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CORE TEAM

NETHERLANDS

Ben
Valks

Initiator

Joël
Boele

Community Outreach Coordinator

Eric
Schoorl

Campaign Coordinator

Eloise
Moench

Communication Coordinator

Ben
Valks

Initiator

Joël
Boele

Community Outreach Coordinator

Eric
Schoorl

Campaign Coordinator

Eloise
Moench

Communication Coordinator

BRAZIL

Francisco Martes
Porto Macedo

Partnership Coordinator 

Marina
Tavares

Partnership Coordinator 

Eduardo Carlos
Oliveira

Field Coordinator

Dimitrio
Schievenin

Project Coordinator

Ivan
Nisida

Strategy Coordinator

Francisco Martes
Porto Macedo

Partnership Coordinator

Marina
Tavares

Partnership Coordinator

Eduardo Carlos
Oliveira

Field Coordinator

Dimitrio
Schievenin

Project Coordinator

Phablo
Maia

Environmental Engineer

About me

Phablo is an environmental engineer and has grown up in the Araguaia corridor region. He has an extensive knowledge of farming and the sustainable development of this industry. His role is to communicate the merits of the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor to landowners in the region. We need these local partners to allow us to restore their lands to the rich, diverse areas they once were. Phablo, with his diverse knowledge of the industry and the region is perfectly placed to create these partnerships.

Dimitrio
Schievenin

Project Coordinator

About me

Dimitrio has a Masters in Forest Science from São Paulo State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Engineering from São Carlos Federal University. Dimitrio coordinates, organizes and implements ecological restoration along the corridor. He works both the field as in our office in Sao Paulo.

Eduardo Carlos
Oliveira

Field Coordinator

About me

Based in the field working closely with the farm managers and the scientists of Bioflora/LERF, he coordinates the important and complex tasks of the ecological restoration, namely the first nurseries and pilot projects. Eduardo is also expanding our network of stakeholders in the Corridor and works closely together with Dimitrio Schievenin.

Marina
Tavares

Partnerships Coordinator (Brazil)

About me

Marina is a "Goiana" who spent a great part of her childhood exploring the Araguaia River with her family. She has a very special connection with the area and so she is very dedicated to restoring it. Marina has over 9 years experience in the field of Marketing & Communication and as Project Manager in different organisations, focussing on social and environmental causes. At BJF Marina fosters partnerships, broadens our network and assists operational tasks within Brazil. Furthermore, Marina coordinates the Research Teams for the comprehensive Cost-Benefit Study.

Ivan
Nisida

Strategy Coordenator

About me

Ivan has been part of the BJF since the foundation's inception. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from PUC-SP and a master's degree in Environmental Policy from Sciences Po, in Paris, France. Before working at BJF he worked at the GoodPlanet Foundation. At BJF, he worked as a project manager and permanent representative in Brazil. He established important connections with the first technical partners of BFJ in Brazil, carried out communication activities and currently coordinates the implementation of multiple activities and strategies.

Michelle
Bade

Communication Coordinator

About me

Michelle recently graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Anthropology, from University College Utrecht. Originally from Germany, but spending many years of her life in Brazil, Michelle holds a personal connection to the country, as well as the project. She will be helping spread the word about BJF, and expanding its online presence. 

Eric
Schoorl

Campaign Coordinator

About me

Eric holds extensive professional experiences as a physical geographer and post-doc environmentalist. Nowadays he uses his enthusiasm to manage TheFirst600 campaign and carries out many other daily tasks to keep the BJF running.

Joël
Boele

Community Outreach Coordinator

About me

Joël holds a degree in Future Planet Studies and a Master’s in Human Geography accompanied by several researches abroad. She continues her interest and enthusiasm for sustainability and conservation at the Black Jaguar Foundation. One of Joël’s many responsibilities is the coordination between Brazil and European Team, key tasks are around operations, marketing and communication, fundraising, strategy, and support to the team.

Ben
Valks

Initiator

About me

Ben is a nature lover, adventurer and entrepreneur. During his numerous expeditions to photograph wild jaguars in the heart of Brazil, it was not the black jaguar he encountered but the drastically deforested Amazon. Instead of returning to pursue more business dreams, he decided to start giving back to our vulnerable planet. He initiated the BJF and now fully devotes his energy and skills to making the dream of the Black Jaguar Foundation come true.

Read more about the inspiring story behind the BJF

Ben
Valks

Initiator

About me

Ben is a nature lover, adventurer and entrepreneur. During his numerous expeditions to photograph wild jaguars in the heart of Brazil, it was not the black jaguar he encountered but the drastically deforested Amazon. Instead of returning to pursue more business dreams, he decided to start giving back to our vulnerable planet. He initiated the BJF and now fully devotes his energy and skills to making the dream of the Black Jaguar Foundation come true.

Read more about the inspiring story behind the BJF

Joël
Boele

Community Outreach Coordinator

About me

Joël holds a degree in Future Planet Studies and a Master’s in Human Geography accompanied by several researches abroad. She continues her interest and enthusiasm for sustainability and conservation at the Black Jaguar Foundation. One of Joël’s many responsibilities is the coordination between Brazil and European Team, key tasks are around operations, marketing and communication, fundraising, strategy, and support to the team.

Eric
Schoorl

Campaign Coordinator

About me

Eric holds extensive professional experiences as a physical geographer and post-doc environmentalist. Nowadays he uses his enthusiasm to manage TheFirst600 campaign and carries out many other daily tasks to keep the BJF running.

Michelle
Bade

Communication Coordinator

About me

Michelle recently graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Anthropology, from University College Utrecht. Originally from Germany, but spending many years of her life in Brazil, Michelle holds a personal connection to the country, as well as the project. She will be helping spread the word about BJF, and expanding its online presence. 

Ivan
Nisida

Strategy Coordenator

About me

Ivan has been part of the BJF since the foundation's inception. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from PUC-SP and a master's degree in Environmental Policy from Sciences Po, in Paris, France. Before working at BJF he worked at the GoodPlanet Foundation. At BJF, he worked as a project manager and permanent representative in Brazil. He established important connections with the first technical partners of BFJ in Brazil, carried out communication activities and currently coordinates the implementation of multiple activities and strategies.

Marina
Tavares

Partnerships Coordinator (Brazil)

About me

Marina is a "Goiana" who spent a great part of her childhood exploring the Araguaia River with her family. She has a very special connection with the area and so she is very dedicated to restoring it. Marina has over 9 years experience in the field of Marketing & Communication and as Project Manager in different organisations, focussing on social and environmental causes. At BJF Marina fosters partnerships, broadens our network and assists operational tasks within Brazil. Furthermore, Marina coordinates the Research Teams for the comprehensive Cost-Benefit Study.

Eduardo Carlos
Oliveira

Field Coordinator

About me

Based in the field working closely with the farm managers and the scientists of Bioflora/LERF, he coordinates the important and complex tasks of the ecological restoration, namely the first nurseries and pilot projects. Eduardo is also expanding our network of stakeholders in the Corridor and works closely together with Dimitrio Schievenin.

Dimitrio
Schievenin

Project Coordinator

About me

Dimitrio has a Masters in Forest Science from São Paulo State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Engineering from São Carlos Federal University. Dimitrio coordinates, organizes and implements ecological restoration along the corridor. He works both the field as in our office in Sao Paulo.

Phablo
Maia

Environmental Engineer

About me

Phablo is an environmental engineer and has grown up in the Araguaia corridor region. He has an extensive knowledge of farming and the sustainable development of this industry. His role is to communicate the merits of the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor to landowners in the region. We need these local partners to allow us to restore their lands to the rich, diverse areas they once were. Phablo, with his diverse knowledge of the industry and the region is perfectly placed to create these partnerships.