About us

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.

An update on Emma

Emma is recovering well and she will be in rehabilitation in Southern France for the next month. During this time she will be offline.

Reflections on Walk For The Trees 2023 – Part 1

In this two-part article, we will share the highlights of the four-day event, and re-live some exciting moments!
The first article will cover the first two days.

Prayers and well wishes to Emma from France

On the 11th of May, Emma has a heart operation scheduled. After the heart operation, she will have to stay in the intensive care unit to recover.

Hans Timpner meets our GTI India community

Our Director, Hans Timpner, recently traveled through India. In India, he met many of our GTI India community members, and also planted many trees! Hans was happy to share some of his trip’s highlights.

Australian community walks to support the Global Tree Initiative!

Our two Australian coordinators, Mark Allaway and Jill Lancashire are planning a charity walk for the benefit of the Global Tree Initiative! The event is called “Walk for the Trees 2023”.  The walk will take place closer to the end of March this year.

January 21 is National Squirrel Appreciation Day in the USA!

In preparation for celebrating this year’s squirrel appreciation day (21 January), Kat and Bonnie would love to hear from YOU!

The voice of our global community in 2022!

Thank you all for 2022. We look forward to what we will accomplish, together, in 2023!

Mrinalini is inviting you to donate to the Global Tree Initiative

Mrinalini, from the India, is inviting everyone to consider donating to the upcoming fundraiser.

Introducing Team Portugal

GTI Portugal’s mission is, therefore, to make people fall in love with the amazing complexity of the plant kingdom so that together we can live in harmony with it.

A letter from our global director, Hans Timpner

As you are aware, it has fallen into my domain to run the Global Tree Initiative as the global director. So, let me first of all, thank everyone for the energy and effort that you have put into the success of this worthwhile cause.

Core staff

Tenzin Ösel Hita
Founder, President, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Email to OselOne Big LoveClear Light
Anrich Bester
Chief Executive Officer, Project Coordinator

Germany / South Africa
Read more about Anrich

Francisca Gusmão
Chief Operations Officer, Project Specialist
Kind Dish
Valerie Ray
Treasurer

USA

Arnoud Smits
Communication Designer

The Netherlands

Hans Timpner
Global Coordinator Director, Regional Coordinator Aruba

Aruba / Australia / Germany
Read more about Hans

Javier Torres Espino
Regional Coordinator Puerto Rico

We come from across the planet

Anna Colao
Consultant

United Kingdom
Read more about Anna

Jill Lancashire & Mark Allaway
Regional Coordinators Australia
Matheus Pangracio Italiano
Regional Coordinator Brazil
Jérémy Arusi Adeba
Regional Coordinator Democratic Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo
Read more about Jeremy

Emmanuelle Defresne
Regional Coordinator France
Marie Henry
Regional Coordinator France
Dipen Mehta
Regional Coordinator India
Lokendra Balasaria
Regional Coordinator India

India

Mrinalini Nigde
Regional Coordinator India
Marco Farina
Regional Coordinator Italy

Italy

Nathanael Shikongo
Regional Coordinator Namibia
Bengu Fetzer
Regional Coordinator New Zealand

New Zealand / Turkey
Read more about Bengu

Beth Pearsall
Regional Coordinator New Zealand

New Zealand

Imam Maiyaki
Regional Coordinator Nigeria
Katy Peláez
Regional Coordinator Spain

Spain / Colombia
Read more about Katy

Jennifer Coyne
Regional Coordinator United Kingdom

UK / Ireland

Rowena Field
Regional Coordinator United Kingdom
Inessa Slavski
Regional Coordinator Germany

Ukraine / Germany

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

Somewhere in a tree, USA
Read more about Bonnie

Miss Bonnie FanmailTikTok
Patty Rangel
Regional Coordinator CaliBaja

California, USA / Baja California, Mexico

GENLinkedIn
Jussa Kudherezera
Regional Coordinator Zimbabwe
Marie-Claire Miyaguchi
Translator French
Marilyn Magazin
Translator French
Julia Soeder
Translator German

Germany

Sophie Kaiser
Translator German
Manuel Vasquez
Translator Spanish
Klaus Hanemann
Translator

Germany

Ralph Doe
Interpreter French
Brigitte Schaer
Social Media Support

Germany

Jennifer Troyan
Social Media Support
Vadim Kulmatetskiy
Social Media Support
Afonso Dinis
Volunteer GTI Portugal

Portugal

Bárbara Pedro
Volunteer GTI Portugal

Portugal

Beatriz Dinis
Volunteer GTI Portugal

Portugal

Inês Chaby
Volunteer GTI Portugal

Portugal

Tiago Carrilho
Volunteer GTI Portugal

Portugal

Madalena Lopes
Volunteer GTI Portugal

Portugal

Tiago Jesus
Volunteer GTI Portugal

Portugal

Vasco Valdez
Volunteer GTI Portugal

Portugal

Anita Saran
Editor / Proof Reader

India

John Castelloe
IT Consultant

USA

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

Alejandra Boquete, USA/Argentina, Alexandra Hoyle, United Kingdom, Amanda Russell, USA, Anouk Burel, France, Ariana Biren, Argentina, Cynthia Zak, USA/Argentina,  Deepthy Chandrashekhar, India, Fred van der Zee, Spain/Netherlands, Hermann Wittekopf, Germany, Jacie Keeley, USA,  Javi Peña, Spain, Jorge Robles, USA/Puerto Rico, Joseph Geglia, USA, Julie Caldwell, USA, Maria Cersosimo, USA/Argentina, Mer Stafford, USA, Peter Kedge, Canada/UK, Sue Emonson, Australia, Stephanie Brennan, Australia, Tania Duratovic, Australia, Tom Truty, USA, Ven. Kalden, Brazil, Ven. Sherab, France, Yaron Bahir, Israel