Arno Boersma
Founding Partner, Island Impact; Former Director, COE for Small Island Developing States of the UNDP
Arno Boersma loves a knowledge challenge, such as how to get knowledge flowing to where it can have the most impact. After obtaining his business degree (Erasmus Univ., Rotterdam), he worked for multinational firms (Heineken, L’Oreal) where he learned the marketing ropes. Next he co-founded a knowledge strategy firm (Squarewise) helping organizations tap into their most renewable resource: knowledge. He went on to join development organizations (the World Bank and UN) where he focused on knowledge to do good, most notably in sustainable development. For the UNDP he set up a global knowledge hub for small island states around the world.
Recently Arno founded Island Impact, a social enterprise for positive impact on small islands. Why? Because these most vulnerable nations can be inspiring innovators for the rest of the world. The firm bridges islands of knowledge, in areas such as Renewable Energy, Sustainable Tourism, the Circular Blue Economy and Climate Change. In short, launched on the 'One Happy Island' of Aruba, with Island Impact Arno is now applying all he has learned in the corporate, start-up, and non-profit world to work towards ‘One Happy Planet.'