Rewild. Regenerate. Reconnect.

About Us

Project Biome emerged from a simple but urgent recognition:

millions of people and organizations are working to restore ecosystems, rebuild food systems and reconnect humans to nature

but their efforts are often stifled by duplication, lack of trust and disconnection.

Regeneration, like nature herself, thrives in coherence and coordination built on healthy, rooted collaboration, trust and interdependence.

Project Biome exists to help connect these efforts - we are the connective tissue, the mycelial network that helps disparate organizations address the root causes of ecological dysfunction.

We support the relationships, structures, and shared learning needed for regeneration to grow from isolated projects into interconnected bioregional systems.

Project Biome brings together people working across ecology, food systems, culture, and community resilience around the planet.

With our roots currently in Mpumalanga, South Africa, we are prototyping systems and frameworks that will help communities and bioregions to catalyze regenerative futures.

Our work is grounded in the understanding that healthy ecosystems and healthy communities cannot be separated.

Through collaboration, stewardship, and place-based action, we aim to strengthen the systems that sustain life.

Stewards of Change

Stella Horgan

StellaHorgan

Global Executive Director / Steward of the Whole

StellaHorgan

Global Executive Director / Steward of the Whole

Stella has a background in transformational work, from grassroots to institutions, with individuals and groups. She is the founder and Chair of South African impact organisation Zingela Ulwazi Trust, home of the Centre for Women’s Independence and 10 Trees. A Senior Supervising Facilitator of the Hoffman Process, Stella has taught in Australia, the UK, USA and Canada, and is a Director of Australian rewilding and advocacy non-profit For the Love of Wildlife / PanGaia. She has worked with dozens of civil society organisations in urban and rural contexts addressing environmental and human rights issues, and is an alumni of the University of Cape Town, La Trobe University and the School for Social Entrepreneurs in Melbourne, Australia. Stella is fuelled and guided by nature, exploring her deep love of wilderness and beauty in her art. Her main mission is to weave ways to rebalance human life with nature in an effort to repair and create regenerative, happy ways of living where all may thrive.

Matthew Purkis

MatthewPurkis

Regional Director: Africa

MatthewPurkis

Regional Director: Africa

Matthew is an ecological and systems designer with over 15 years of experience in sustainable development. He has led initiatives in food system transformation, ecosystem restoration, and organizational design. In 2024, Matthew was appointed Regional Director for Project Biome, advancing regenerative development across Africa. His work focuses on bioregional economics, policy reform, and the growth of ecological agricultural movements. An IFOAM Ambassador since 2020, Matthew champions Africa’s leadership in agricultural innovation and ecosystem restoration.

Alice Otieno

AliceOtieno

Executive Assistant & Creative Collaborator

AliceOtieno

Executive Assistant & Creative Collaborator

Alice Otieno is an interdisciplinary artist and creative strategist whose practice moves between research, visual culture, and public engagement. Her work centers on articulating ideas about our place within broader social, ecological, and metaphysical systems, seeking to bridge the gap between theory and artistic practice. She has led art direction, research, and collaborative production for a range of cultural partners including Nike, The Neutra VDL House, Katie Paterson, are.na, Converse, and CAMPO Garzón. Across these projects, Alice works through listening, dialogue, and iterative making. Her approach values process as much as outcome, and treats collaboration as a way to build trust, clarity, and shared ownership within complex cultural contexts. She has been an artist-in-residence at Pocoapoco, Oaxaca, Mexico and The Listening Biennial in Berlin. Currently, she leads editorial and programming at Blacks of Are.na, a digital-first social commons and think tank dedicated to the circulation and expansion of global Black histories, curiosity and innovation. She is in the process of building a practice rooted in slowness, deep research and play, and is preoccupied by ideas surrounding faith, silence, the void, language, movement as a vehicle for living a more embodied life, sound and its uses in connecting us back to our ancestral or natal homes.

Julia Mande

JuliaMande

Steward of Global Community

JuliaMande

Steward of Global Community

Julia is a facilitative leader who partners with founders and teams to guide organizations through periods of meaningful growth and transformation. Born in New York and raised in Zimbabwe, she is a first-generation American whose ties to Morocco and the Jewish Diaspora have shaped her empathy and justice-oriented approach to belonging, care, and responsibility. Her work focuses on cultivating regenerative mindsets and practices that support long-term resilience and impact. She has contributed to movements in soil health, plant medicine, and conscious leadership through stakeholder engagement and systems-informed design. Julia holds a degree in Organizational Sciences from George Washington University, along with certifications in Regenerative Organizational Design, Systems Constellations, and Environmental Sustainability.

Wijdane Jamari

WijdaneJamari

Steward of Global Communications

WijdaneJamari

Steward of Global Communications

Wijdane is a communications strategist and marketing professional whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, brand building, and purpose-led impact. Born in Morocco and raised in South Africa, her cross-cultural upbringing has shaped a globally minded perspective and a deep appreciation for community, identity, and the power of narrative to drive meaningful change. With a career spanning the marketing and advertising industry, Wijdane has worked across a diverse portfolio of sectors including FMCG, fintech, wealth management, property, clothing, and beverages. This experience has equipped her with a broad strategic lens and the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling brand and communication strategies that resonate with audiences and deliver measurable impact. Over time, Wijdane began redirecting her passion for digital strategy and brand development toward organizations working for social and environmental good. Her work now focuses on supporting purpose-driven initiatives and building communications ecosystems that strengthen visibility, engagement, and long-term sustainability. Drawing from both industry experience and a commitment to regenerative and community-centered work, Wijdane brings a thoughtful, systems-aware approach to communications; one that prioritizes authenticity, cultural insight, and long-term impact.

Azadeh Momenghalibaf

AzadehMomenghalibaf

Steward of Biological Wealth

AzadehMomenghalibaf

Steward of Biological Wealth

Biography coming soon.

Phivo Artemides

PhivoArtemides

Regenerative Synergist

PhivoArtemides

Regenerative Synergist

Phivo is a socio-ecological systems builder bridging project development with a regenerative approach. With a focus on integrating nature-based solutions, cultural heritage and local value chains, Phivo is building a bioregional approach to impact within the Biome Hive. With experience in community social impact projects, local enterprise development and industrial hemp, Phivo brings emerging fields and new paradigms into focused landscape interventions.

Aubrey Morgan Yee

AubreyMorganYee

Steward of Living Systems

AubreyMorganYee

Steward of Living Systems

Aubrey is a mythopoetic futurist, cultural strategist, and systems change facilitator with a PhD in Alternative Futures and Indigenous Politics from the University of Hawai'i. She is the founder of Our Beloved Futures and Hokuao Farm & Temple. Her work focuses on ecological restoration, cultural renewal, and co-creating regenerative, life-centric futures, and she is the author of the book Our Beloved Futures.

Sophie Stack

SophieStack

Development Operations Coordinator

SophieStack

Development Operations Coordinator

Sophie Stack, Development Operations Coordinator at Project Biome, was born in Toronto, Canada and raised in Denver, Colorado. She spent seven years in Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley before pivoting to Regenerative Agriculture in 2023, volunteering on organic farms in Denmark through WWOOF. At Project Biome, she combines her financial expertise with hands-on experience in sustainable practices to support projects that promote ecological health and community development. Sophie lives in Denver with her dog Otis and enjoys hiking, tennis, and travel.

Khanya Mtshali

KhanyaMtshali

Partnerships Lead

KhanyaMtshali

Partnerships Lead

Khanya is a writer, journalist, and communications practitioner with a decade of experience in media, publishing, and higher education. Her work explores the intersection of culture, history, politics, social justice, and media in South Africa, the African continent, and the African diaspora. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The Guardian (US), The Mail & Guardian, and The Johannesburg Review of Books. She is an avid pan-Africanist, vintage and secondhand fashion enthusiast, experimental baker and admirer of martial arts.

Liliana Santizo

LilianaSantizo

Steward of Global Operations

LilianaSantizo

Steward of Global Operations

My work sits at the intersection of people, systems, and regeneration, with a belief that leadership is a lifestyle, and growth should feel like expansion, not depletion. Rooted in my Mayan heritage and grassroots work, I’m guided by values of connection, repair, and collective healing—principles that shape how I show up and build. As Global Project Manager at Project Biome, I’m focused on connecting our regional work and supporting the flow of ideas, people, and projects across a growing global ecosystem. I’m excited to design and build systems that support this growth strategically and humanely. Most importantly, I am excited to learn from everyone on the team.

Isadora Bishop

IsadoraBishop

Steward of Regional Coordination

IsadoraBishop

Steward of Regional Coordination

Biography coming soon.

Audrey Santo Domingo

AudreySantoDomingo

CFO

AudreySantoDomingo

CFO

With over 20 years as a seasoned global finance professional, Audrey blends financial expertise with a conscious and intuitive approach to leadership. Audrey works closely with companies to create purpose driven profits that are in full alignment with the client's visions. She builds financial roadmaps in collaboration with the client that not only move them closer to their vision but also expand profits and improve organizational performance for the long-term. She believes that finance is a tool for transformation, helping businesses thrive while staying true to their values. Known for her collaborative style and ability to make complex challenges feel manageable, Audrey brings clarity, insight, and a sense of calm to the teams she works with. Whether guiding companies through growth or leading business transformations, Audrey is passionate about helping organizations reach their full potential, both financially and holistically.

Sorubi Ravindran, CPA, CGA

SorubiRavindran,CPA,CGA

Finance Controller

SorubiRavindran,CPA,CGA

Finance Controller

Biography coming soon.

Tina Ullmann

TinaUllmann

US & Global HR Consultant

TinaUllmann

US & Global HR Consultant

Tina Ullmann is a people strategist who collaborates with founders and executive teams to cultivate healthy, resilient organizations rooted in purpose and human-centered design. With over 25 years of experience in strategic HR leadership, she has guided growth, transformation, and culture evolution across multiple sectors. At the heart of her work is a commitment to nurturing ecosystems of trust, clarity, and capacity—where leaders and teams can flourish together rather than merely function. Tina blends systems-informed strategy, intentional partnership, and holistic coaching to help organizations translate vision into sustainable practices that honor both people and performance. She holds advanced credentials in HR and executive coaching, and her approach reflects a deep belief that thriving organizations grow from the soil of purpose, belonging, and adaptive resilience.

Guiding Our Mission

Zach Bush MD

ZachBushMD

Board Chair

ZachBushMD

Board Chair

Zach is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. His work is dedicated to the health of humanity and the planet we call home and notes that our pursuit of optimal health and longevity begins with an effort toward a collective rise in consciousness so that we begin to thrive within nature.

Connect
Scott Carlin

ScottCarlin

ScottCarlin

Scott is an accomplished business leader, strategist, and innovator with a long history of leveraging his skills and passions to drive growth, creativity, and the unlocking of value within startups and legacy media companies. He is an angel investor, transactional executive, and engaged with a variety of companies focused-on content creation and distribution.

Connect
Roswitha Kima Smale, PHD

RoswithaKimaSmale,PHD

RoswithaKimaSmale,PHD

Born and raised in Germany with Estonian parents, Roswitha is a multi-lingual world traveler and philanthropist. Widowed and retired, she splits her time between Nevada and Southern France. With a Masters degree in Linguistics and a PhD in Communication, Roswitha’s career included teaching at both the University of Colorado and the University of Denver in both fields. As a communication consultant she offered workshops in public speaking among many other projects. Roswitha served on and chaired several major boards in the Healthcare field in Denver among them HealthOne and Hospice of Metro Denver. With a profound interest in art and creativity she is currently an officer of the board of the Nevada Museum of Art, vice chair of Desert X in Palm Springs / AlUla Saudi Arabia, as well as a trustee of the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. Her philanthropic focus includes grass roots organizations that offer opportunities for learning entrepreneurial skills that significantly elevate living standards in rural communities in Africa and other developing countries. To maintain perspective and equilibrium she loves spending time in Nature as much as her time permits.

Reginald Pillay

ReginaldPillay

Board Secretary

ReginaldPillay

Board Secretary

Reginald is the Group Chief Executive and co-Founder at Ariston Global. His expertise in financial risk management and corporate finance has been pivotal in supporting entrepreneurs worldwide. His focus remains on empowering businesses through strategic development and financial modeling.

Connect
Rutendo Ngara

RutendoNgara

RutendoNgara

Rutendo is an African Indigenous Knowledge Systems holder and transdisciplinary researcher. Rutendo serves on the boards of the Credo Mutwa Foundation (as Chairperson), the South African Wushu Federation, and the ASSEGAIA Alliance for protection of sacred sites. The quest for harmony, healing the whole, co-existence, and complementary underpins her endeavors.

Ambassadors

Lynne Twist

LynneTwist

LynneTwist

For more than 40 years, Lynne Twist has been a recognized global visionary committed to alleviating poverty, ending world hunger, empowering the status of women and girls, supporting social justice, and environmental sustainability. Lynne’s on-the-ground work has brought her a deep understanding of these issues and the transformation of human consciousness.

Connect
Tony Elvin

TonyElvin

TonyElvin

Tony has been at the forefront of Social Enterprise (SE) development and innovation internationally for 25 years. He excels at balancing opportunities and managing the tensions inherent in an integrated ‘people-planet-profit’ approach and securing a win-win-win outcome. Tony is a pioneering figure in social enterprise innovation in both the public and private sectors.

John Kempf

JohnKempf

JohnKempf

John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture, a regenerative agronomy consulting company, and the host of the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast. He is known for developing crop nutrition management systems that increase yields and profitability while reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides. He has been teaching growers around the world the principles and practices of these regenerative agriculture systems for the past 15 years. It is John’s mission to have regenerative agriculture become the mainstream globally by 2040.

THE BIOME
ECOSYSTEM

Biome Collective

Biome Collective

The free online community for anyone curious about regeneration.

Biome Constellation

Biome Constellation

Our growing global network of practitioners, organisations, researchers and community leaders.

Biome Youth

Biome Youth

Stewarding the next generation of regenerative leaders. Cultivating young people of the future.

Biome Flow Fund

Biome Flow Fund

The Flow Fund is a catalytic funding mechanism: a grant-making vehicle to enable bold regenerative projects.

Institute of Natural Law

Project Biome's sister organisation is illuminating the timeless blueprint of Natural Law to provide a regenerative path forward for humanity and our planet.

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Farmer's Footprint

Project Biome's sister organisation is Inspiring collective action for a healthier future.Farmer's Footprint is a nonprofit storytelling initiative that guides people from awareness to action through education and connection — shaping a future rooted in human and planetary healing.

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Project Biome

Project Biome weaves people, projects, and ecosystems to catalyze regenerative futures rooted in place. We connect the people and projects regenerating ecosystems, food systems, and communities across bioregions.

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