Symke Nieboer Researcher & Advisor

Symke believes bringing people together, and their perspectives, is the key to a fair and sustainable living environment, and she eagerly applies this in her work at Drift. She recognizes the importance of local strength as well as the bigger picture. With her systems knowledge, sense of justice, and organizational talent, she is committed to driving change, particularly in our food systems. Symke's analytical and pragmatic approach, along with her ability to understand different perspectives—from farmers to policymakers—makes her a valuable strategist.

At DRIFT, Symke is involved in various research projects, including the BIONEXT project to explore transformative change in the biodiversity nexus and the SHARED GREEN DEAL project to understand how local initiatives are influenced by the European Green Deal.

Symke studied Global Sustainability Science at Utrecht University, where she studied water, climate, and ecosystem processes, as well as policy and social transformations. She then specialized in sustainable food systems and agroecology at Wageningen University and ISARA University in Lyon, focusing on justice theory and social movements. Before this, she worked as an advisor in rural areas on integrated spatial processes.

In her free time, she serves as the coordinator for the farmers' association Toekomstboeren and is involved in other food and agricultural networks. Additionally, Symke spends a considerable amount of time in a dance studio in Utrecht. In the time left over, she enjoys getting outdoors to walk and picnic.