Meet the Board
Meet the LUGO Board! To contact a specific member, send an email to greenoffice@leidenuniv.nl with their name in the heading.
Team Officer - Pien Boekholtz
My name is Pien, and I am the Team Officer of LUGO. My passion for sustainability began during my Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences at Wageningen University. There, I became deeply interested in the complexity of environmental challenges, involving many stakeholders with differing perspectives. I enjoy thinking creatively about these issues and finding ways to connect people and ideas to work towards shared solutions.I am currently in my second year of the Master’s programme Governance of Sustainability.
Project Officer - Camiel de Jongh
Hi, I am Camiel. I am currently studying Governance of Sustainability and this year I am also Project Officer of the Green Office. As a Project Officer I execute projects set up by the previous board, but I also think of new projects in which we can increase our community's impact on sustainability within the university.
Project Officer - Mabel van der Geest
I’m Mabel, I am 22 years old and a third year Biology student. I’ve cared for sustainability since I was quite young. I remember when I was only about twelve years old I gave a school presentation about green energy. Now that I've been studying biology I’ve only started to care more about our planet and its conservation. I’m one of the two project officers in our team, so my work includes organizing events or brainstorming about new ones.
Project Officer - Nova Verkerk
Hi there! My name is Nova Verkerk and this year I am one of the Project Officers of the Green Team. In this role I help with coordinating the existing projects, such as the sustainable food labels, the Sustainable Master Thesis Awards and the sustainability labels, and help with creating new initiatives in which we can help impact the University and its community. Besides this role I am also a student assistant working on sustainability on the central level of the University, where I help with policy on sustainability and the integration of sustainability in education.
Community Officer - Asia Bertuccioli
Hi! My name is Asia Bertuccioli, and I am the Community Officer for LUGO this year. I am Italian-American, but I have been living in the Netherlands for the past 5 years. I am in my second year in the Advanced MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy. I have a deep passion for topics surrounding Climate and Energy Security and Humanitarian Action.
In my role as Community Officer (alongside Berber), we aim to bring LUGO’s slogan ‘fostering a culture of sustainability’ to life by bringing together the internal and external communities of Leiden University. We focus on our Green Teams, but also work with student, study, and sports associations to increase conversations on making sustainable swaps.
Community Officer - Berber Verhalle
Hi! My name is Berber Verhalle! I am a Biology student and this year I will be one of the community officers of the LUGO board 2025/2026. This role includes guiding the green teams, and connecting with other green initiatives throughout the student population and the university.
Communications Officer - Vasiliki Markou
Hi! I’m Vasiliki, an MSc Governance of Sustainability student and the Communications Officer at LUGO. I moved from Greece to pursue my studies and have previously worked on sustainability-related research projects in both Greece and the Netherlands.
During the 2025–26 academic year, I will be responsible for managing LUGO’s social media channels and supporting the Board by communicating its work, vision, and activities.
"How do you envision sustainability in Leiden University?"
To me, engaging in sustainability occurs when people question the way they see themselves in nature. Sustainable actions begin at the individual level! How can we make small changes that impact our own lives, the lives of others, and those yet to come positively?
- Asia
A sustainable university is in my opinion one that sets an example by accommodating sustainable developments within its buildings. However, maybe even more important, a sustainable university should motivate its students to think from a sustainable perspective. They then take their perspective into the workforce and apply it there for a greener future!
-Mabel
I see universities as having both the power and the duty to take the lead in sustainability. Through LUGO, I hope to join forces with employees and students to create structural change within Leiden University and build a strong community of like-minded people. I look forward to making an impact together with you all!
- Pien
To me sustainability in Leiden University means institutional action against climate change, both on research and university policies level. I wish for and work towards more sustainable and green initiatives in the university, aiming to create an inclusive and happy community of students and staff!
- Vasiliki
A sustainable university would mean a university in which all the students and staff have a say in how sustainability looks like in our university. This means creating a community and giving this it the tools to set up, participate and advocate for sustainable initiatives throughout the university.
- Camiel
For this year I hope to make LUGO and our green community be more visible for students and staff, so more people can join our green movement!
- Berber