GEN Officers

The current officers of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) are:

Kosha Anja Joubert

GEN President

Kosha Joubert was born and grew up in South Africa. The system of Apartheid deeply influenced her life’s path: She decided to devote herself to the study and practice of trustful communication and community building in diverse settings. She has been living in intentional communities for the past 20 years and currently serves as President of the Board of the GEN-International and Secretary General of GEN-Europe. Her last 10 years were spent in Sieben Linden, Germany. Recently she moved to Findhorn, Scotland, with her two children. She co-authored the Ecovillage Design Education Curriculum (www.gaiaeducation.org). Today, she organizes EDE-courses and trainings on social tools internationally and works as a facilitator and consultant. She co-edited Beyond You and Me - Inspirations and Wisdom for Building Community, Permanent Publications, 2007 with her partner, Robin Alfred. She has just had her first book published in Germany on the Power of Collective Wisdom and is looking forward to translating it into English. It is a joy and honour for her to be an active part of the ecovillage movement.

Michiyo Furuhashi

Secretary

Michiyo is a Japanese environmental educator and founder of Japan Ecovillage Promotion Project (JEPP). Since 2007, she has lived in the Konohana Family (http://www.konohana-family.org/files/welcome3rd_e.pdf), a leading ecovillage in Japan, and is in charge of ecovillage education and international communication. She also sings as one of the vocalists of the Konohana Band. She promotes the ecovillage movement in Japan as an Ecovillage practitioner. She also serves as a board member of Gaia Education and Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), and vice-president of Oceania & Asia region for GEN (http://genoa.ecovillage.org/dev/), and ambassador of Japan for GEN. She organized the first Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) in Japan from 2008 to 2009, and is currently organizing another one in 2012 for the general public and affected people from the mega earthquakes and tsunami in March, 2011.

Linda Joseph

Treasurer

Linda sits on the Board of the Global Ecovillage Network and is currently the treasurer. She is one of the founders of the Council of the Ecovillage Network of the Americas (ENA). Linda also co-founded EarthArt Village, serves as President on it's Board and was one of the first full time resident members. Linda is single, and after over 10 years living in the Commons Barn Quarters, is now settling into our latest building at EarthArt, a Quonset House and utility building. Linda has been the Garden Steward, planning, experimenting and tending the five garden areas at EarthArt, and our Poultry & Egg Club. Linda was elected to serve as Saguache County Commissioner (2007-2010). Linda consults to Manitou Institute on the Habitat Conservation Program and serves on the Board of ScSEED - the Saguache County Sustainable Environment & Economic Development.