Merijn van Leeuwen

Merijn van Leeuwen is an experienced conservation professional currently serving as the Head of Thematic Conservation at Wereld Natuur Fonds (WWF-NL) since September 2019, where responsibilities include managing a team of experts in various environmental fields such as freshwater, oceans, and climate. Prior roles include Coordinator for the Amazon & Atlantic Forest, and a Senior Technical Officer at Wetlands International, focusing on wetland conservation, sustainable agriculture, and community resilience across multiple countries. A policy advisor with a history at Provincie Flevoland, Merijn has also led nature tours as a Tourleader and contributed to urban ecology and conservation efforts in Amsterdam. Educational credentials include a Master's degree in Biology from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, specializing in tropical and conservation ecology.