Dieter van Den Broeck

Background

About Dieter van Den Broeck

my unwavering commitment has been dedicated to propelling the transition towards a regenerative society, fostering resilience on our vibrant and thriving Earth. I firmly assert that soil serves as the pivotal acupuncture point through which we can heal the 3 divides what are present at the moment. Devide between us and nature, us and other and us and our higher self. By healing those diveds we can addressing challenges related to biodiversity, food, climate, and resilience. At present, I contribute my expertise to the Commonland Landscape Development & Support team in the role of Design Strategist and Facilitator. My primary focus involves leveraging Social Labs (Theory U) to instigate transformative systemic change, creating an environment conducive to the transition towards flourishing ecosystems and communities. In my capacity as the Returns Lab Coordinator, I spearhead the development, design, and execution of labs and multi-stakeholder initiatives within our landscapes. Instrumental in the initiation and establishment of various innovation labs, including Oogst van Morge, Oogst van Overmorgen (Youth Lab), Versnellingshuis (an ecosystem of labs in the Netherlands), Bioregional Weaving Lab, and the publication "Space of Belonging." Through collaborative efforts with talented colleagues, these experiences have laid the groundwork for the successful application of the "Academy for Landscape Restoration" in a dream fund proposal at the Dutch Postcode Lottery, in collaboration with the Presencing Institute. Prior to my role at Commonland, I founded Living Lands in South Africa—a social enterprise that conceived, refined, and applied the Living Landscape approach. This innovative integration combines awareness-based technologies (Theory U), transdisciplinary research, and the ecosystem services approach. The approach intricately links the restoration of natural environments with sustainable business development, guided by Commonland's 4 Returns Model, encompassing Social, Natural, and Financial Capital, along with the crucial fourth return: Inspiration.