Team

Eric is a Rotterdam entrepreneur and owner of diving school Het Duikhuis. After years of working in the investment industry, he now manages the Sea Ranger Service with his financial expertise.

As a Civil and Coastal Engineer by training, Rachel combines a technical background with the personal purpose of contributing to a better world. With a background in maritime and offshore (wind), she is currently Head of Sustainability at Van Oord; using their capabilities to create a sustainable future.

Rachel likes to keep her focus on projects which enable her to work towards her purpose, which is why joining the board of the Sea Rangers Service Foundation is a perfect fit. Originally from the UK, Rachel now lives in Rotterdam with her family.

Riemert has worked in a maritime environment for the past 37 years. Starting in the navy, then switching to safety training for the maritime industry. For ten years he was responsible for operations at the KNRM (Dutch offshore lifeboat organisation) and is now back in the field of safety training as director of STC-KNRM in Rotterdam. Developing, maintaining skills, and safe sailing with small fast boats, runs through Riemert’s working life as a common thread. He fully endorses the mission and vision of the Sea Ranger Service and supports the organisation with his professional expertise.

After 30 years of serving in top management positions in industry, Stéphane is currently active as an investor and contributing his business experience to several company boards, including at Citeo, a French organisation dedicated to circular economy implementation. For the last 7 years, Stéphane has acted in supporting roles at Phitrust, a French social fund, contributing to social and environmental impact. Phitrust started investing in the Sea Ranger Service in 2020, with Stéphane representing the fund at board level.

After a career in investment banking in London, Maurits was introduced to the Ashoka network of social entrepreneurs and became an active impact investor. He now serves on the boards of the Sea Ranger Service, Ashoka Netherlands and PYM (the conscious investors community). His mission is to inspire other wealth owners to use their resources as a force for good.

Theo van de Gazelle was associated with the Rijkswaterstaat government agency for 22 years as Director-General and Chief Engineer-Director. In his last position, he was responsible for national policy on the North Sea. We hope to benefit from his advice in shaping the Sea Ranger Service.

Jan van den Bos was associated with government services for twenty years as Director-General and Inspector-General, the latter seven of which were with the Inspection for the Environment and Transport (ILT). We are proud that the former Inspector-General is willing to strengthen our ranks as an advisor and ambassador.

Wietse founded the Sea Ranger Service in 2016 after having worked at various international conservation organisations in more than 10 countries over 20 years yet seeing an opportunity for a more pragmatic approach to increasing conservation capacity. His work approach has been widely celebrated as an innovative model which brings together public and private partners to realise necessary ‘boots on the ground’ for increased environmental protection.

Currently responsible for the company’s overseas expansion, Wietse is building a global network of governments, agencies, investors and entrepreneurs to scale the work of the Sea Ranger Service and its social and sustainable impact. Wietse is also involved in the recruitment and training of new Sea Ranger Service franchisees and leads the international Sea Ranger holding company.

After years of working as a Financial Director for companies in the semiconductor, offshore and food industry, Ruud is now involved in the further professionalisation and international expansion of the Sea Ranger Service. Ruud has a broad, varied interest and a background in botany are the inspiration for me to work at the Sea Ranger Service.

Bart has worked for 20 years as a Supply Chain professional. Over the last 10 years he worked for a fast-growing start-up where he was Head of Supply Chain, responsible for global logistics and procurement. His experience in offshore start-ups is a good fit for the Sea Ranger Service as he joins us as Head of Operations. He is proud that he is able to make a difference together with the Sea Rangers, and contribute to the mission and vision. In his free time, he will be with his wife Ellen and 2 boys (Teun and Hein). He loves music, especially blues and soul.

As our Head of People, Sanne is responsible for everything to do with people at Sea Ranger Service. This ranges from organising good employment conditions to coaching Sea Rangers and building partnerships with other employers in the maritime sector. With a background in Organisational Psychology, Sanne sees the potential of people and helps our Sea Rangers to discover their talents and possibilities.

Next to working at Sea Ranger Service Sanne prefers to spend her time at the sea surfing, swimming or just enjoying the beach. During her travels she has seen up close how beautiful our world is and how important it is to take care of our oceans. With her passion for people and love for the ocean, Sanne and the Sea Ranger Service are a match made in heaven.

Having been active in the creative industry for 15 years, Dan has worked with charities and ethical organisations of all sizes. During the pandemic he co-founded a social enterprise to help young people find work. His interest and passion for sustainability and environmental issues has lead him to his role at the Sea Ranger Service, as a way to have more of an impact on the world and create a positive future for the coming generations.

Former director of one of the Netherlands largest maritime employers organizations. With this professional background, Kees is now an integral part of the Sea Ranger Service and coordinates external relations with government agencies and investors.

As she loves to be outdoors and studied Sustainable Development, Sophie found a job that fits perfectly with these two interests. When she is not working at the Sea Ranger Service, you can find Sophie training in Krav Maga, practicing photography, jogging, surfing, or sitting in a comfy chair with a good book.

After receiving his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Delft University of Technology, Wik followed his heart and continued his education as a film and TV director in England. Returning to The Netherlands, he started a career as a television director and later founded a tv-production company. After the sale of this company, Wik has held various positions in the creative industry at management and board level.

During the later stages of his career, Wik’s main drive is to make a contribution to society and the environment, while working with others, helping to unlock other people’s talents. As a dedicated racing sailor Wik has travelled many miles on lakes, seas and oceans. By putting his passion for the sea and his experience and knowledge together, Wik is delighted to contribute to the vision and mission of the Sea Ranger Service.

After more than 30 years in the Royal Dutch Navy, Onno is still not done with the oceans. As liaison within walking distance of our operational base in Den Helder, he is our helping hand for all kinds of support needed. If he is not working, he also likes to go out to sea on his own sailing yacht.

Mariam is an accomplished Communications Specialist with extensive experience in international organizations, including UNDP, NATO, and the U.S. Embassy. She has led various initiatives on climate change, disaster risk reduction and public diplomacy. Currently, Mariam is combining her passion for environmental sustainability with her community engagement and communication expertise. She believes in the power of collaboration and innovative strategies to create lasting positive change for our planet.

Martijn brings over 25 years of experience as a corporate and finance lawyer and as a managing partner in legal services. For the past decade, he has also been a founder in several IT startups. A passionate sailor, Martijn completed the Core Training for Coastal Waters Officers at Enkhuizer Nautical College. His role as a legal officer with the Sea Ranger Service allows him to merge his love for sailing with his legal and entrepreneurial expertise, contributing meaningfully to the mission and vision of the organisation.

People in nature, nature in people. These are the principles that Pieter applies as a social worker/mental coach at the Sea Ranger Service. All team members can approach Pieter for inspiration, coaching and advice. This enables them to fully deploy their talents for nature and the environment all over the world.

Willempje is an experienced project manager with a demonstrated history of working in the sports, tech and social innovation industry. She founded her own boxing school, worked for various clients as a game producer and was the club manager of a coworking space. Her working history has been an adventure of building networks and getting people to move forward (both metaphorically and literally). She is here now to organise the Sea Ranger Bootcamp.

After leaving school Ed joined the Marine Corps and served there in various positions for 37 years. After this he started his own company in obstacle runs and giving bootcamp lessons. Ed now works with our future Sea Rangers as our Bootcamp leader.

As a sports instructor at the Ministry of Defence since 1978, Ton has worked outside in nature all his life. Conducting exercises in Canada, Sweden and Curacao among others with mostly young people, was the ideal preparation to guide the Bootcamp as an instructor.

As a Bootcamp Instructor, Chris brings a strong background in youth development, making him well-suited to inspire and guide aspiring Sea Rangers. With a career rooted in supporting and challenging young people to reach their full potential, he draws from his experience in welfare-focused education.

After serving in the Royal Marines, Chris discovered his passion for the outdoors as a powerful tool for leadership, growth, and inspiration. This led him to a career in outdoor education, where he worked extensively with young people, including as a skipper on sail training vessels for a charitable organisation, navigating both UK and international waters.

Equally important to Chris is the health of our seas and oceans. A lifelong water sports enthusiast and surfer, he has been actively engaged in marine conservation, combining his love for the ocean with a commitment to protecting it.

After 25 years of dedicated service in the British Army, Lisa has honed her skills and leadership abilities through diverse experiences, including 15 years in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps. Her journey has instilled in her a profound appreciation for physical fitness and personal development, shaping her commitment to empowering others.

Her mission is to create a supportive environment where participants can challenge themselves, build resilience, and ultimately thrive.

After his retirement as Commander from the RNLN, Koene started sailing as a captain on various traditional sailing ships. Being able to support and train young people with his experience whilst working to protect the sea he loves motivated him to join the Sea Ranger Service.

Jiri Callens is our Rating Decks from Antwerp. After studying international business management he found his true passion on the water. At a young age he inherited a watermicrobe, which ignited his love for sailing. With experience on various types of sailing vessels, Jiri constantly seeks new adventures and learning opportunities. Respect is his top priority in a job, which is why he chose to work for Sea Ranger Service. Here he can eagerly expands his knowledge and share his sailing skills with the young Sea Rangers.

As a kid Marius was always interested in water and nature. As a teenager Marius spent a lot of time sailing on the nearby lake. After studying Applied Psychology, with specific research in Sustainable Behaviour, Marius got in contact with the Sea Ranger Service. Now as a Sea Ranger in a role that connects all his interests, Marius is keen to get to work on the ship.

Elise was born in the UK but lived in Switzerland from the age of 11, before moving to the Netherlands for University. After studying for a masters in Leadership for Sustainable Development, Elise was looking for a more hands-on organisation that focused on ocean conservation and sustainability. Elise found a love for sailing whilst sailing in the arctic circle along the Norwegian coastline, cleaning marine litter from remote beaches. Outside of work Elise loves surfing, dancing, and bouldering.

As a child, Nathalie was always intrigued by nature and enjoyed cleaning up her local neighbourhood with her best friend. During her BSc programme in International Development Studies at Wageningen University & Research, she became aware of the environmental challenges facing our world and discovered a passion for protecting, preserving, and restoring nature. She loves getting her hands dirty and sharing her enthusiasm for the beauty of nature with others.

Before joining the maritime industry, Cariad worked in the care sector. Her experience there gave her a strong foundation in empathy and the drive to make a positive impact on people’s lives. However, her growing awareness of the environmental challenges we face, particularly in the maritime industry, inspired her to take a bold leap in a new direction.

Motivated by the desire to make a tangible difference in the fight against climate change, Cariad saw this opportunity as a perfect chance to expand her knowledge and contribute to the preservation of our oceans. Her passion for learning and improving the environment makes her a dedicated and enthusiastic part of the team.

Als kind bracht Anne het liefst al haar tijd door in de uiterwaarden, op zoek naar kikkers en pissebedden onder iedere steen. Na haar studie culturele antropologie belandde ze op een kantoorbaan binnen de overheid, waardoor ze de verbinding met de natuur steeds meer verloor. Bij de Sea Rangers is ze dan ook blij dat ze weer met haar handen in de modder kan werken en zich kan inzetten voor gezonde, florerende kustgebieden.

In haar vrije tijd is Anne te vinden op de dansschool of in de bergen, en probeert ze graag nieuwe hobby’s uit.

Bai has always been passionate about nature restoration and its resilience when humans make room for it to recover. Both her BSc Forest and Nature Conservation and MSc Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management in Wageningen suited her well, but she was still eager to discover more possibilities in a marine ecology career by joining the Sea Ranger Service. She loves to dance, read, play field hockey, go snowboarding, go scuba diving, and discover new music.

Kas komt vanuit de creatieve wereld. Hij heeft veel geschilderd, sculpturen gemaakt en afgelopen jaren is hij een succesvolle sieradenmaker geweest. Echter ligt zijn hart in de natuur en dat is waar hij zich voor wil inzetten en werk ervan maken om de rest van zijn leven toe te wijden aan natuur restauratie, -conservatie en -beheer.

Na de middelbare school, onzeker over wat ze moest studeren, werkte Phaedra een paar jaar voordat ze een lerarendiploma behaalde. Al snel besefte ze dat het rigide, punt gebaseerde onderwijssysteem niet bij haar paste, wat een verlangen naar meer creativiteit en passie in haar werk aanwakkerde.

Deze zoektocht bracht haar bij een organisatie die zich richt op oceaan gerelateerde programma’s voor scholen. Daar ontdekte ze de wereld van maritieme carrières – iets waar ze eerder nooit aan had gedacht. Ondanks het werken in een boeiende omgeving, was er het verlangen naar een actievere rol in het veld. Deze hands-on benadering van leren en ontdekken voedt haar passie. Ze hoopt in de toekomst haar vaardigheden en kennis verder te ontwikkelen en die met anderen te delen.

Phaedra is opgegroeid in België. Buiten haar werk houdt ze van muziek maken en het ontdekken van diverse watersporten.

Roos werkt het liefst met haar handen. Ze heeft creatief vakmanschap en productontwerp gestudeerd en werkte als meubelmaker. The Sea Ranger Service geeft haar de kans om nieuwe vaardigheden te leren en is een plek waar ze kan bijdragen aan een betere wereld. Ze houdt van zeilen, schilderen, fotograferen en ze gaat regelmatig boulderen.

Als kind droomde Boje ervan om reporter en fotojournalist voor de National Geographic te worden. Nog altijd fascineren ruige, desolate landschappen, de elegantie van de natuur en onbekende streken en culturen hem. Na studies politicologie en milieuwetenschappen en een uitstapje in de journalistiek ontdekte Boje in de vorm van de Sea Ranger Service een organisatie die natuurherstel combineert met een hands-on houding en wezenlijk buitenzijn. Een ideale plek dus om te verwonderen, om te leren en om een bijdrage te leveren aan een mooiere wereld met een meer weerbare natuur.

Tijdens zijn tussenjaar ontdekte Jilles een passie voor de oceaan en alles wat daarbij komt kijken. Of het nu zwemmen, duiken of surfen was, Jilles doet het graag allemaal. Aan de andere kant maakten de vervuiling, vernietiging en andere negatieve menselijke invloeden een diepe indruk. De keuze om kust- en zeemanagement te studeren was dan ook snel gemaakt. Zijn buitenlandse onderzoeksstages en afstuderen versterkten alleen maar zijn motivatie om aan de slag te gaan met natuurbehoud en -herstel. Een combinatie van werken in het veld en hierover rapporteren bleek voor hem de juiste keuze. Bij de Sea Ranger Service heeft hij precies dat gevonden.