Our work to protect and restore Borneo’s species-rich and globally important rainforests is founded on strong partnerships, scientific excellence and community leadership. As our programmes continue to grow in scale and impact, we are delighted to welcome to new members to the Borneo Nature Foundation International Board of Trustees: Christina Dembiec and Frank van Veen.
Together, Christina and Frank bring decades of experience spanning conservation science, organisational development and international collaboration. Their expertise will help guide BNF as we continue working alongside local communities, researchers, government agencies and partners to conserve Borneo’s nature.
Christina Dembiec
Christina Dembiec is a conservation and organizational development professional with more than 20 years of experience building capacity across the zoo, aquarium, and conservation sectors.
She holds an MSc in Primate Conservation from Oxford Brookes University and has dedicated much of her career to helping conservation organisations maximise their impact. Through her work with the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Conservation Planning Specialist Group, Christina has collaborated with conservation practitioners in more than 120 countries, supporting efforts to address some of the world’s most pressing biodiversity challenges.
Today, Christina serves as a Senior Talent Strategist at Canopy Strategic Partners, where she focuses on strengthening leadership and organisational effectiveness across conservation institutions. She joined the BNF International Board of Trustees because she believes that protecting Borneo’s forests and the species that depend on them requires not just scientific rigor, but the organisational and human capacity to act on it. As such, Christina’s extensive experience will provide valuable strategic guidance for the continued growth and development of our conservation programmes in the years ahead.
Frank van Veen
Frank van Veen brings an exceptional combination of ecological research expertise and first-hand experience working alongside BNF and Indonesian partners on conservation initiatives in Borneo.
Frank studied Biology at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands before moving to Imperial College London on a European Commission Marie Curie Fellowship to pursue a PhD in entomology and community ecology, which he completed in 1999.
He went on to build a distinguished academic career, first at Imperial College London and later at the University of Exeter. His research explored fundamental questions in community ecology while increasingly focusing on practical applications in biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of agro-ecosystems. His work has spanned multiple continents, including projects in the United Kingdom and southern Africa.
Over the past decade, Frank has become closely involved in efforts to protect and restore Borneo’s unique peat-swamp and kerangas (heath) forests. Beginning in 2016, he worked closely with BNF and a growing network of Indonesian academic partners to develop collaborative conservation and research programmes. These partnerships led to two successful Darwin Initiative projects and the establishment of KALI, a major interdisciplinary UK-Indonesian research consortium funded through the UK’s Global Challenges Research Fund. The programme brought together researchers from multiple disciplines to improve understanding of tropical peatland ecosystems and support evidence-based conservation.
Frank remains actively engaged in research as Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter. His current interests include the application of bioacoustics and artificial intelligence for rainforest biodiversity monitoring, an exciting and rapidly developing field with significant potential for conservation.
Frank brings a deep understanding of both the scientific and practical challenges involved in protecting Indonesia’s tropical forests.
Looking Ahead
The addition of Christina and Frank reflects the broad range of expertise needed to address today’s conservation challenges. From strategic guidance and conservation leadership to advancing ecological research and innovation, both trustees bring perspectives that will help us continue to deliver effective, long-term conservation outcomes.
As the pressures of climate change, biodiversity loss and habitat degradation continue to grow, strong governance and strategic leadership are more important than ever. We are excited to welcome Christina and Frank to the Board and look forward to working with them as we continue our mission to conserve Borneo’s forests for the benefit of people, wildlife, and the planet.
