Hendrikus grew up in South West England and Central Spain, where he developed a love of nature and the outdoors. He has a BSc in Zoology from the University of Bristol, where he was awarded the Rose Bracher Memorial Prize for the highest First Class Honours, and an MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation & Management from the University of Oxford. He has hands-on practical experience in conservation in both the UK and in Chile and has worked on global forest conservation initiatives at WWF-UK, as their Forest Policy Manager.

Hendrikus founded Action for Conservation in 2014 and left WWF to run the charity full-time in 2016. Action for Conservation has grown into an influential, national environmental charity that inspires and empowers young people to take action for the natural world. In 2019 it built on this reputation by launching the world’s largest youth-led nature restoration initiative in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Hendrikus was recently awarded the Postcode Trust’s ‘Rising Star Award’ for his vision and inspirational leadership.