NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Dieuwertje Nelissen is Executive Director at Enviu. As Chief Program Officer she is developing Enviu’s venture building programs globally that tackle complex sustainability challenges across agrifood, plastics, mobility, and textiles in Kenya, India, Indonesia, and the Netherlands. She is an entrepreneurial idealist who believes that impact and solutions can be combined to create systems change. How? Starting from the issue, using an entrepreneurial mindset, collaborating with local communities and partners, and building scalable solutions.

At Enviu, Dieuwertje has held a range of leadership roles across regions and missions. Previously she led Enviu Zero Waste in Indonesia and the Netherlands – driving efforts to reduce plastic and packaging pollution through reuse and refill models. She also served as Country Director for Enviu Chile, where she led the agrifood program and built Savia, a farm-to-fork company connecting smallholder farmers with businesses.

Dieuwertje is experienced in program and partnership management and building impact ventures. With a Master in International Relations, she started her career in the business world, leading innovation, strategy, and operations in the renewable energy sector.