TEAM
OceanLove is being built by an international group of young, enthusiastic volunteers. We would like to tell you more about our founder, the core team members, and the non-profit foundation behind OceanLove.
Our Founder Ilco van der Linde
Ilco has been the initiator of successful international social events and campaigns. In his native Netherlands, he set up the Liberation Festivals, which involve one million people every year in human rights and freedom. Internationally, he is co-founder of dance4life, which involves hundreds of thousands of young people in thirty countries in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and of MasterPeace, which involves young people in peace-building works in 45 countries.
Core Team Manager & Head Communications
Raghda Ezzeldin Aly 
Project Manager
Web & Growth Manager
Mahmoud El Wakil
Core team member and lead digital strategist
Social Media Manager
Raquel Cayuela 
Core Team Member
Olivier van Diepen 
Core Team Member
Donja Hoorn
Marketing Consultant
Core Team Member
Hana Ajam 
Global South Participation Manager
Charles Sylvanus Boye 🇸🇱
Global South Participation Manager
Core Team Member
Jokūbas Bliujus 
Co-Initiator Innovation Challenge
Erwin Coolen
Content Creator
Caroline 
PR and Communications
Engy Azzam
Senior Video Editor
Ziad Shabib
Participation Manager
Stevie Knapp
PR and Communications
Michelle
Communications
Pippa Fakkeldij
Pre-selection Process and Winners Guidance
Kim Guilbault
Our Foundation – The Board
OceanLove is officially an initiative run by the Dutch non-profit foundation “Stichting Mandelahuisje” (the Mandela House Foundation). This foundation aims to fuel and promote Nelson Mandela’s Ubuntu philosophy, about respect, unity and interconnectedness. The board of the foundation controls budget, progress and the important non-profit principle: nobody is making any money with this initiative, only the oceans gain ‘benefits’.
OceanLove founder Ilco van der Linde is chair of the foundation and currently there are three other board members:
Han Kempers
Treasurer
Mpanzu Bamenga
Secretary
Tamara Richards
Board Member
Treasurer Han Kempers has been an HR expert for more than twenty years, contributing to the Reconciliation Chamber at the Mandela House and as treasurer at Bevrijdingspop festival in Haarlem.
Secretary Mpanzu Bamenga is a Member of Parliament for the Dutch centrist party D66 and actively involved in Incleaders, an initiative by the German Marshall Fund focused on social sustainability.
Tamara Richards joined the board in May 2023, focusing on OceanLove. She is an international expert in sustainability and biodiversity, organizing conferences and consulting organizations to strengthen policies on these themes.
Hi, my name is Ziad Shabib. I’m a Senior Video Editor and visual content creator from Egypt, currently based in Dubai, with over 6 years of experience. I’m passionate about turning raw footage into impactful stories that connect with people and deliver real value. Over the years, I’ve worked across industries like food, real estate, and digital media, helping brands and creators bring their ideas to life through powerful visuals. For me, editing isn’t just about cutting clips. it’s about emotion, rhythm, and attention to every detail in every frame. I’ve led post-production, developed content strategies, and collaborated with teams to create videos that inspire, engage, and leave a lasting impression. I don’t just edit, I create experiences.
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry