ESS is organized as a core with two surrounding layers
Core – Chantal Landburg is the General Director / CEO; the administrative and logistical management is the responsibility of Jessica Ritfeld
Inner Layer – associates of ESS which do all commercial work via ESS; these
currently include Angela Kromodimedjo – Soetotaroeno, Bart De Dyn, Hans Paters, Humaira Asruf, Raoul Boedhoe and Saskia Somai; in addition, Sietze van Dijk who does part of his commercial work via ESS
Outer Layer – local and international consultants, either companies or individual experts, who are contracted for specific jobs, based on the client’s requirements
Advisory Committee – Senior experts who convene twice a year on a voluntary basis with the Core to provide independent strategic guidance
Core and Inner Layer
Master of Science (MSc) in Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Sciences, both from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, with 18+ years of experience in environment, biodiversity, climate change, project cycles, agriculture and ecosystem-based adaptation in Suriname and other CARICOM countries. Though trained as a technical specialist, she has built equally deep experience in teaching and training, stakeholder engagement (including with Indigenous and Tribal Peoples), and project and organizational management, enabling her to apply an integrated approach to every assignment.
has 12+ years of experience in administrative, financial, and Human Resource administration. She has extensive experience in office management (back and front), executive support, and optimizing administrative and financial processes.
Master of Science (MSc) in Sustainable Development, with experience in environmental -governance, -monitoring, -legislation and -international conventions, and sustainable forestry (e.g. multi-stakeholder processes, conservation and sustainable resource management, policy development and institutional strengthening).
Biologist and environmental specialist with 30+ years of professional experience, which includes 20+ years as consultant. Obtained an MSc-equivalent degree in Zoology from the State University of Gent (RUG; Belgium), and has been active in higher education, research and protected area management in Suriname. Senior expert in environmental impact assessment, biodiversity and conservation. Has been involved in 60 consultancy jobs, which included managing and in part executing complex studies with multidisciplinary teams.
Master of Science (MSc) in Tropical Land Use from the University of Wageningen (NL), specialized in water management and rural development (multi-/ interdisciplinary research and approaches) with 15+ years of experience in water and environmental management, mainly in the Netherlands.
Ms. Humaira Asruf BSc
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, with 1+ years of experience in project management assistance, flora and fauna baseline studies, biodiversity assessments, and data management.
Master of Science (MSc) in Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Sciences from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, with experience in biodiversity, ecology, terrestrial and aquatic habitat assessments, environmental monitoring and field research. His experience includes wildlife and vegetation assessments, aquatic ecological studies, environmental baseline studies, project management, technical training and capacity building.
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Science – orientation Technology from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, with 3+ year of experience in project management, in the field of e.g., circular economy, training and environmental monitoring.
Master of Science (MSc) in Tropical Forest Ecology from the University of Wageningen (NL), specialized in sustainable forest management, international timber trade and SFM and CoC certification, and related capacity building and institutional support, with 40+ years of experience worldwide (of which 20+ years in Suriname)
Outer Layer
Over the years, ESS has established partnerships with national and international experts and companies to tackle more complex jobs in Suriname and the region
Doctor in Botany from the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, France, with 15+ years of worldwide experience, including in French Guiana and Suriname, in assessment and conservation of flora, vegetation and biodiversity in general
Doctor in Biology from the University of Leiden in The Netherlands; specialized in reptiles and amphibians of the Guianas, with 30+ years of experience in sur-veys, impact assessment studies and field training, mostly in the Guianas
Doctor in Biology from the University of Toronto in Canada, specialized in small mammals, with 25+ years of worldwide experience in faunal surveys
Doctor in Biology from the Louisiana State University in the USA, specialized in neotropical birds, with 10+ years of experience in faunal surveys, and impact assessment studies in the Americas, including Suriname and Guyana
Master of Arts in Archaeology (Heritage Management & Museum Stud-ies) from Leiden University (Netherlands) and Bachelor of Science in History from the An-ton de Kom University of Suriname, with 5+ years of experience in archaeological baseline studies and heritage surveys for mining and infrastructure projects, including Newmont Su-riname and Rosebel Goldmines, and Director/Conservator of the Stichting Surinaams Museum
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in International Business Management from the FHR Lim A Po Institute (Suriname), currently pursuing an MBA in Sustainability Management, with 15+ years of experience in stakeholder engagement plans, gender analysis and action plans, and protected area management effectiveness assessments, mostly in biodiversity and conservation projects in Suriname and the Guianas
Master of Arts in Participation, Development and Social Change from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex (UK), with 28+ years of experience in gender mainstreaming, gender analysis and policy development, and multi-stakeholder and FPIC-aligned engagement processes for government, extractive-sector and development-partner clients, mostly in Suriname
Master of Science (MSc) in Human Geography from the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), independent consultant with 9+ years of experience in socioeconomic and socio-cultural research, community needs assessments, and stakeholder engagement for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), in Suriname’s mining, oil & gas, and infrastructure sectors
Doctorandus (drs.) in Cul-tural Anthropology / Sociology of Non-Western Societies from the Vrije Universiteit Am-sterdam (Netherlands), specialized in Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’ engagement, FPIC and gender mainstreaming, with 25+ years of experience in participatory research and capacity building, mostly in Suriname
Master’s degree in Social Development & Policy, independent consultant with 15+ years of expertise in stakeholder engagement, social research, capacity building, and awareness initiatives, specializing in HSEQ, waste & pollution management, and sustainable agriculture
Master of Science in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean, independent consultant with 9+ years of experience in stakeholder engagement / stakeholder consultation, impact assessments and communication for sustainable development.
MSc, RPBio Manager, Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, with 15+ years’ experience in ecotoxicology and risk assessment: Human health and ecological risk assessment (HHREAs), Environmental effects monitoring, Environmental impact assess-ments, Aquatic and marine toxicology, Site-specific environmental benchmark development, and Toxicity identification evaluations
Master’s degree in Business Administration (MA) from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Register accountant (RA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), with 20+ years of experience in audit & assurance, IT governance and control, corporate finance, and financial reporting (IFRS), in Suriname and the Netherlands
MSc in Petroleum Geoscience & Engineering and MSc in Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, both from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, with 5+ years of experience in offshore cementing engineering, reservoir and environmental data analysis, and HSE compliance for the oil & gas sector, in Suriname and the wider Caribbean
Master’s degree in Leisure, Tourism and Environment from the Wageningen University in The Netherlands, chairman of a foundation for conservation and sustainable tourism, with 30+ years of experience in nature tourism and capacity building in Suriname
Master of Science in Strategic Management and Organization and Bachelor of Science in Mining & Resource Engineering, both from IBW University (Suriname), with 8+ years of experience in water quality and treatment planning, and social and community engagement processes with Indigenous and hinterland communities, in Suriname
We can mobilize an even wider range of expertise
if the job requires it!