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Meet the secretariat The Friends of the Earth International Secretariat supports and strengthens a global network of environmental activist groups and its international campaigns for an environmentally and socially just and sustainable world. The small Friends of the Earth International Secretariat based in The Netherlands supports the network's campaigns and other activities through fundraising, campaign coordination, workshops, translations, electronic communications, information collection and dissemination, database maintenance and publications. The work of the international secretariat depends heavily upon volunteers.





Colleen F. Halley joined Friends of the Earth International in July 2018 as the US International Fundraising Officer. She helps raise funds from US donors to support the work of our member groups, while strengthening the relationship between Friends of the Earth US and US-based funders. Her work is informed by 10 years as Associate Director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, 25 years of volunteer leadership with Amnesty International and a decade strengthening civil society and protecting human rights in Russia and the former Soviet Union. She has an undergraduate degree in Writing and History and a master's degree in Russian International Studies. When not writing or spending time with her dog, Colleen often finds herself traveling for concerts, surf and to snowboard.

Fieke Jagers joined in September 2018, as the International Program Officer for the Climate Justice and Energy program and the Economic Justice Resisting Neoliberalism program. She previously worked as a Program Officer for ActionAid. She holds BAs in Cultural Anthropology & Sociology and Fine Arts, and a MSc in International Development.
Shireen Lau joined us as the International Fundraising Coordinator in October 2018. Previously she worked in fundraising positions at VSO and Conciliation Resources in London, and spent several years in The Hague with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC). She also served as co-Chair on the board of United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) for two years. Shireen has degrees in International Relations and Violence, Conflict and Development.
Willie Meester joined us as Human Resources Officer in October 2018, following four years living and working in Thailand. She has studied Hospitality Management, Communications and Human Resource Management and has held various HR roles. Willie lives in Amsterdam, where she also runs a coaching and holistic health practice working with clients to boost their overall performance, health and wellbeing
Madeleine Race joined the FoEI Communications team in May 2019, as Communications Officer. Her work involves creating and editing content for FoEI's website, social media and press work, as well as supporting groups and regions. Originally from the UK, Madeleine has worked and volunteered for social causes in various countries, including Uganda, Ecuador and India. Her specific work experience in communications and network support includes two years with a community-driven development NGO in Dakar, Senegal and one year with a health charity in London, UK. She holds a BA in Modern Languages from Newcastle University, and an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from SOAS, University of London.
Our work would not be possible without the dedicated work of our regular volunteers