Meet our Board
2025 marked a new chapter for the Plastic Whale Foundation.
After years of dedication, our founder and Chair, Marius Smit, stepped down from the Board. Together with Trix Derriks, he laid the foundation for the organisation we are today. Thanks to their vision, entrepreneurship and perseverance, thousands of children, young people and adults have taken action for plastic-free land and water. We are deeply grateful for everything they have contributed.
Their departure also created space for a new phase.
We are proud to welcome a new Board: a group of people with diverse backgrounds, expertise and perspectives, united by one shared ambition—to empower as many children and young people as possible to become part of the solution to plastic pollution.
Together, they bring experience in entrepreneurship, governance, law, finance, communication and strategy. This diversity strengthens our organisation, helps us build long-term partnerships and enables us to increase our impact.
Our Board
Eva de Lozanne - Chair
Eva guides the foundation through change with clarity, empathy and a deep belief in the power of people. Through her calm and connecting leadership, she helps the organisation build its next chapter.
As a Board member, I'm proud to contribute behind the scenes to the practical approach of the Plastic Whale Foundation. By focusing on children, we are investing in a cleaner and more beautiful future—because what you learn young stays with you for life.
Cornélie den Outer – Secretary
Cornélie brings legal expertise, careful governance and a strong sense of responsibility. She helps the foundation make thoughtful decisions and ensures good governance.
I believe the plastic pollution crisis can only be solved through a combination of top-down and bottom-up change. I'm proud to contribute to that mission.
Jorn Eiting van Liempt – Treasurer
As an entrepreneur, Jorn combines strategic thinking with a strong sense of responsibility. He helps keep the foundation financially healthy and future-proof, ensuring that every euro creates as much social impact as possible.
I believe it's essential to keep reminding people that plastic simply doesn't belong in nature. By supporting the Plastic Whale Foundation, I hope to help amplify that positive impact.
Perre van den Brink – Advisor
Perre supports the foundation with his expertise in storytelling, media and communication. He helps make our mission visible, inspiring more people to join us in creating plastic-free land and water.
Plastic Whale Foundation creates impact by bringing people together to roll up their sleeves while having fun at the same time. Why wouldn't I want to be part of that?
Janina Nieper – Director
Janina leads the day-to-day operations of the foundation and works closely with schools, partners, volunteers and the Board to further develop our educational programmes and expand our social impact.
What touches me most isn't how many kilograms of plastic we remove from nature, but how many children leave with a different perspective. They discover that their own actions truly matter. That's what I believe in: by inspiring an entire generation to take action, we can build a future where plastic pollution is no longer considered normal.
Good governance and transparency
Good governance is the foundation of a healthy and impactful organisation.
The Board oversees the foundation’s strategy, financial sustainability and long-term continuity, while supporting the Director in delivering our mission. Together, they ensure that the foundation’s resources are used responsibly and create the greatest possible social impact.
Board members serve on a voluntary basis and receive no remuneration for their work. They may only be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred while carrying out their Board responsibilities.
We look forward to everything we will achieve together in the years ahead.
Together, we are building a generation that takes action for plastic-free land and water.