Who

we are

ODS is a cooperative consultancy, employee-owned and led, supporting local, national and international non-profit organisations and donors in the human rights, social justice and development sectors.

We are a horizontal organisation, a political choice that represents the society we would like to see. We value diversity, collaboration, and above all, empathy and kindness. Our vision is a world where civil society contributes actively, effectively and efficiently to achieve peaceful, democratic, green and fair communities.

How can we help you help your cause?

Get in touch

Meet the team

With a deep connection to the not-for-profit sector grounded in our individual and collective experiences, our team understands the realities our clients face. We have worked in Brussels, regionally and globally and are regarded as thought leaders and technical experts in our respective fields. With each new project, we take a hands-on and collaborative approach to working with our clients to identify the team that is the best fit for their project and their organisation.

Explore the bios below to gain a deeper understanding of our team members.

Laurène Bounaud

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Laurène Bounaud enjoys connecting tools, research and practical solutions, mobilising teams and developing organisations on a human, organisational, advocacy and strategic level.

As we cannot “fix things” in broken societies without changing the way we work, Laurène believes in developing new systems that are more collaborative, more people-centred to create more impact and have collective victories.

She built her career in a variety of roles and institutions, including politics, NGOs and media; looking for solutions, tools and ideas to “fix” inequalities in societies. With Humanity In Action – an international education organisation – she trained new generations of social-makers on minority rights, democracy and pluralism. As the former executive director of Transparency International France, she amplified people’s voice through meaningful campaigns and lobbying and built effective collaborations with the public, corporate and non profit sectors to create collective impact. At a time when fake news and media distrust have become a major threat to democracy, she more recently supported the development of a French investigative media.

Laurène holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques of Toulouse and a Master’s degree in Political Science from La Sorbonne University in Paris. She is a native French speaker, fluent in English and has notions of German and Spanish.

Nabila Habbida

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Nabila Habbida enjoys work that aims to build genuine, lasting alliances across sectors and looks to bring an intersectional and decolonial lens to her practice.

She is passionate about justice, history, intercultural exchange and is interested in initiatives that help us understand the human experience holistically.

She has 12 years of experience in EU affairs, diplomacy and media and specialises in EU foreign policy, peacebuilding and conflict prevention and has extensive experience in advocacy, policy analysis, project management, research and organisational development. She has worked with various NGOs (European Peacebuilding Liaison Office, Amnesty International, the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre) and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nabila has a Master’s degree in EU Policy from the Institute for Political Science of Rennes and a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and English Studies from La Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. She is a native French speaker, fluent in English and intermediate in Spanish and Arabic.

Anna Cesari

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Since joining in 2016, Anna has been responsible for leading projects to develop organisational, operational, and networking structures and capacity for NGOs and INGOs

Anna led and participated in evaluation and strategic review projects to better position organisations with their programming and operationalisation. Her thematic experience is focused on social justice, having advised organisations working on anti-corruption, human rights and social inclusion.

Previously, she worked in the field of artistic freedom of expression as programme Development Manager at Freemuse, where she was in charge of overall global programmes coordination and monitoring as well as new project development. Anna started to work with NGOs as Network Associate at the International Debate Education Association, where she was in charge of members and network management and she was responsible for coordinating network activities across Tunisia, Macedonia, Kyrgyzstan, the UK and the US, as well as serving as the internal Project Manager for the Brussels office.

Anna has an Master’s degree in Languages for Communication in International Organisations from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, a Master’s degree in International Politics from the University of Bologna and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Florence. A native Italian speaker, Anna is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, having lived, studied and worked in Belgium, Spain and Australia.

Inmaculada Macías Alonso

Inmaculada Macías Alonso, PhD

Senior Researcher

Inmaculada has more than 10 years of experience conducting mixed-methods research and evaluations.

She specialises in gender and diversity and has worked to further gender equality applying an intersectional lens.

Before joining ODS, Inmaculada co-founded DialogueLabs, a consulting firm that specialised in helping organisations lead change and manage conflict effectively and she has consulted in the areas of education, leadership, digital inclusion, and the economic integration of women for clients in the public and private sectors in Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East, including the World Bank, the OECD and University of Chicago. She deeply cares about social impact and has volunteered long term for organisations such as Society of Gender Professionals, Red Cross, and Amnesty International, among others.

She holds a PhD in Organisational Behaviour from IE University, a Master’s degree in Area Studies from Leiden University, and Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from UNED and the Autonomous University of Madrid (Spain), with research stays at George Washington University, the Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Egypt, and CESA School of Business in Colombia. She spent three years as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. Her work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals. Inmaculada is a native Spanish speaker, is fluent in English, intermediate in French and a beginner in Arabic.

Wouter de Iongh

PARTNER

Wouter is responsible for network cooperation, communications & (social) media and strategy and has extensive practical organisational development experience.

Before co-founding ODS, Wouter Wouter was a legal expert for several CSOs in the Netherlands, including Victim Support Netherlands. After a move to New York, he worked as a Comparative Legal Researcher for US and international clients, and as a Marketing and Communications Strategist for start-ups with a focus on tech and healthcare. In addition to this, Wouter has worked as a freelance writer and journalist with a keen interest in international politics.

In the complex Brussels landscape, Wouter de Iongh enjoys navigating the political sensitivities as well as the financial, organisational and cultural challenges of CSOs, funders, media and EU institutions.

Wouter has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Amsterdam. He is a native Dutch speaker and fluent in English, French and German.

Veronika Horvath

SENIOR RESEARCHER

Veronika has worked in research and organisational development with the non for profit sector for over a decade.

In addition to her experience in advising organisations on strategy, learning and monitoring and evaluation, she works as a visual artist. Veronika is passionate about embodiment and the possibilities of connection to ourselves and each other offered by creativity.

Together with the team at ODS, Veronika has been exploring ways to strengthen opportunities for exploration, non-judgement and joy in the practices of the social justice organisations that the cooperative works with, and in our own collective journey.

Prior to joining ODS, she focused on policy research and analysis at RAND Europe.

Veronika holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and European Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of Florence. A Hungarian native, Veronika speaks English, Italian, French and Dutch.

Zdena Middernacht, PhD

Senior Researcher

Zdena is a senior research consultant at ODS. She leads research-intensive evaluations with a focus on qualitative research methodology.

Zdena also provides research support to other areas of work including strategy and organisational development.

She enjoys the holism of organisational development work. She enjoys analysing the interconnections between the work of organisations and their macro and micro environments and assisting clients to find the balance that helps them achieve their goals.

She has worked for development and human rights NGOs in South Africa and Belgium and in development consulting focused on fragile states in Africa and Asia. Some of the organisations she has worked for include Khulumani in South Africa, Save the Children and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples’ Organisation (UNPO) in Belgium and Farsight (now Seefar) an international consultancy and social enterprise.

Zdena is a thematic expert in intersectionality, transnationalism and development. This was the focus of her PhD at the University of Kent. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy and a Bachelor’s degree in Organisational Psychology from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She is a Zimbabwean native and speaks Ndebele and Shona in addition to English, French and basic Dutch.

Andrés Narros Lluch, PhD

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Andrés is a senior M&E consultant with more than 15 years of experience conducting field-based participatory research and evaluations.

Andrés is an expert in the use of qualitative social research (such as ethnographies of development, ethno-evaluations, impact and process evaluations) to identify key issues and provide evidence to shape strategic directions of future programmes. He enjoys unfolding alternative research methods (such as forum theatres or discourse analysis) and fostering participation among local actors to help to decolonize and localise Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks.

Prior to joining ODS, Andrés had extensive experience in NGOs´ programme management in settings such as Guatemala, The Philippines, Iran, Malawi and Chile. He worked for organisations such as Action Against Hunger, Save the Children and The Spanish Agency for International Development, amongst others.

Andrés earned his PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology from UNED (Spain) and holds Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Sociology from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. He was a visiting researcher at the Department of Southeast Asian Studies School Of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and at the Cultural Anthropology Department of London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), both part of the University of London. He was also an associated researcher at the Cultural Anthropology Department of the University of the Philippines and Xavier University (Mindanao). Andres’ work has been published in different books and international academic papers. A Spanish native, Andres is fluent in English and has notions of Bisaya, French and Italian.

Lisa-Marie Salley

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Lisa-Marie is a Senior M&E Consultant with ODS. She specialises in qualitative research and feminist approaches to evaluation, as well as research ethics, with a focus on research with vulnerable groups.

Lisa-Marie has led and supported complex evaluation and baseline studies for She Leads, Kvinna till Kvinna, Protect Defenders, Count Me In!, OMCT, Choice for Youth and Sexuality and EPIM among many others. She has also led on the review and design of organisational MEL practices including with FIDH, Front Line Defenders and the Public Interest Litigation Project.

Prior to joining ODS, Lisa Marie worked with a variety of NGOs, institutions and donors across the human rights and social justice field, conducting research on marginalised populations for organisations including the Council of Europe, the European programme for Immigration and Migration and CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality. She also currently works as an External Expert for the European Commission ethically assessing research projects involving humans with a focus on informed consent processes, data security, research environment and avoidance of harm.

Lisa-Marie has a Graduate Dipl. in Ethics from Dublin City University, a Master’s degree in Human Rights with a focus on reception systems for asylum seekers and a Bachelor’s degree in Politics, International Relations and Sociology, both from University College Dublin. She is a native English speaker and has notions of French.

Hans Wolters

Associate Partner

Hans is one of ODS’ co-founders. He is an organisational development expert with an extensive track record in successfully advising non-governmental organisations and complex international networks.

As such, Hans has been involved in reorganisations, change management, strategy development and assessments of a broad variety of organisations worldwide.

He enjoys pinpointing organisational issues, advising senior managers and boards, improving stakeholder relations and helping organisations as a whole find the right way forward.

Hans worked in both the Dutch and the European Parliament. He also headed Greenpeace’s European Unit in Brussels as well as WWF International’s Organisational Development Unit near Geneva before becoming CEO of the Resource Alliance and COO of the European Council on Foreign Relations in London.

Hans holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Contemporary History from the University of Bologna and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam. A native Dutch, he is fluent in English, French as well as German, and gets by in Italian.

Eva Pollefort

ADMINISTRATION & OFFICE MANAGER

Eva is ODS’ administration and office manager since May 2019. Contracts, phone bills, invoices, but also the search for the best fairly traded organic coffee, usually go through her hands.

Eva enjoys being the “Swiss knife” of ODS, where, be it indirectly through many small actions, she can contribute to the development of a world where justice and the respect for our planet and its people receive more attention.

She previously worked six years as an administrative assistant in a Japanese private company in Brussels. She also has former work experience in the sector of development cooperation (mainly in West-Africa), where she worked for various governmental, non-governmental, and private organisations.

Eva holds a Master’s degree in Economic Science from the University of Bonn, Germany. She speaks French, German and English, and has a basic understanding of Spanish and Dutch.

Marcelline Gakunu

ADMINISTRATION & OFFICE MANAGER

Marcelline has worked as an administrative and project management assistant since May 2023.

Marcelline is a passionate philanthropist who has dedicated her life to making a positive impact in the world. She has travelled to various parts of Africa, working in local communities to implement sustainable projects that improves lives and conditions of the underprivileged.
Her efforts have focused on providing access to education and mental healthcare in general.

Marcelline has previously worked for 3 years as a social and mental work expert in a mental health network and volunteered most of her youth time in different organisations in Brussels, such as Oxfam, Sida SOS and Les Petits Riens.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and is currently enrolled in a Master’s degree in Labor Sciences

Andrés Narros Lluch, PhD

SENIOR CONSULTANT

SENIOR RESEARCHER

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Senior Researcher

SENIOR CONSULTANT

ADMINISTRATION & OFFICE MANAGER

PARTNER

Associate Partner

Senior Researcher

Women4Biodiversity

EMPATHY & KINDNESS

form the bedrock of everything we do.

Our working principles are founded on two distinctive core values that underpin all our work: empathy and kindness*

We believe civil society organisations are among the most crucial forces for change and care passionately about empowering them to represent their communities effectively. Our approach is:

People Focused

We nurture strong, trusting relationships and emphasise autonomy and self-determination

Transformational

Constant learning allows us to engage in an optimistic exploration of new ways of being and doing

Dual purpose

For us, self-development and social development go hand-in-hand

Decentralisation of power

We are horizontal and invite radical participation

Collective consciousness

We do not compete. We collaborate and co-create, among ourselves and in partnership with our clients

People Focused

We nurture strong, trusting relationships and emphasise autonomy and self-determination

Transformational

Constant learning allows us to engage in an optimistic exploration of new ways of being and doing

Dual purpose

For us, self-development and social development go hand-in-hand

Decentralisation of power

We are horizontal and invite radical participation

Collective consciousness

We do not compete. We collaborate and co-create, among ourselves and in partnership with our clients

Who

we are

ODS is a cooperative consultancy, employee-owned and led, supporting local, national and international non-profit organisations and donors in the human rights, social justice and development sectors.

How can we help you help your cause?

Meet the team

Laurène Bounaud

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Laurène Bounaud enjoys connecting tools, research and practical solutions, mobilising teams and developing organisations on a human, organisational, advocacy and strategic level.

Laurène Bounaud enjoys connecting tools, research and practical solutions, mobilising teams and developing organisations on a human, organisational, advocacy and strategic level.

Nabila Habbida

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Nabila Habbida enjoys work that aims to build genuine, lasting alliances across sectors and looks to bring an intersectional and decolonial lens to her practice.

Nabila Habbida enjoys work that aims to build genuine, lasting alliances across sectors and looks to bring an intersectional and decolonial lens to her practice.

Anna Cesari

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Since joining in 2016, Anna has been responsible for leading projects to develop organisational, operational, and networking structures and capacity for NGOs and INGOs

Since joining in 2016, Anna has been responsible for leading projects to develop organisational, operational, and networking structures and capacity for NGOs and INGOs

Inmaculada Macías Alonso, PhD

Senior Researcher

Inmaculada has more than 10 years of experience conducting mixed-methods research and evaluations.

Inmaculada has more than 10 years of experience conducting mixed-methods research and evaluations.

Wouter de Iongh

PARTNER

Wouter is responsible for network cooperation, communications & (social) media and strategy and has extensive practical organisational development experience.

Wouter is responsible for network cooperation, communications & (social) media and strategy and has extensive practical organisational development experience.

Veronika Horvath

SENIOR RESEARCHER

Veronika has worked in research and organisational development with the non for profit sector for over a decade.

Veronika has worked in research and organisational development with the non for profit sector for over a decade.

Zdena Middernacht, PhD

Senior Researcher

Zdena is a senior research consultant at ODS. She leads research-intensive evaluations with a focus on qualitative research methodology.

Zdena is a senior research consultant at ODS. She leads research-intensive evaluations with a focus on qualitative research methodology.

Andrés Narros Lluch, PhD

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Andrés is a senior M&E consultant with more than 15 years of experience conducting field-based participatory research and evaluations.

Andrés is a senior M&E consultant with more than 15 years of experience conducting field-based participatory research and evaluations.

Lisa-Marie Salley

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Lisa-Marie is a Senior M&E Consultant with ODS. She specialises in qualitative research and feminist approaches to evaluation, as well as research ethics, with a focus on research with vulnerable groups.

Lisa-Marie is a Senior M&E Consultant with ODS. She specialises in qualitative research and feminist approaches to evaluation, as well as research ethics, with a focus on research with vulnerable groups.

Hans Wolters

Associate Partner

Hans is one of ODS’ co-founders. He is an organisational development expert with an extensive track record in successfully advising non-governmental organisations and complex international networks.

Hans is one of ODS’ co-founders. He is an organisational development expert with an extensive track record in successfully advising non-governmental organisations and complex international networks.

Eva Pollefort

ADMINISTRATION & OFFICE MANAGER

Eva is ODS’ administration and office manager since May 2019. Contracts, phone bills, invoices, but also the search for the best fairly traded organic coffee, usually go through her hands.

Eva is ODS’ administration and office manager since May 2019. Contracts, phone bills, invoices, but also the search for the best fairly traded organic coffee, usually go through her hands.

Marcelline Gakunu

ADMINISTRATION & OFFICE MANAGER

Marcelline has worked as an administrative and project management assistant since May 2023.

Marcelline has worked as an administrative and project management assistant since May 2023.

Andrés Narros Lluch, PhD

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Lisa-Marie Salley

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Veronika Horvath

SENIOR RESEARCHER

Nabila Habbida

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Zdena Middernacht, PhD

Senior Researcher

Laurène Bounaud

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Anna Cesari

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Marcelline Gakunu

ADMINISTRATION & OFFICE MANAGER

Eva Pollefort

ADMINISTRATION & OFFICE MANAGER

Wouter de Iongh

PARTNER

Hans Wolters

Associate Partner

Inmaculada Macías Alonso, PhD

Senior Researcher

ODS provided valuable feedback which has provided us to better understand our work, vision and ways forward.

Women4Biodiversity

EMPATHY & KINDNESS