I am a Zen Buddhist monk and social entrepreneur. Graduated in Product Design from Antwerp University, and with a vision to empower the most vulnerable communities of subsistence farmers in sub-Sahara Africa, I took the initiative to train giant African rats (AKA HeroRATs) as sustainable detectors in response to the global landmine problem.

What started in 1995 as a modest research initiative in detection rats technology, gradually grew into a global humanitarian operation thanks to the hard work and generous support of many enthusiastic folks in the South, the North, the East and the West. Twenty years later my organisation apopo.org had become one of the leading social enterprises in the world, recognised and awarded by networks like Ashoka, the Skoll Awards and the World Economic Forum.

When Mozambique officially announced itself free from landmines in 2015, I transitioned from my executive role to focus on the practice of Zen. In the same year I got involved in The Wellbeing Project which aims to catalyze a culture of inner wellbeing for all changemakers.

While exploring the relationship between personal growth and social innovation, I recently co-founded a new initiative innerpreneurs.org which is a brave space for entrepreneurial leaders to  fulfill their noble life purpose.  

I look forward to meeting you 🙂