I have known and worked with Erik van Lennep in various capacities for many years. !!I find him to be a truly inspiring and passionate speaker with the utmost integrity and belief in the imperative of sustainable development (i.e. the umbrella for the six sectors of local and global issues that includes: culture, demography , economy, environment, governance and technology)....in other words the broad base of knowledge and expertise that he has himself cultivated over many years.!

Dr Dorothy Stewart!The Futures Academy!Dublin Institute of Technology!www.thefuturesacademy.ie!!(now Scientific Officer, Research, Environmental Protection Agency, Clonskeagh, Dublin)

Erik is a speaker with exceptional presentation skills and presence. As a co-facilitator or participant at events where he has spoken, I have observed Erik hoping to glean for myself just some of his ease and comfort in addressing an audience and in delivering his material coherently and cogently.!!As a personal friend as well as former colleague, Erik has set an admirable example of excellence and mastery.!!Martin Giannini!Art of Living Foundation!

I have worked with Erik in number of capacities - during his time as co founder and director at Cultivate and more recently as course coordinator at IT Carlow. !!He is both very well informed across the spectrum of sustainability and an excellent communicator to students and professionals alike.!!!!!

Mike Haslam!BSc Arch, BArch (Hons)!Director, Solearth Ecological Architecture!Dublin !

I have known and worked with Erik van Lennep in various capacities over the years since 1985. !!Erik is one of the most uniquely creative and brilliant professionals that I have had the benefit of working around. !!His ability to blend intuition with analysis is outstanding. His depth of social as well as scientific understanding of issues related to sustainability is superb.!!Phyllis Shulman, Legislative Assistant!City of Seattle

Selected References!!

• Speaking!• Advising!• Mentoring

Erik's combination of vision, passion and obvious expertise in the field of sustainable design make him a formidable ally for any project you might be working on that needs to be thinking about long-term sustainability.!!Rory O'Connor!Partner, The Creativity Hub!

I have known Erik as a respected colleague and fellow change-activist since the mid 1980's and the launch of Rainforest Action Network. !!Over the years we have had the opportunities to collaborate on a number of campaigns and movements involving Indigenous Peoples and on critical environmental issues. !!Whether participating on advisory groups, discussion panels or addressing public audiences, in my experience Erik has consistently gotten to the heart of the matter and engaged his audiences to look beneath the surface for the most effective tipping points....the places where change happens.!!John Seed!Founder and Director!Rainforest Information Centre, Australia!

I have known and worked with Erik on a number of creative and urgent projects over the years (since the mid 1980's, in Vermont and in Ireland). Erik has a stunning grasp on how the natural world works and interacts. !!His realizations of how the behavior of man has affected our habitats has been a leap ahead of most people for a long time. His understanding of what we can do about it is also impressive. He is a most excellent teacher.!

Carol Langstaff!Artistic Director!Flock Dance Troupe!www.flockdance.org

Erik Van Lennep is, in my humble opinion, an authority, seer and seeker of sustainable design.!!Over may years I have seen him give enthralling, provocative and inspiring presentations and talks on sustainability, green design, green ethics, community participation and other related topics.!!I would highly recommend him as a conference speaker, keynote speaker, delegate or any other such role.!!Brian T O'Brien!M Arch. B Arch Sci, Bau-biologist.!Partner, Solearth Ecological Architecture!Dublin !

Erik is a consultant's consultant. Complementing the strengths of the left-brained analytical people who inhabit the profession he brings powerful emotional intelligence and a strong understanding of how to manage professional organisations and networks and get them to communicate clear consistent messages. In addition he is very creative. !!He produces more practicable output in ideation workshops per hour than most. He does it without a trace of undue ego and builds on other people's ideas.!!Tony Owens!Technical Director and Research Fellow, ICon!Trinity College Dublin

If I had to describe Erik in three words they would be energetic, passionate and knowledgeable... of all things sustainable and renewable, whilst maintaining a strong social conscious for equality and collaboration for the good of all mankind. !!An excellent communicator and teacher, he has made it his life work to educate the less informed through words and actions and to promote awareness and attitude change to further the uptake of sustainability. !!

Through education and project consulting, he has striven to address the world issues of ever increasing Green House Gas Emissions, Deforestation, the effective use of scarce water and productive soil resources, whilst developing pathways for increasing food security and the use of renewable energy.!!I would heartily recommend him in a consulting role to any green, urban renewable projects and in a wider scope to addressing biodiversity, cultural and sustainability issues in biomass and biofuel energy projects in developing countries. !!Andrew Bray!Head of Operations, Keyvista Global, Brisbane!

I have known Erik for a number of years and was delighted to participate in a sustainability event he organised in Dublin. I admire the passion he brings to sustainable design as well as his technical knowledge. An important aspect of bringing people on board with this agenda is imparting enthusiasm and creativity and Erik has these qualities in abundance.!!Paul Evans!Environmental Sustainability Specialist, Homes & Communities Agency, UK

Erik Van Lennep is an extraordinary person with breadth. Erik transcends the profession of Landscape Architecture and has acquired an in-depth knowledge of the biosphere and the complex world around us. Erik brings insight and sensitivity to his work.!!Tim Taylor, Design Manager!Green Concepts !Australia / United Arab Emirates

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When I first met Erik, I was more than inspired by his passion for positive social change in society. And now - after all these years of cooperation - Erik still inspires me. I can therefore - deep from my heart - recommend Erik. Both as a professional, smart and productive person, but also as a wise and playful friend.!!Uffe ElbÊk!CEO of World Outgames 2009, Copenhagen!Founder and former Principal, The KaosPilot University!www.kaospilot.dk!

We held the Annual European Zoo Horticulture Conference for the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria in May 2009. I asked Erik to talk to us as he had come very well recommended by colleagues within Ireland working on gardening magazines. (He was an extra 'non zoo' item on the agenda to make attendees think about how we did things and the best options for our environment). !!The audience was a mix of 12 different nationalities from all over Europe, using English as the official language. One of our topics was sustainable use of peat and soil ameliorants.!!Erik gave a very lucid, very interesting and stimulating talk on linking organic waste management, sustainable fuel alternatives and rebuilding soil health....all via biochar . It was a definite talking point among the delegates later.!!I would heartily recommend Erik for clear and concise information presented in a pleasant and informative fashion.!!Stephen Butler Dip Hort Kew!Curator of Horticulture!Dublin Zoo!

Erik has a unique ability to think strategically and apply his extensive wisdom and experience to many of the projects we have worked on together.He is an excellent facilitator and he animates his specialist area with passion and commitment.!!Adam de Eyto, PhD !Design Lecturer & Researcher , Design Factors coordinator, Lead Editor ITERATIONS,!University of Limerick!

Erik is an excellent lecturer and facilitator, and more recently a consultant for both our school and students when they are in their final projects. !!Since starting our relationship 12 years ago, Erik has worked tirelessly to develop the presence of the KaosPilots in Dublin. !!

We are continuously working with him to build our approach to sustainability, social innovation and cultural diversity, as these form core mission for the school and the projects done at the school. !!More recently, he has manoeuvred his vast network together to co-create a new approach to dynamic learning within the eco/sustainable design field, a project which the KaosPilots is very proud and excited by.!!Simon Kavanagh!Head of Studies!KaosPilots, Aarhus!

Erik has been an amazing and inspiring person since I met him in 2007. He lectured at the Kaospilots a few times and he is always asked to come back! !!Great deep knowledge of sustainability but also he has the capacity of mobilizing, of bringing hope and optimism when we most need it. !!Henrique Versteeg-Vedana!Florianópolis, Santa Catarina Brazil!Former Student, Kaospilots!

I really got inspired from your lecture, it really connected a lot of my everyday-reflections to concrete things. GREAT!!!I feel that having the basis of love of nature and the natural world is a great place to start making change. !!I am a business and economics student (NORWEGIAN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION) constantly searching for more "natural" and intuitive connections, but I constantly feel alienated from my core orientation when attending my lectures at my school.!!Therefore it is great to see that people(like you) are trying to bring a new underlying understanding to the system-thinking of the world.!!Bård Nesbø Skreien, Copenhagen!

• Training!• Facilitation!• Lecturing!• Curriculum

Erik's management and mentoring have proven invaluable to every graduate who has been fortunate enough to work with him.!!His passion and commitment to areas such as education and training, sustainability and environmental issues are clear for all to see, but the great thing is that his expertise and professionalism are allied to a great sense of humour which make it an absolute pleasure to work with him.!!Jean-Paul Barsoum!Corporate Programmes Manager, Alpha College, Dublin!

I am a student at Conway School of Landscape Design, writing to first thank you for the time you took to speak with our class over the phone a few weeks ago. Your insights into community-building and human culture/values-changing are so valuable for the work we aim to do here. They are the pieces of the puzzle of sustainability that are the most important and yet often the most elusive and sometimes the hardest to learn and figure out.!!Given your broad work in the field of community organizing

and education surrounding sustainability, transition, and "energy descent" culture, we feel your input and guidance in this project could be very helpful. Please let us know if you can help us with your insight and wisdom.!!Best Regards,!!Michael Yoken & The Conway School Student Team of the Northampton Food Security Initiative!

I got to learn Erik during a project in the month of May 2007 about promoting Skygardens and to help the startup of Tepui Design company.!!I have had the privilege of experiencing Erik truly inspirational lectures at the Kaospilots. Erik is a skilled trainer, a warm and loving human being, a traveller and an expert in the field of green technologies. !!This makes him an excellent person to engage in a demanding and value educational program as the Kaospilots and I've only encountered positive feedback to Erik’s work at school. !!Gregers Maersk Moeller, Copenhagen !General manager & Music supervisor at D4ZED!Former Student, Kaospiloterne!

I wanted to give you my greatest appreciation for your time with my team yesterday afternoon. We have been struggling amongst ourselves to agree on the scope and goal of this project for the entire term. !!Our conversation with you really helped direct these two major pieces back to what really matters... where our passion lies within the subject. Having you say that you felt like there was a good balance between all of our passions and explained how they are complimentary gave a real energy boost to all of us. We felt like our spirits were rejuvenated after we hung up with you! !!

Since our conversation we have held a meeting and all agreed what this project is about, what the goal is, what the end point is (how we know we are finished), and what are the 2 things we need from our stakeholder meeting. I credit you with giving us that extra umpf and focus. Thank you so much!!!Josiah Simpson!Conway School of Landscape Design 2010!!(Now: Owner, principal designer at Summit Ridge Design, Springfield Massachusetts)

Thanks so much for being part of the program here. Each year you add so much, even though you interact with the class as a whole for just a short while. Your life and messages are powerful.!!Paul Cawood Hellmund!President/Director!The Conway School, Massachusetts!

Erik van Lennep is a design sustainability expert with a very impressive depth of knowledge, creativity and insight. Erik has tremendous enthusiasm encouraging others to fulfil their ambition. He is also a highly skilled facilitator helping diverse groups and personalities to work collectively towards their objectives. !!Derek McGarry!Assistant to Head of Design Faculty, National College of Art and Design, Dublin!President, Institute of Designers in Ireland

I was in a lecture from Erik during our White Week at the KaosPilots about "De- and Remystifying Design".!!I got very inspired by his view on sustainability in the context of intuitive and conscious design. !!Benjamin Aaron Degenhart, Munich!Former Student, Kaospilots

Thanks so much for your amazing input once again during our 2008 White Week. The feedback was great from the students.!!Simon Kavanagh!Head of Studies!KaosPilots, Aarhus, DK

I really would recommend Erik very highly as an important figure in sustainable design education.!!Tracy Fahey!Limerick Institute of Technology, Department of Fine Art, Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Head of the Departments

Since completing the Sustainable Design Innovation course in Carlow IT, I have completed the BER exams for both domestic and non-domestic buildings. I am now registered as an assessor for non-domestic buildings and am awaiting the results of the domestic exams. !!I have found this exposure to these topics to be of great help in our own day to day design work here in the office. I know that I

would not have had the initiative to pursue this without completing the course in Carlow.!!Thanks and best regards,!Patrick Shaffrey, Architect / project manager at CPA Architects !

I found Erik to be an excellent lecturer and project mentor. His enthusiasm and good humour were a great motivator during class workshops and reviews. His feedback on student projects was always insightful, often highlighting aspects which the student had not been aware of previously. !!Despite his own expertise and knowledge in the subject, Erik was always open to input and ideas from students. His laid back approach fostered a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment.!!RoisÌn Delahunty!Sustainable Design Innovation course, 2009-2010!!(Now: Freelance Architect ,Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Erik’s unique style and attitude shone through in discussions, with the addition of his experience and his willingness to share his encounters with the group. I found him to easy to approach and an inspiring mentor for our projects.!!This course was a great addition to enhance my critical thinking methods, it introduced me to design for the Circular Economy, and has lead me to further study in the area.!!!!

Thank you!Caroline Goucher!Sustainable Design Innovation course, 2009-2010!!(Now: SHeDD (Sustainable Hub for Enterprise, Design and Development) Westport, Ireland)

The Sustainable Design Innovation course content is one of the most well thought out I have seen. !!It gets the balance and depth just right on key sustainability and design know-how to enable professionals to practically apply sustainable design in their areas of expertise.!!Dorothy Maxwell !The Sustainable Business Group, Imperial College London!!(Previous: Natural Capital Coalition, The Prince of Wales's International Sustainability Unit, Defra)