“Dr. Monk was always a mystery to me, but since I met Ama and Lynn he stands for the joyful celebration of life.”
Ruud Lubbers
Former Prime Minister of The Netherlands
Team Dr. Monk
Core team
Move over, Captain Planet! When our team is together we can move mountains. Our core team is strengthened by a worldwide circle of fantastic collaborators. Find us in our garden office in Accra, our boat office in Amsterdam, or somewhere in the wide blue yonder.
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Ama van DantzigCo-founderAn original thinker, Ama divides her time between Accra and Amsterdam - building bridges between seemingly opposite worlds. With vast experience on the ground in many countries and communities, Ama believes in the ability of people to generate ingenious solutions for the challenges of our time. Variety is the spice of life, which is why Ama continues to find energy in the novel and the innovative. Find Ama on LinkedIn.
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Lynn ZebedaCo-founderA passionate go-getter, Lynn has worked with partners on five continents on reinventing the world. She has diverse experience in sustainability and social enterprise. Lynn is an energetic, highly committed and analytical team player. She finds herself surrounded by a growing community of highly inspirational people who give her the necessary vim and vigor to actualize the potential she sees all around. Find Lynn on LinkedIn.
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Jamel BuhariProject coordinator and chief styleBig-hearted Jamel is an International Studies brainiac who graces both the Amsterdam and Accra offices with his eye for creativity, his calm demeanour and his flawless style. He’s passionate about freedom, in all its shapes. When he’s not coordinating projects, he creates beautiful moodboards and doles out style advice in a reassuring deep voice. Find Find Jamel on LinkedIn.
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Elizabeth JohnsonResearch coordinator and writerOur driven research coordinator with a creative heart, reporting from our headquarters in Accra. With journalistic as well as hands-on organizing experience, Elizabeth believes in deeply understanding society to birth innovative projects that catalyze real change. Her true loves of research, literature and creativity make sure Elizabeth adds thoughtful perspectives every time, while completing projects with much vim.
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Marrit BolwerkProject officer, researcher, innovatorWhat do you get when you combine in-depth knowledge on climate, a can-do approach and a vibrant personality? A woman who can take on any challenge! Driven by her passion for equality and sustainability, Marrit has tackled a range of projects in both Amsterdam and Accra with creativity, positivity and a great dose of humour. You can find her on LinkedIn
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Kwame KondorLogistics coordinator, filmmaker, nature loverDr. Monk's EXCELLENT logistics coordinator in Accra. He has his sleeves rolled up and is always ready for action, since the inception of Dr. Monk! Kwame can do anything: from being the life of the party, to coordinating groups of people for research, to coaxing our garden into bloom. All these talents Kwame feeds with his passion for people and planet.
I&I's
Besides our core team of six that is spread out over Amsterdam and Accra, our superpowers come from our international community of collaborators. I&I stands for WE as one. Dr. Monk is in cahoots with an undercover society of creatives, thinkers, content experts, researchers, activists, planet lovers, treehuggers, fashion facists, curators, architects, scientists, writers, marketeers, humanitarians and vegetarians… each bringing in a special flavor to the mashup of dynamic, surprising, world changing ideas. They inspire and lift us up every day. For each project, we cherry-pick our wider team and consult our gurus. Here are a few examples of those around us:
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There is a big buzz around this game changer and it is not only because he is dedicated to saving the bees. He also designs games for social change and green healthy workspaces, along with many other tools for reaching societal tipping points.
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Environmentalist super star with out of the box ideas. He describes himself as the “African Gypsy” and is seen all across the globe barefoot and in a sarong, performing for thousands of young people.
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After having worked from our Accra office, Afra is currently pursuing her PHD. With a big passion for research, she is pushed by her need to understand what makes the world go around. Heavy bag of questions in hand, she tries to uncover the truths that illuminate the roads to problem-solving. She’s also an aficionado of stories in all forms.
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The world is Laura’s design studio where she experiments with ideas that could revolutionize how we do simple things, like visit the toilet. She is our interaction design partner in crime, always in the eye of an innovation storm.
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This ever curious engineer is never too shy to dip his hand at social innovative projects. With a big passion for all things tech and machines, one is most likely to find Ivan tinkering and hankering over tech related stuff.
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Dinu manages to bring it all together. She is exceptionally perceptive, dedicated, analytical, creative and warmhearted. She has a passion for public health issues, especially maternal health, and can give a great massage!
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An architect with a heart that fits the entire world, Kiara can create anything with her own hands. She likes to explore, analyse and conceptualise until the most amazing results come up.
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Another Kaput, a different world. Chris is on a mission to bring the philosophy of permaculture into the hearts, minds and gardens of people. From urban rooftops to Haitian forests: Chris has just the brilliant mind and compelling vision to get it done.
Our mentors and gurus
We are lucky to have several wise advisors around us. Here is what they have to say about Dr. Monk:
“Dr. Monk is refreshing, energizing and compelling in its role as linking pin in the transition to a new world. With all the required ideals and formatives you can imagine.”
Laurens Smals
Serial Entrepreneur in the Eye of the Storm
“Dr. Monk, for the necessary positive counter-perspective”
Marijke Winters
Professor, Motivator and Coach at Hogeschool Rotterdam and Far, Far Beyond
“Some talk about changing the world. Others breathe it, live it and do it. That’s Dr. Monk.”
Dave Jongeneelen
Game Changer and Chief Idealist at Better Future
“When you work hard, you have to rest well.”
Oma Jan
Most Beautiful, Humorous, Wise, Loving, Quote-Worthy Grandma
“For out of the box and exceptionally creative advice, Dr. Monk is the one you need.”
Herman Wijffels
The Prime Minister that The Netherlands Wished They Would Have
“Rooted in this time’s spirit. Doers, creative, straight to the point, not afraid to experiment and extraordinarily fun and inspiring. Plus sustainable, engaged, hands on, connecting, interested, frontrunning and with a hearty laugh. So how do I say that in one sentence?”
Ted van den Bergh
Director and Connector at Triodos Foundation
“You can't own land. You are born onto the land. You work on the land. Then you die and return to the land. It's ridiculous to think that you can own land.”
Tasi
Most Strong, No-Nonsense, Cool, Sturdy, Grounded, Honest Grandma
“Dr. Monk blends both African and European perspectives in their analysis of issues and creative crafting of solutions.”
Dorothy Gordon
Director-General of Ghana's first Advanced Information Technology Institute