Everything starts with a strong team
Ideal mix of expertise and entrepreneurship
Forest Forward, that is a story of teamwork. Our mission? To create social impact for companies through the most diverse nature and forest projects all over Belgium. We do this in such a way that as a company you contribute much more than just on a financial level, but that you also fully experience your commitment together with all stakeholders.
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Dajo Hermans
Co-founder
For many years, Dajo was a journalist at Het Nieuwsblad and De Standaard. He subsequently developed expertise in the real estate and communications sector and was one of the co-founders of Bepublic Group, a reputable public relations firm in our country. There he noticed that companies were increasingly thinking about the social role they could play. His passion for nature and entrepreneurship automatically led Dajo towards Forest Forward and the expansion of the eco-system WeForward. “Walk the talk”, is what he is all about.
Frank Missoul
Co-founder
Frank is an avid runner and nature lover. As a licentiate in Physical Education, he started in 2011, the first interim office for sports teachers in Belgium, Amitabha. After selling his first company, he started several new projects such as a co-working place in Bruges ST+Working, a real estate company Rock & Real and a platform for large domains in Europe, OneMoreHectare. He finds his greatest happiness in creating added value for all stakeholders in a project: employees, customers, suppliers and the planet. And that is exactly what he wants to do with Forest Forward!
Elise Devaux
Project Manager
Elise is our project and event manager and one of the driving forces behind the Learning Leaves project and our event agency Lagom Events. With her background as an industrial engineer in agriculture and a distinct passion for sustainability, communication and organization, she brings a unique blend of expertise and enthusiasm to every project. As a qualified engineer and event manager, she guarantees a professional, creative and pragmatic approach tailored to each challenge.
Arnout Cogen
Advisor Sustainable Relations
Arnout studied journalism at the Arteveldehogeschool in Ghent and is a magician with words. During his internship at De Gentenaar he first came into contact with Forest Fwd. At the planting of the very first company forest Arnout was present and immediately did the first press interview. Today he is SR consultant (not Public Relations, but Sustainable Relations) at Forest Forward. Walk the talk and talk the walk, it is certainly a slogan that is right up Arnout's alley.
Katherine Valkeniers
Responsible Partnerships
Katherine is a passionate bridge builder who brings businesses, employees and communities together to create sustainable impact. As a consultant in strategic communications and stakeholder management, she helped build support for complex projects such as the 'Oosterweelverbinding' in Antwerp, Belgium. There, she also strengthened internal collaboration among hundreds of employees from different contractor companies. In 2024, Katherine launched ARGO, an educational program through which the business community supports talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in their academic development. From the same vision that businesses are a powerful engine for local social and environmental change, she joined Forest Forward.
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United Experts Group
Ecological Expert
United Experts Group is our partner of the first hour when it comes to ecological knowledge and implementation. The knowledge network, which is on board as a partner, has over 20 years of ecological experience and know-how, both in Belgium and in the Netherlands. This also means that we can handle all types of ecological projects, from the largest to smaller nature creations, and if necessary we have all the expertise available in-house.