Who we are
About the Flamingo Collective
Who we are
Our Mission
The Flamingo Collective is an eco-feminist cooperative of freelancers and activists supporting progressive organisations and activists to reimagine and build braver, more systemic solutions to injustice. Rooted in intersectional feminist values, we work collaboratively to transform power, foster inclusive leadership, and nurture spaces for deep reflection, critical conversation, and collective sense-making.
We are guided by curiosity, care, and a commitment to learning. Through strategy, storytelling, and community building, we help organisations centre systemic analysis, challenge root causes of oppression, and strengthen transnational solidarity. We lead with transparency, hold space for complexity, and believe in doing serious work without losing joy along the way.
Flocking Together for Feminist Futures
Flamingo Collective began as a simple conversation — a few activists dreaming together about what could be possible. That dream quickly took flight, resonating with others across Europe. From six to twenty to fifty people, it became clear: we weren’t alone in feeling that progressive movements were being drowned out by rising waves of fear and division. But we also knew — we have the collective power to turn the tide.
We believe that real change starts with pausing. Pausing to understand how we got here. Pausing to name the deep, interconnected crises we face. And from there, imagining bold alternatives rooted in care, justice, and courage. In October 2024, twenty of us gathered near the lagoons of South Western France to do just that — to reflect, connect, and begin shaping a different way forward. That gathering marked the beginning of Flamingo Collective: a space grounded in eco-feminist leadership and organising, built to support movements across Europe to dream, act, and transform systems — together.
Our core values
The Compass that shapes how we create lasting impact
01
Care
We lead with care—for people, communities, and the planet. Care is a radical commitment to connection, accountability, and healing in the face of extractive systems. It is a commitment to de-accelerate and resist the hyper accelerated systems we’re part of.
02
Courage
We act with boldness and integrity, even in uncertainty. We take risks, speak truth to power, and hold space for the deep, uncomfortable work that transformation requires.
03
Curiosity
We stay open and always learning. Curiosity fuels our work—welcoming and holding space for complexity, asking bold questions, and listening deeply to what is emerging.
04
Joy
We centre joy as a practice of resilience and resistance. Through play, humour, and celebration, we remind ourselves that joy helps sustain our movements.
05
Intersectional Eco-feminism
We root our practice in a feminist worldview that sees the connections between gender, race, ecology, and class. We are part of nature — not separate from it — and our liberation is bound together.
06
Power-Shifting
We are here to transform—not simply redistribute—power. We centre the voices of those most impacted by injustice and work to create new systems that are inclusive, accountable, and just. We encourage greater self-awareness of power at all levels - individual, organisational and societal.
Why Flamingos?
Flamingos show us how to stand strong — and stand together.
Flamingos are a powerful symbol of what we stand for. With one leg grounded and the other lifted, they remind us of the importance of balance: between bold external action and soulful internal culture, between aspiration and reflection. They live in large, peaceful communities, showing us how strength can come from care, collaboration, and deep respect for one another.
Flamingos also bring joy, vibrance, and a quiet resilience. They thrive in challenging environments with grace and calm, showing us how to stand strong in turbulent times. For us, they represent the courage to pause, breathe, and imagine new ways of being—personally, politically, and collectively. In their playfulness and beauty, they remind us to stay connected to hope, to each other, and to the belief that transformation is not only possible—it’s already in motion.
The People
The Nest
from our nest, we hatch bold ideas.
The Nest brings together the dreamers behind the Flamingo Collective, aka its initiators. The Nest is the engine behind the Collective, seeking to convene and energise the community, organise events and retreats, and engage in transnational organising in Europe.
Joanna Maycock
Joanna is one of the co-founders of Flamingo Collective, where she brings decades of experience in feminist leadership and global civil society to help reimagine how we lead, collaborate, and create change. Over the years, she’s worked at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and movement building—shaping EU gender equality strategies, leading one of Europe’s largest feminist networks, and helping to grow powerful coalitions for justice. Joanna brings decades of practical experience leading teams, organisations and coalitions to support others in building bold visions and collective power for systemic change.
Laura Sullivan
Laura is one of the co-founders of Flamingo Collective, an activist, eco-feminist, facilitator and moderator based in a village just outside Brussels. She has spent the last 25 years working towards feminist leadership to build power and communities towards systemic change everywhere. In that time, she has learned a lot from land rights movements from Haiti to Brazil, Buddhist peace activists from Vietnam to France and feminists from all over the shop. She figures it’s time for her to give some of that back. Laura loves bringing a sprinkling of breathing, deep reflection, singing, dancing and comedy into all gatherings. She will never give up.
Ioana Banach
One of the co-founders of Flamingo Collective, Ioana is an experienced organisational development facilitator, working at the intersection of ecology, feminism, and democracy. Her mission is to help NGOs allign their internal structures with their core values, all while fostering open and caring spaces. Ioana previously served as Managing Director of the Green European Foundation, and is the co-founder of multiple organisations advocating for better policies on womens’ health.
Job van den Assem
Job is one of the co-founding members of the Flamingos. He loves learning from inspiring people and bringing people together to hear different perspectives on systems change, deepen his understanding of eco-feminism, and share his passion for Community Organising. Active in environmental activism since he was 16, he has learned through doing — and sometimes failing. He has worked with Friends of the Earth Netherlands for many years, leading various organising campaigns, and founded The Lowlander Project to provide training on Community Organising to Dutch civil society and grassroots organisations. Whenever possible, he loves to facilitate staff retreats — mainly to get people hooked on the Open Space methodology.
Desislava Stoyanova
Desislava is a community organiser, facilitator, and advocate for social and environmental justice with over 20 years of experience. After several years in Brussels working within the NGO community on environmental and development issues, she is now back and actively engaged with the environmental and social justice community in Bulgaria. Her work bridges activism, creativity, and care, exploring new ways to inspire change through artistic, social, and ecological practices. She is one of the founders of the local NGO Discovered Spaces. A passionate mountain, nature and music lover, Desislava recently became part of the Flamingo Collective nest.