Nynke was studying Arabic Language and Culture when she visited an Integrated Water Resources Management project in Syria. This fieldtrip made her realize that water is a cross-cutting issue, related to many other fields having her interest (politics, development, sustainability, culture). Back in her home country, the Netherlands, she signed up for a minor in Sustainable Development Studies and after completing her bachelor’s degree, she started a master’s program in Environmental Communication and Management in Sweden. Although water in the Middle East is still her main interest, she has broadened her perspectives to include water-related issues over the whole globe. For GIWEH, she researches civil society participation in transboundary water management and advises project proposals and GIWEH’s reporting. Additionally, she follows up on, and contributes to, the OECD Water Governance Initiative.