector, working extensively as a forecaster. With a deep-rooted passion for the natural world, he has developed a particular interest in environmental monitoring and biodiversity. He is actively involved in tracking and studying the stag beetle, contributing valuable data to conservation efforts.
Paul macke
Volunteer
After 46 years as an English teacher in secondary education, I retired last summer, eager to apply my linguistic skills in meaningful ways. With the international scope of the Rewilding Our World conference, I hope to contribute by facilitating communication and sharing ideas. Being outdoors and engaging with like-minded people who are committed to rewilding and conservation continues to inspire me.
Interns
Noortje Looijenga
Intern Wildlife Ecology, Conference Organisation
Noortje Looijenga, a 22-year-old ecology student, discovered a new moth species during her MBO internship at Naturalis. Now focused on rewilding and animal behavior, she researches wildlife ecology and assists with conference organisation, contributing to golden jackal conservation with the Rewilding Academy.
Ardra Anilkumar
Intern Social Design
Ardra Anilkumar, a Master’s student in Social Design at NIFT Kangra, combines creativity with a passion for social and environmental causes. With a background in social work and English literature, she brings experience in counseling, documentation, and sustainable design, aspiring to drive meaningful change through community-based conservation and innovative projects.
Youth Advisory Board
The Rewilding Youth Board at the Rewilding Academy is a global network by and for young people passionate about rewilding. We empower youth to restore nature, advocate for wild landscapes, and drive ecological change through collaboration, learning, and engagement in global events and rewilding initiatives.
Sampriti Barman
Founding Member, Youth Advisory Board
Sampriti Barman, a founding member of The Rewilding Academy Youth Board, is a History undergraduate at Indraprastha College, Delhi University. She co-founded The Hargila Desk, a youth-led conservation magazine, and engages in global sustainability initiatives, focusing on Environmental History, Ethno-ornithology, and Ecofeminism.
Sanskriti Barman
Founding Member, Youth Advisory Board
Sanskriti Barman, a founding member of the Rewilding Academy Youth Advisory Board, is a B.Tech Biotechnology student at Gauhati University. She co-founded The Hargila Desk, a youth-led magazine promoting biodiversity and community-based conservation, and has been deeply involved in Assam’s Hargila conservation movement since childhood, inspiring youth action for sustainability.
Kabyashree Hazarika
Member, Youth Advisory Board
Kabyashree Hazarika, a Master’s student in Zoology, is passionate about wildlife conservation and environmental protection. As a singer and music teacher, she incorporates conservation messages into her lessons. Through her hobbies of crocheting and embroidery, she advocates for sustainability, aiming to inspire change for a healthier planet.
Pratyashi Sarmah
Member, Youth Advisory Board
Pratyashi Sarmah, a Master’s student in Zoology, is dedicated to wildlife conservation and biodiversity. Passionate about animals and their habitats, she combines her academic focus with artistic expression, using drawing and painting to promote environmental appreciation. Pratyashi aspires to inspire others to protect and preserve nature for future generations.
Oditi Patgiri
Member, Youth Board
Oditi Patgiri, a second-year Global Affairs student at O.P. Jindal Global University, focuses on environmental advocacy, sustainable practices, and policy frameworks. As Research Head for Hargila Desk, a conservation-focused periodical, she promotes youth engagement in environmental issues.
Barasha Rani Das
Member, Youth Advisory Board
Barasha Rani Das, a young conservationist from Assam, is dedicated to biodiversity conservation with a strong focus on engaging with communities. She has been actively working under the guidance of Dr. Purnima Devi Barman to conserve the endangered Greater Adjutant Stork (Hargila).
Bhabatirtha Goswami
Member, Youth Advisory Board
Bhabatirtha Goswami, a second-year Political Science student at Cotton University, Guwahati; keeps his interest in student activism and advocates for the role of youths in ecosystem restoration. He is the technical Outreach Head for The Hargila Desk
Johnny Dawson
Member, Youth Advisory Board
Johnny Dawson is an Animal Management student at Lackham UK with a lifelong interest in conservation. He aims to work in the conversation/wildlife management sector having spent time in Peru undertaking fieldwork in 2024 and being hugely inspired at The Whitley Awards in London.
Ripunjoy Deka
Member, Youth Board
Ripunjoy Deka is a passionate conservationist and green activist from Assam, currently pursuing a degree in Geography at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi. With a deep interest in Physical Geography and ecological conservation, he actively promotes environmental awareness and sustainability through Harithkram, the eco-club of his college.
Ferdausi Choudhury
Member, Youth Advisory Board
Ferdausi Choudhury holds a Master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Science and is dedicated to fostering environmental awareness among youth. As an active member of the Hargila Army, led by Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, she plays a key role in promoting conservation initiatives, engaging young people in environmental activities, and inspiring personal action for the protection of nature.
Wolf Science Advisory Team
The team of wolf specialists brings extensive expertise in wolf ecology, behavior, and conservation. They provide scientific insights and practical guidance on coexistence strategies and wolf management.
Marc Wilbers
Education Director
Marc Wilbers is a passionate naturalist with extensive expertise in topics concerning wolf behaviour and bison reintroduction. His lifelong fascination with nature has endowed him with a deep understanding of flora and fauna, and how they interact with each other and their physical environment within a specific area or habitat.
Steffen Heiber
Carnivore Specialist
Steffen Heiber has been involved in wolf monitoring since 2012, managing two wolf packs in Brandenburg, Germany. Trained by the Lupus Institute and WWF, he has expertise in conflict management and large carnivore conservation. His international experience includes work in Poland, Romania, and Georgia.
Theo Grüntjens
Forestry engineer, Wildlife photographer
Theo Grüntjens is a forestry engineer and wolf expert specialising in nature conservation and sustainable management. As head of Rheinmetall Group’s forestry department, he balanced ecological conservation with ethical wildlife management. Co-author of books on black grouse and heathland preservation, his career reflects a profound dedication to protecting biodiversity.
Rick van Malssen
Carnivore ecologist
Rick van Malssen is an ecologist and nature guide with expertise in predator monitoring, wolf research, and ecotourism across Europe. He specializes in tracking wolves and lynx, advising on predator fencing, and mentoring interns. As an ecotourism entrepreneur, he educates on coexistence strategies and wolf-human interactions through guided experiences and presentations.
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board serves as our guiding compass. Whenever we need direction, it’s invaluable to consult with experts for advice. Beyond providing strategic insights, the board also plays a key role in network development, ensuring we maintain strong connections across the field. This helps foster collaboration on critical issues, facilitating short lines of communication between key actors involved in vital environmental work.
Stefanie Huck
Chief Animal Caretaker – Wild Animals
Stefanie Huck, wildlife keeper and Chief Animal Caretaker at the Retscheider Hof e.V. wildlife rescue center, has dedicated her career to the care and conservation of carnivorous mammals, with a particular focus on polecats and wildcats. For years, she has been rescuing, rehabilitating, and successfully reintroducing these animals into their natural habitats.
Danielle Schreve
Palaeoecologist and biogeographer
Danielle Schreve holds the Heather Corrie Chair in Environmental Change at the University of Bristol. She has a particular interest in mammals, including aspects of evolution, extinction, dietary flexibility and species/community responses to climate and environmental change. Her research links palaeoecology with modern conservation initiatives, for example identifying source populations for reintroduction, informing habitat suitability models and examining ecological resilience through time.
Bernd Nonnenmacher
General Manager, Foundation for Bears
Bernd Nonnenmacher, Managing Director of the Alternative Bear Park Worbis, combines his legal and business expertise with a deep passion for wildlife. He has rescued and rehabilitated bears, wolves, and lynxes, advocating international collaboration to improve animal welfare and promote ecosystem restoration. Leading the parks is his true calling.
Rick van Malssen
Carnivore ecologist
Rick van Malssen is an ecologist and nature guide with expertise in predator monitoring, wolf research, and ecotourism across Europe. He specializes in tracking wolves and lynx, advising on predator fencing, and mentoring interns. As an ecotourism entrepreneur, he educates on coexistence strategies and wolf-human interactions through guided experiences and presentations.
Klaus Tamm
Photographer
Klaus Tamm, an internationally acclaimed nature photographer, masterfully captures the fragile beauty and mystique of the natural world through his lens-painted images. His evocative work inspires deep connections to nature, featuring remote and atmospheric landscapes from Scandinavia to South America, the Falklands, and beyond, encouraging viewers to pause and appreciate nature’s sublimity.
Prof. dr. ir. Raoul Beunen
Implementation and Policy Advisor
Prof. dr. ir. Raoul Beunen, professor of Environmental Governance at the Open University, specializes in sustainability transitions and tackling environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and spatial planning. A passionate bird enthusiast, he actively contributes to public debates on nitrogen issues and nature conservation while advocating for biodiversity and sustainable landscapes through initiatives addressing ecological challenges.
Derek Gow
Advisory Board Rewilding
Derek Gow is a British farmer, conservationist, and author pioneering rewilding in the UK. His Devon farm hosts reintroduced species like beavers, wildcats, and white storks, supporting his mission to restore native wildlife. Influenced by Gerald Durrell, Gow has written Bringing Back the Beaver and Birds, Beasts, and Bedlam and now explores Britain’s wolf reintroduction in Hunt for the Shadow Wolf, emphasising the ecological benefits of apex predators.
Sulaiman Tameer
Wildlife Veterinarian and Rescue/Rehab Specialist
Sulaiman Tameer is an award-winning wildlife veterinarian and advocate known for his tireless efforts in advancing animal rights and conservation in Kurdistan, Iraq. Sulaiman’s wildlife rescue operations encompass a wide range of activities, from rescuing and treating injured or orphaned animals to rehabilitating them and releasing them back into their natural habitats.
Theo Grüntjens
Forestry engineer, Wildlife photographer
Theo Grüntjens is a forestry engineer and wolf expert specialising in nature conservation and sustainable management. As head of Rheinmetall Group’s forestry department, he balanced ecological conservation with ethical wildlife management. Co-author of books on black grouse and heathland preservation, his career reflects a profound dedication to protecting biodiversity.
Steffen Heiber
Carnivore Specialist
Steffen Heiber has been involved in wolf monitoring since 2012, managing two wolf packs in Brandenburg, Germany. Trained by the Lupus Institute and WWF, he has expertise in conflict management and large carnivore conservation. His international experience includes work in Poland, Romania, and Georgia.
Alberto Ballar
Ecologist, Herpetologist
Alberto Ballar Ortiz, a biologist with expertise in ecology and sustainable development, specializes in herpetology, focusing on conservation and biodiversity. With a Master’s in Environmental Management from Madrid, he now shares his passion for nature through guided tours and environmental education.
Arjan Otte
Wildlife photographer
Arjan Otte, a passionate wildlife photographer and nature enthusiast, is fascinated by wolves and he finds inspiration in their untamed beauty. Living near the Veluwe nature reserve in the Netherlands, Arjan captures stunning images that blend artistic expression with a message of ecological appreciation, showcasing animals in their natural habitats.
Louis Nkembi
Community-based Conservation Specialist
Louis Nkembi is an award-winning conservationist and environmental champion with a profound commitment to preserving Africa’s rich biodiversity. With extensive experience in the field of community-based conservation, Louis has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise in addressing environmental challenges.
Erik de Boer
Paleoecologist
Erik is a paleoecologist affiliated with the Universiteit van Granada. He is using long-term data of species responses to environmental change to study species survival mechanisms and predict future changes in biodiversity. He specifically focuses on the impact of human arrival on the landscape and the consequences of extinction in island ecosystems.
