Our Team

Our Team

Volunteers are the backbone of our Global Tree Initiative.

We are of different ages. We have varied backgrounds, skill sets, talents and education. What we share is a strong attitude of universal social responsibility.

Latest News From Our GTI India Team

In light of recent developments, we are announcing the resignation of our three Regional Coordinator volunteers in India: Dipen Mehta, Lokendra Balasaria, and Mrinalini Nigde.

Welcoming Heather to our global community

We are happy to welcome Heather to our team of volunteers as our Regional Coordinator. Originally from the UK, Heather now resides in the Sydney area, Australia.

Welcome to the team, Georges!

Welcome to your new role. We are delighted to have you on board Georges!

Food security and tree planting in Idjwi, DRC

Climate change affects millions of people every day. Some choose to leave their countries, while others decide to stay and make the most out of the difficult conditions of their environment. This is the case with FFF Idjwi and Ushindi.

Congratulations, Beth! And thank you for joining us!

Beth is our South Island Global Tree Initiative (GTI) New Zealand coordinator and has been helping us around the Coromandel area. She has kindly taken the role of fundraising specialist for GTI.

A warm welcome to Bengu, our new project coordinator!

Welcome to your new role, Bengu! We are very happy and thankful to have you here, and we are looking forward to a lot of exciting developments with you!

Global Tree Initiative’s community helps protect the rainforest in Australia

Here is a final update on the fundraiser conducted by Global Tree Initiative (GTI) Australia’s community.
Mark shares, “Our small donation will save about 60 mature and semi-plants as a forest habitat.”

Living more sustainably with Chhaya Taralekar

Chhaya Taralekar advocates for more sustainable and simpler ways of living, with composting as a cornerstone of her activities.

Emma Defresne meets Ösel Hita at Vajra Yogini Institute, France

Later that year, during the Summer of 2023, Emma met Ösel, our founder, in Vajra Yogini. Emma shares it was a “nice surprise”.

We are looking for a new Fundraiser!

Reach out to us with your CV and motivation letter, so that we can learn more about you. Applications are open until December 3, 2023.

Core staff

Tenzin Ösel Hita
Founder, President, Chairman of the Board of Directors
One Big LoveClear Light
Georges Piette
Secretary Universal Clear Light

USA

Katrina Robertson
CEO Universal Clear Light

New Zealand

Bengu Fetzer
Project Coordinator

New Zealand / Turkey
Read more about Bengu

We come from across the planet

Anna Colao
Consultant

United Kingdom
Read more about Anna

Heather Falloon
Regional Coordinator

Sydney, Australia

Javier Torres Espino
Regional Coordinator, Puerto Rico
Jérémy Arusi Adeba
Regional Coordinator Democratic Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo
Read more about Jeremy

Jussa Kudherezera
Regional Coordinator Zimbabwe
Katherine Peláez
Regional Coordinator Spain

Spain / Colombia
Read more about Katy

Kat O'Lone
Regional Coordinator USA
Miss Bonnie McSquirrely
Official Mascot and Educator

Somewhere in a tree, USA
Read more about Bonnie

TikTok

And a big THANK YOU to all who have helped us in the past!

Afonso Dinis, Portugal, Alan Keane, USA, Alejandra Boquete, USA/Argentina, Alexandra Hoyle, United Kingdom, Amanda Russell, USA, Anita Saran, India, Anouk Burel, France, Ariana Biren, Argentina, Bárbara Pedro, Portugal, Beatriz Dinis, Portugal, Brigitte Schaer, Germany, Cynthia Zak, USA/Argentina, Deepthy Chandrashekhar, India, Emmanuelle Defresne, France, Fred van der Zee, Spain/Netherlands, Hermann Wittekopf, Germany, Imam Maiyaki, Nigeria, Inês Chaby, Portugal, Inessa Slavski, Ukraine/Germany, Javi Peña, Spain, Jennifer Troyan, USA, John Castelloe, USA, Jorge Robles, USA/Puerto Rico, Joseph Geglia, USA, Julia Soeder, Germany, Klaus Hanemann, Germany, Madalena Lopes, Portugal, Manuel Vasquez, Colombia, Marco Farina, Italy, Maria Cersosimo, USA/Argentina, Marie-Claire Miyaguchi, French Polynesia, Marie Henry, France, Marilyn Magazin, France/USA, Matheus Pangracio Italiano, Brazil, Mer Stafford, USA, Nathanael Shikongo, Namibia, Patty Rangel, Mexico/USA, Ralph Doe, United Kingdom, Rowena Field, United Kingdon, Sophie Kaiser, Germany, Sue Emonson, Australia, Stephanie Brennan, Australia, Tania Duratovic, Australia, Tiago Carrilho, Portugal, Tiago Jesus, Portugal, Vadim Kulmatetskiy, USA/Russia, Vasco Valdez, Portugal, Ven. Kalden, Brazil, Ven. Sherab, France, Yaron Bahir, Israel

With special thanks to retired Directors Hans Timpner and Jacie Keeley, Founding Director of the Global Tree Initiative