The Varda Group was established in 2003 by Kelly Rigg and Rémi Parmentier. We now have operations in the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK and we work with an extensive network of freelance collaborators. We’ve campaigned to protect the deep sea, sharks and tuna, the climate, health from smoking and on many other issues.
Welcome to The Varda Group
The Varda Group provides strategic advice and campaign expertise and coordination services across a wide range of international environmental and social issues. The Varda Group consists of Varda BV (The Netherlands), Varda Desarrollo Sostenible SL (Spain), and Varda Ltd (UK). In addition, The Varda Foundation (Stichting Varda) is a not-for-profit organisation that has the capacity to carry out charitable projects. The Varda Group was established in 2003 by Rémi Parmentier, Kelly Rigg, and Elaine Lawrence who have been leading campaigns for over 30 years on oceans, climate, disarmament, human health and many other issues. Our specialties include:
- Campaign coordination and leadership
- Political campaigning and advocacy
- Strategic planning
- Project design and management
- Campaign and organizational evaluation
- Meeting facilitation
- Communications strategy design
- Event organization
- Campaign training
Varda staff are fluent in English, French and Spanish (and to a lesser extent Dutch and Portuguese).
2020
October 2020
- Stakeholders outreach and special event on behalf of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Contemporary Art Academy (TBA21) at How to Tread Lightly, an exhibition on display at the Thyssen Museum, Madrid
- Advising the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in relation to the Sustainable Energy Jobs Platform
- Advice and representation on behalf of Antarctica 2020 and ASOC
September 2020
- Jury member for REvolutionaries, Clean Energy Award in Africa, the Steve Sawyer Memorial Award established by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), honouring the legacy of Varda Group co-founder Steve Sawyer who passed away last year
- Secretariat of the Because the Ocean Initiative
- Guest speaker at Casa SEAT, Barcelona: From Climate Change to Ocean Change
August 2020
- Advice and support to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in relation to the Sustainable Energy Jobs Platform
- Strategic planning for Antarctica2020
July 2020
- Continued support to the Shark League for the Atlantic and Mediterranean
June 2020
- Coordinating and facilitating the third Friends of Ocean Action webinar on the WTO fisheries negotiations
- Organizing and co-facilitating two Deep Dive sessions of the Virtual Ocean Dialogues
May 2020
- Member of the Virtual Ocean Dialogue Advisory Group
April 2020
- Strategic scoping for the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
- Ship project management for Greenpeace International
March 2020
- Review for Versus Arthritis
- Participation in the High Seas Treaty Dialogue organized by the Norwegian Nobel Institute and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
- Advice on development of Outreach Strategy for Greenpeace UK
