Our story
The NICOLE Foundation was established in Belgium in 2023 as an independent organisation dedicated to delivering solutions when polluters can't pay. What began as targeted, volunteer-led interventions has rapidly grown into a globally recognised force in environmental crisis response.
In 2024 alone, we supported major projects for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), helped guide recovery after Peru’s largest ecological disaster, and developed technical frameworks for environmental recovery in conflict-affected regions. Our journey reflects not just growth, but an unwavering belief that even the most complex pollution challenges can be solved – through science, collaboration, and determination.
Why we exist
Our mission is to protect people, ecosystems, and biodiversity from the ongoing threats of environmental pollution – especially where traditional mechanisms fail, and urgent action is required.
We intervene where legal, financial, or technical barriers leave contamination unresolved. Through a global network of experts, we deliver rapid, science-led solutions that transform polluted sites into safer, thriving environments.
Our work spans soil and groundwater remediation, environmental damage assessments in conflict and disaster zones, local capacity building, and strategic planning for sustainable recovery.
Everything we do is guided by our commitment to integrity, transparency, and measurable impact aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Turning complexity into action
Pollution crises are rarely simple. They’re complex, multi-layered challenges demanding scientific expertise, collaboration, and courage.
NICOLE Foundation navigates this complexity by:
Identifying
critical gaps
Stepping in when the polluter can’t pay, or when governments and NGOs lack capacity
Mobilising
global expertise
Connecting the right experts to the right problems quickly and efficiently
Delivering
practical solutions
Grounded in science, transparency, and measurable outcomes
Building partnerships
Working alongside NGOs, multilateral organisations, donors, and local communities to achieve lasting impact
Every intervention we undertake is guided by our commitment to integrity, collaboration, and sustainable results aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our impact
Proven results across the globe
Since our founding, the NICOLE Foundation has worked across Latin America, Eastern Europe, and beyond.
Recent highlights include:
Supporting the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) after the catastrophic Callao Oil Spill – Peru’s greatest ecological disaster – helping assess over 1,100 km² of impacted marine areas and protected reserves.
Leading UNEP’s assessment of contamination in Ukraine’s Kakhovka Reservoir region following the dam breach, delivering critical data for recovery planning and safe agricultural reuse of sediment.
Developing UNEP’s Implementation Plan under Resolution 6/12, guiding post-conflict environmental monitoring worldwide.
These projects reflect our commitment to transforming legacy pollution into opportunities for renewal and resilience.
The principles that guide us
At the NICOLE Foundation, our work is driven by values that shape every decision we make:
Integrity
We are transparent, honest, and committed to scientific facts.
Collaboration
We believe solutions emerge when partners come together with shared purpose.
Impact
We measure our success by the real-world difference we create for people and ecosystems.
Expertise
We harness the highest standards of technical knowledge and practical experience.
Responsibility
We act where others can’t, stepping in to address urgent environmental threats.
Governance and transparency
Built on trust
Every successful project starts with trust. Beneficiaries, partners, and experts work with the NICOLE Foundation because we earn it – through transparent processes and rigorous governance.
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All funding flows through auditable systems, ensuring accountability and clarity.
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We report openly on project outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned.
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We adhere to global standards, aligning our work with ESG goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our integrity is not negotiable – it’s the foundation of every relationship we build.
Further details can be found in our Compliance & Reporting page.
Meet the team behind the mission
Meet the people driving science-led, purpose-driven environmental action.
At the NICOLE Foundation, our work is built on the expertise, integrity, and collaboration of people who care deeply about protecting communities, ecosystems, and future generations. From strategic oversight to field-level implementation, our team brings together decades of experience in environmental science, governance, remediation, and cross-sector partnerships. We believe that lasting change starts with the right people – and we’re proud to introduce you to ours.
Executive team
These are the individuals who lead the Foundation’s day-to-day strategy, operations, and technical delivery. Each member plays a vital role in ensuring our mission is translated into measurable outcomes across the globe.
Johan De Fraye, Executive Director
Elze-Lia Visser-Westerweele, Operations & Finance Manager
Pascal Mallien, Legal Manager
Lucia Buvé, Resource Manager
Al Hannum, Development Manager
From left to right: Johan De Fraye, Pascal Mallien, Lucia Buvé, Anneli Liljemark, Laurent Bakker, Elze-Lia Visser-Westerweele, and Al Hannum on screen
Board of Directors
Our Board provides strategic oversight and governance, ensuring our work stays aligned with our mission, ethical standards, and long-term impact objectives. It brings together deep technical expertise, policy insight, and accountability across our operations.
Al Hannum, President
Johan De Fraye, Vice-President / Executive Director
Anneli Liljemark, NICOLE Representative
Pascal Mallien, Secretary
Lucia Buvé, Member at Large
Laurent Bakker, Member at Large
Behind every role – a shared purpose
We are scientists, strategists, and collaborators – but above all, we are united by purpose. Across every role and responsibility, our team shares a single focus: protecting people and ecosystems from the consequences of environmental pollution, especially where others cannot.
The NICOLE Foundation is committed to working where pollution’s impact remains – delivering expert solutions where others can’t.
