Board 2024-2025
Nicoline Nieveen
VoorzitterHi everyone! My name is Nicoline and i’m a second year master student. I’m excited to be the president of VSDW this year and to share my passion for wildlife with all of you. I can’t wait to dive into fascinating lectures about wildlife and help you discover more about this amazing field. Wildlife is such an important part of veterinary medicine, but it often doesn’t get the attention it deserves in our lectures. Many of these animals rely on our help to survive. With all the challenges they face, like climate change and poaching, it’s so important that we keep an eye on them. A couple of years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to work in South Africa, where I worked with several wildlife species. Being there really opened my eyes to how important it is to protect endangered animals from poaching and the destruction of their habitats. Whether it was helping injured predators or keeping track of elephant populations, I learned just how tough life can be for these animals. That experience made my love for wildlife even stronger. While Africa will always have a special place in my heart, my passion for wildlife goes far beyond just African species. Let’s explore this wonderful world of wildlife together!
Laura Evenepoel
Vice-voorzitterHey everyone, My name is Laura. Proudly I can announce myself as a marine biologist. You are probably wondering why I decided to study for six more years. While I loved being a marine biologist, I was still missing something in my work field. I saw how we as humans influence these beautiful creatures and, as a biologist, I could not do anything about it. That is why I made this big decision! I am currently a second year bachelor Veterinary medicine student. I have some experience doing research about marine wildlife and I can not wait to learn more about the veterinary side of it all. I joined VSDW in order to spread some marine love into the world! I’m looking forward to meeting you all and remember the following words, when the workload of this study seem to be too much, EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE!
Eline Dolmans
PenningmeesterHi everyone, my name is Eline, I am currently in first master. For as long as I can remember I have had a special interest in wild animals. From a trip to the zoo to a breathtaking documentary, I always wanted to experience everything from the front row! For 3 years I have been following along with the veterinarians of a wildlife aid center and I also volunteered in a bird shelter. This has brought me into contact with a huge variety of animal species, ranging from native wildlife to lions and other exotics. After participating in the Sukulu's Wildlife Capture Experience my passion for wildlife has been taken to a higher level. Who knows, I might want to realize my dream of becoming a veterinarian in Africa one day... This year I decided it was time to become part of the VSDW team, contributing as treasurer. I can't wait to immerse myself in this world and connect with people who share the same interest. The VSDW is the ideal way to come into contact with people working in this field and learn from (future) colleagues. By attending our events you will gain priceless knowledge about conservation, one health, veterinary medicine in third world countries and last but not least, wildlife! So, see you there?
Lisa Lardenoije
Penningmeester + PR-externHi, my name is Lisa. I'm a second-year master veterinary student. Since my early childhood, I've dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. I love to spend my free time working at a vet clinic to improve my veterinary skills. Although wildlife has always fascinated me, it was VSDW that introduced me to the medical side of it. Therefore, VSDW is the perfect opportunity to gain more knowledge and experience about wildlife and development. I can't wait to see what VSDW can accomplish this school year! Are you ready to discover this with us?
Lyann Wessel
PR-internHi, I’m Lyann, a first year master vet student and at this moment PR-intern at VSDW. I started my studies with an immediate focus on wildlife, and now, on my second year in VSDW, that passion has only grown. My interest lies in a wide variety of species, big and small, and especially in rehabilitation and reintegration of animals back into the wild. With VSDW I learn more and more daily about the importance and intricacies of the connection between human and animal on this earth, and how to fulfill my roll in this to the fullest. I’m very excited to see what else we can learn together!
Ruben Hesters
PR-internHi everyone, my name is Ruben, and I am a third-year bachelor’s student. This year, I joined VSDW as a PR intern. The main reason I wanted to be a part of this organization is my interest in exotic animals. I believe these animals deserve more attention and specialized care, as they are becoming increasingly common as pets. Although the courses we take during the academic year are highly informative and engaging, I feel there is always more to discover, especially about the less familiar species that many people are now adopting as pets. Reptiles and amphibians, for example, as well as exotic birds or rodents like sugar gliders are fascinating creatures that often face complex veterinary challenges. However, they are frequently misunderstood or poorly cared for by their owners, mainly due to a lack of knowledge. As part of VSDW, I hope I can contribute to changing this problem. We should inspire both pet owners and aspiring veterinarians to learn more about these amazing animals. It’s important to raise awareness about their specific needs and proper care, ensuring they lead healthy lives and receive the attention they deserve. I'm eager to use this opportunity to help bridge the gap between veterinary science and public understanding, and I look forward to contributing to the growth and impact of VSDW in this field.
Iris Eser
PR-internHi everyone! I’m Iris and this year I will be in my 2nd Master. This year I joined VSDW as a PR-Intern because of my interest in wildlife and in particular (wild) birds. After doing volunteering work with wildlife in Bolivia, I plan to do many more wildlife vet projects in the future. This is why I’m very keen to learn more about wildlife, conservation and development, and I think VSDW is definitely the right place for this. Together with my colleague PR-Interns, Lyann and Ruben, we have some awesome lectures lined up for this year, and I’m super excited to share them with you all. I hope to see and meet a lot of you at our lectures and events. See you soon!
Maeve Eykholt
PR-externHi I’m Maeve Eykholt, this year i am PR-extern together with Lisa. I’m currently in my third bachelor and am thrilled to be part of this amazing team. VSDW, for me, fills a gap that our schoolbooks can’t fully cover. We are able to learn from colleagues, vets and interested parties about topics that I’m passionate about like wildlife (both close to home and further away), one health, conservation and veterinary sciences in third world countries. I am excited to learn more about these topics, make new contacts in these fields and to eventually be able to share this knowledge with my fellow students. I look forward to seeing you at our events!
Ophelia Santens
Social media managerHi there! I'm Ophelia, currently in my third bachelor year and passionate about wildlife. Since I was young, I've always admired wildlife veterinarians, and discovering VSDW in my first year was a dream come true. Given the current challenges facing our planet, I'm eager to learn more, educate others about wildlife, and connect with people in this field to make a positive impact together. I also love to travel and hope to one day combine my work with exploring different parts of the world. This is my second year as VSDW’s social media manager, and I’m excited to continue this journey with all of you!
Quinten Stappaerts
Social media managerHi, I’m Quinten, a third-year bachelor's student with a lifelong passion for wildlife. Since I was a child, I've been fascinated by the creatures in my garden and beyond. My curiosity for learning about animals and sharing that knowledge with others has only grown stronger over the years. This drive led me to join the VSDW, where I look forward to working with fellow members to promote awareness and contribute to the preservation of the amazing world of wildlife.
