ELISE VAN MIDDELEM
Founder & CEO
SUGI
Elise is the Founder of SUGI, where she has worked for 6.5 years.
In May 2019, SUGi launched as a global platform fully dedicated to biodiversity building, ecosystem restoration and reconnecting people to Nature through the creation of ultra-dense, biodiverse forests of native species in urban areas. Our signature strategy entails engineering soil, microbes and biomass to kickstart natural growth processes, according to the proven Miyawaki method, which in only 20 years yields growth comparable to a 100-year-old forest.
With 200+ pocket forests planted in 53 cities we have reconnected over 55,000 youth & community members to Nature. The social impact of creating forests in cities is considerable, as are the environmental benefits, yet there is much more that can and must be done to grow this effort exponentially.
Five short years have yielded a highly successful Proof of Concept that spans communities from Karachi, Pakistan to Santiago, Chile and from Boston, USA to London, UK.
SUGi has evolved from a grassroots movement to become a leading voice on the global stage, from the World Economic Forum, 1t.org and UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration to numerous highly visible public projects and iconic brand collaborations.
She shares her knowledge and expertise on forums such as World Economic Forum, 1t.org and UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration.
Recognition is given to Felicitas for shaping the future of luxury management, and for advancing traceability.