Throughout my life, my appreciation for all the beauty that his planet holds has grown. At the same time, the amount of evidence scientists find on the negative impact of human behaviour on this same planet has also grown. To avoid having to deal with these changes, we must do better. I truly believe we can do better. Individuals, governments and businesses all have to take responsibility.

At Finch & Beak I have the chance to tackle these issues at the core. By contributing to a company's sustainability programme, I can do my part in creating a better future for our planet and its people. Through designing and executing strategies that have this focus, companies reap the economic and financial benefits of ‘doing good’ for people and planet. Combining these in a successful sustainability strategy is the challenge that excites and drives me every day.

My background:

• MSc Global Business & Sustainability, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Master thesis: Planting food choices: increasing buying behaviour through labelling in Dutch consumers in the online food industry
• Course advisor at Debatrix
• BSc Communication & Media, Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Exchange programme at University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Colleagues would describe me as:
Enthusiastic, supportive and down-to-earth.

Which book should everybody read:
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates. It gives an excellent insight into where we are right now when it comes to tackling climate change. Bill Gates discusses the technologies and innovations we currently have, and areas where we urgently need new ones. A complete overview that is presented in a very practical and structured way.

Best advice I ever got:
'20 years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the things you did. So what are you waiting for?'

Something surprising about me:
I hold both a scuba diving certificate and a boat/sailing license.

What I do for fun:

• Play field hockey
• Going to the film theatre
• Scuba diving, sailing and surfing (if possible) when on holiday

Get in touch:

• gijs-jan@finchandbeak.com
• +31 6 28 02 18 80
• Connect with me on LinkedIn