Hello there!

My name is Hanna, and I’m a sustainability scientist with a passion for communication. I was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, and raised in South East Asia and California, before eventually ending up in the Netherlands. I’m lucky to have international heritage and a roving childhood, which has cultivated curiosity in the world around me. 

My interest in sustainability began during my undergraduate studies at UC Santa Barbara and culminated with a PhD from the PhD from the Institute for Environmental Studies at VU Amsterdam in 2023. My dissertation is titled ‘Ripples to waves: How business models and entrepreneurs are propelling the transition towards a sustainable plastic system’.

During my PhD, I presented at conferences and events for both academic and general audiences. My expertise lies in the topics of sustainable plastic management, marine plastic solutions, entrepreneurship and innovation. I have also conducted field work in the Pacific (Palau, Marshall Islands and Pitcairn) and done research in the field of consumer awareness and environmental economics.

After graduating, I embarked on nearly a year of travel through North and South America, reaffirming my love of adventure.

During my PhD, I loved teaching, supervising students and collaborating outside of academia, which led to my current career path.

I am now a freelance researcher and consultant – building a career integrating sustainability, communication and exploration.

My work includes a field work expedition to the Pitcairn Islands to monitor marine plastic, understanding the impacts of the Global Plastics Treaty on small businesses and providing expert analysis on the complicated world of plastic credits. You can find my CV here.