Our Team
Would you like to join our team of volunteers? If you are interested in creating with us at The Green Living Lab
we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at: volunteer@greenlivinglab.org
Aveen Colgan
Designer, Educator & Co-founder
Aveen is co-founder & designer of the Green Living Lab. She designed the Green Living Lab facilities and location according to permaculture principles and advocates biophilic design as a foundation of healthy living in the city. She creates the Green Living Lab’s education programmes, which aim to connect people to nature in the city for health and well-being.
Arthur de Smidt
Facilities Manager & Co-founder
Arthur is co-founder of The Green Living Lab foundation, runs the Green Co-creations foundation (Groene Co-creaties) and works full-time in the IT department of the Vrije Universiteit (VU). He also finds the time to manage our dome and facilities with care. Arthur has been busy inspiring people for years towards positive social and environmental impact through co-creating in nature...
Rowin Snijder
Educator
Rowin’s skills as a creative builder were engaged to help us integrate our dome into the surrounding garden in a harmonious way, using natural and recycled materials. An expert on composting in the city with Le Compostier, he leads workshops on topics including composting and life in the soil.
Fae Rinaldo
Researcher & Project Co-ordinator
Fae is currently studying a Masters in Cultural Anthropology at Utrecht University. She is researching the impact of applied learning on social change and sustainability, and The Green Living Lab is a case study for her research. She is also researching the perceived affects of studying and working in nature at The Green Living Lab. Alongside her research, she assists us with event and programme planning.
Sarah Vansteenbrugge
Project Co-ordinator
Sarah is from Belgium, has been studying Social Work in Brussels for 2 years and now joins our team as intern project co-ordinator. Her internship with The Green Living Lab focuses on assisting with the development of our community and education programmes, and learning how to create and lead nature-based workshops.
Daniel Sagath
Willow Wizard
Daniel cares for our willow structures and he is currently a PhD researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), investigating Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the space industry sector. Daniel grew up close to nature in Slovakia where he learned the art of building with and weaving willow.
Sameena Safiruddin
Educator
Sameena is a permaculture designer who is inspired by the beauty, balance and intelligence of the natural world. She is experienced in leading nature-based workshops for primary school children on themes including foraging, cooking with native herbs and crafting with natural materials. She also leads fun, nature-based craft workshops for big kids, including Kokedama.
Manon Danker
Educator
Manon is a Sociologist & Deep Ecologist inspired by the teachings of Joanna Macy & Thich Nhat Hanh. She has worked in environmental rehabilitation & wildlife protection in nature reserves in Indonesia & Peru & she now works to promote nature education in The Netherlands.
Maggie Mulley
Research & Events Co-ordinator & Blogger
Maggie came to Amsterdam to study Liberal Arts & Science at AUC and recently completed a Masters degree in Geo-information Science with Wageningen University. She first visited us when she came to study at the Green Living Library, and then took part in our Green Student Bootcamp Challenge. She helps to write our research surveys into the perceived effects of nature on work and study, writes blogs and helps organise events including our recent Green Fashion Fair.
Sheila de Leeuw
Educator & Programme Co-ordinator
Sheila has a degree in Forest & Nature Conservation and graduated in 2016. She first came to the Green Living Lab to take part in our ‘Green Student Bootcamp Challenge’ programme and since then she has led a craft workshop at our Green Fashion Fair, helps us in our education garden and to facilitate events including our student Library. She is inspiring to work with in the garden as she is truly in her element!
Gabi Figueiredo
Events Co-ordinator
Gabi brings bags of Brazilian alegria to The Green Living Lab! Her sunny, positive attitude is an inspiration for all of the GLL team. She was introduced to our project when she came to study in the dome on a Green Living Library day, while studying a Masters in Psychology at the VU University. She has since assisted us with creating and running events, and is one of our leading garden guardians. "I actually believe we have to be the change we want to see in the world...
Roos van der Deijl
Volunteer
Roos studied a Master’s degree in Neuroscience with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). She first came to The Green Living Lab to take part in our Green Student Bootcamp Challenge education programme and now assists with events.
Cristi Barca
Volunteer
Cristi is a data engineer and lives in our local Zuidas neighbourhood. He first came to the Green Living Lab in 2016 as a volunteer for the garden and has since assisted us with facilitating events including our recent Green Fashion Fair.
Shanice van der Sloot
Volunteer
Shanice studied International Business Administration at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and is now studying a Masters in Global Business & Sustainability at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. She has been a team member since June 2016, after completing our first Green Student Bootcamp Challenge education programme. She helps facilitate events including the Green Living Library and our Clothes Swaps.
Our Contributors
Thank you to the individuals & organisations who helped us develop the Green Living Lab,
to encourage connection with nature in the city for health & well-being.
With special thanks to:
The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), ACTA, Le Compostier, Spectral Utilities, LocalWise, StadsOogst Compost Coöperatie, Amsterdam Rainproof, Waternet, Bamboe Bouw Nederland, Cityplot, Lea Grosse, Roos van der Deijl, Manon Danker, Gabrielle Figueiredo, Janina Heel, Delia Nikitova, Laura Koolman, Frank Hopman, Waas Thissen, Ciaran & Caroline Colgan, the Colgan family, the de Smidt family, the Snjider family.