Since November, the Friends of the Earth Europe office in Brussels has a new director: Florence Kroff!
Here’s her story:
“As an activist, feminist and human rights defender, Friends of the Earth Europe feels like the right place to put in my energy and leadership.
For a long time I have been passionate about the interconnections of social and environmental justice, which is at the heart of Friends of the Earth Europe’s campaigning. My journey started with a Master’s degree in Law, with specialisations in international human rights law and environmental law. For 17 years, I worked at FIAN Belgium, the Belgian section of an international human rights organisation defending the right to food. I started as a young advocacy officer, developing campaigns and advocacy strategies for peasants’ rights and food sovereignty at Belgian, European and international level, and supported communities defending their rights in the face of European agribusiness multinationals. Eventually, I became FIAN Belgium’s director, leading the team for 12 years.
At a time when environmental protections are being rolled back, democratic space is shrinking and society is becoming more polarised, Friends of the Earth Europe’s role as a catalyst of environmental justice and people power is more important than ever. I want to help the organisation remain bold, steadfast, unafraid to challenge power, and deeply rooted in the movements it serves. My first priorities will be to listen and learn from our team, member groups and allies, to strengthen the network and to bridge the struggles of communities and social movements with European decision-making. I look forward to building this bridge together.”
We are thrilled to welcome Florence to the team! At the same time, we wholeheartedly thank our previous director Matilda Flemming for steering our ship so smoothly in the last two years.
