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Team
Otro Elements was initiated by Raymond Landgraaf. For years, he has been organizing back-to-basics expeditions in the Italian Alps. Raymond is a general practitioner and facilitates these unique expeditions. Recently, he and two of his colleagues officially launched the OTRO Elements Care Foundation. Furthermore, he organizes accredited courses for medical professionals.
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team members
OTRO COACHES EN FACILITATORS
Raymond is the founder of Otro Elements and facilitates the expeditions. He is a passionate doctor, acupuncturist and mountain rescue team member in Alagna.
Raymond is an adventurer by nature, who dares to step out off the beaten track and motivates others to chase their dreams. In 2012 Raymond and his lovely wife Blanca decided to radically change their lives. Together with their three children they moved to the Italian Alps, to meet adventure and live a more balanced life. The second he entered Val d’Otro, he knew ‘I want to share this’. He began taking his friends to this magical valley. This is how the first back-to-basics expeditions were born. His hobby drastically got out of hand;). He now is the proud owner of his own healing mountain 'Alpe Selvaccia'.
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Raymond
Tjeerd Wits
Tjeerd Wits, aka Djerba, studied earth sciences and is a trained UIMLA International Mountain Leader (IML). At a young age, Tjeerd wanted to go on an adventure, into the wide world. He became the happiest of "playing outside". And still now actually. In untouched nature. Whether in the mountains in Central Asia, in the rainforests of Borneo or the Amazon or cycling along the Silk Road. Wherever something magical can be experienced, Tjeerd feels at home there. When he arrived at 'Alpe Selvaccia' he immediately felt at home and did not want to leave. He had been looking for this for a long time and since then he can't get his smile off his face.
Tjeerd lives in the Dutch dunes with his beloved wife Sanne and their two children.
Benny
Connecting to nature, moving slowly, embracing joy… these three pillars continue to underpin Benny’s life. Born and raised in central London, his relationship with the wild began with his father, watching the eels in the streams, the buzzards on the wing and finding glow worms in the grass of the rolling English hills. An educator, singer, biologist and empath, his work in conservation and development has taken him all over the world from the Amazonian rainforest to the East African Plains to the high Himalayas. Having spent decades facilitating therapeutic journeys with different groups, he thrives when creating safe spaces, when stepping out of our tightly controlled human environments and when listening to the silence. He lives very happily in the mountains of Northern Spain with his dog Otto and sings a lot of sea shanties.
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John van Giels
John is a life-long learner who, alongside his academic studies, continues to expand his knowledge beyond the cognitive, with the (mountain) nature as a major source of inspiration. "Nature is a great teacher," and he experiences this time and again in his work. John combines strategic consultancy with his role as an International Mountain Leader, guiding groups in the mountains while facilitating leadership and personal development. He feels privileged to do this alongside his Otro colleagues.
Gijs Groeneveld
Gijs Groeneveld, founder of Peak4, is an expert in resilience and mental well-being. With experience from expeditions like the Ocean Fours, he translates adventure into leadership development. Gijs combines entrepreneurial vision with extensive leadership experience (OpenUp, iPractice) empowering individuals and organizations to thrive.
Quirine Pleyte
Quirine is the founder of Peak4 and Better Place to Work, specializing in cultural transformation and psychological safety. She designs impactful programs in nature and with local communities, helping leaders drive sustainable change. She lives in Amsterdam with Roland and their daughters Milou and Sem. Additionally, she spends 30% of her time working for Movement on the Ground, where she guides teams and serves as chairwoman, advocating for refugees.
Robert-Jan de Muinck Keizer
Robert-Jan is a father of three boys and works as a general practitioner in busy Amsterdam—but his heart and hands often wander toward the Italian mountains. What started in 2013 with building a toilet for one of the first Otro expeditions has, since 2019, turned into an annual "work week" on Alpe Selvaccia.
There’s nothing better than spending a few days off the grid, clearing your mind while working with your hands—blisters included. And there’s always something to do on the Alpe!
Marjolein Roeleveld
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
Movement, climbing, the good kind of exhaustion, fresh air, animals walking alongside you for a moment, a shimmering stream, stillness, and a deep connection with Mother Earth.
From the age of four, Marjolein loved nothing more than hiking in the mountains, discovering new trails, completely in her element, eager to see what lay beyond the next peak. And once she reached the top—feeling both vast and small at the same time—she felt at home. That sense of adventure and curiosity has never left her.
Marjolein Roeleveld graduated from the Theatre Academy in 2012 and is a Zen Shiatsu Therapist. In a small village in northern Australia, she learned from Indigenous women about the importance of place, about Mother Earth, and the power that arises when women gather on the land. Through the Women’s Expeditions, she seeks to remember, ignite, and celebrate that feminine strength.
Rogier & Elkana
Elkana Waarsenburg embraces life fully. She is authentic, joyful, honest, energetic and connected. She’s a natural physician, born for the job. She actively researches and connects innovative approaches of contemporary healthcare. Together with Rogier Hoenders, her husband, she expresses a broad vision on human wellbeing, and finds her inspiration in Tibetan Buddhism.
Rogier Hoenders is a psychiatrist, senior researcher and content manager for the Centre for Integral Psychiatry (CIP) of Lentis. Also, he teaches psychotherapy and operates as an interim educator for Lentis. Rogier is a chairman for the Integral Health and Wellbeing Consort (CIZG) and council member at the International Network for Integrative Mental Health (INIMH). His professional mission is to optimize and innovate healthcare systems by implementing ‘new’ methodologies (mindfulness, compassion, lifestyle coaching). Rogiers personal source of inspiration is Tibetan medicine and Buddhism, as well as meditation practices.
Blanca
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The creative team
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Blanca van den Brand is not only Raymond’s loving wife and mother of their three children, but also a passionate psychologist, relationship therapist and writer of the books ‘Making love' and ‘69; the art of loving'. During the youth expeditions Blanca teaches the young participants to follow their inner compass and have the guts to choose a path that is their own. On explicit demand she organizes workshops during other expeditions specifically on subjects of love, sexuality and relationships.
... But normally Blanca guides her clients during intensive therapy weekends, cheat retreats or boostersessions at the magical and romantic Lake of Como. For more information please check [ www.InSightorOut.nl ]. Know that you are also very welcome in their "second home" in La Bella Italia al Lago di Varese"...
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Sjef
Sjef Roymans is one of Raymond’s strongest supports and reliances. He’s been around since the very beginning and co-facilitates pretty much every expedition that Otro Elements organizes. After years of working for an international publishing agency he decided to drastically change his life and launch the [ Bisonte Foundation ] together with his beautiful and artistic wife Marie-Jose. This foundation organizes retreats for individuals and groups in Italy, in and around their house on the 'Lago di Orta' (Orta Lake). "My ambition is to help people increase awareness and enhance consciousness on the path of change and transformation. I’ve stepped on this path a long time ago and Otro Elements has been a strong influence.”
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MOUNTAIN GUIDES
International Mountain Guide/UIAGM
Seppi
Giuseppe Enzio, a.k.a. Seppi, is a passionate Italian Mountain Guide born in Otro. His love for the mountains is omnipresent, whether you’re chasing after him on the snowy slopes or you’re following his guidance on a hike through the alpine meadows, his enthusiasm will get to you. This ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ has worked all around the globe and spends much of his time working in the Himalayas with the local communities on building schools, water-systems and sanitation. He is the founding father of a foundation called 'Cuore Attivo', which means 'Active Heart'.
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Alberto Zucchetti
(coming soon)
Andrea Degasparis
Andrea is a mountain guide from Alagna with a deep connection to the nearby Monte Rosa. Growing up with a father who was both a mountain guide and a park ranger, he became familiar with the forests, glaciers, and snow-covered slopes from an early age. He prefers to guide in silence rather than with many words, encouraging a steady pace and allowing people to truly listen to nature. His goal is not just to lead but to help others feel at home in the mountains.
Teodoro Bizzocchi
Teodoro has always been connected to the mountains. Born on the southeastern side of Monte Rosa, he developed a deep bond with nature from an early age. He started skiing at four and climbing at eight, drawn to the wild landscapes and the spirit of early alpinism. His passion has taken him from the highest peaks of the Alps to the remote deserts of Africa. After completing his studies, he became a certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide. In addition, he collaborates with universities and researches historical mountain literature to design unique and immersive alpine experiences.
Guida Escursionistica (Hiking/trekking guide)
Raffaela Cinti
Raffaella, or Raffa, is an Italian hiking and trekking guide based in Val d'Ayas, near the Monterosa Massif and the Matterhorn. After a career traveling the world for major sporting events like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, she returned to her roots in the Italian Alps to reconnect with nature. She discovered Otro Elements by chance, instantly fell in love with the stunning Alpe Selvaccia, and feels blessed to be part of the Otro family.
HOSTESSES ON ALPE SELVACCIA
Maria
Maria Biginelli is our newest (Italian) acquisition on Alpe Selvaccia. Our big support.
Marit Kaemingk
Marit is a free spirit with a passion for adventure, creativity, and deep connection to life. Her travels have taken her from the icy beauty of Antarctica to the paradisiacal islands of Polynesia. As a masseuse on expedition ships, including those for National Geographic, she helped people relax and reconnect with themselves. Her heart belongs to nature, where she finds freedom off the beaten path.
Marit combines bodywork with her love for play and exploration, inviting others on a journey of self-discovery and adventure. She also shares her passion for cooking at Otro, where food becomes a way to bring people together. With her latest project—a women’s expedition—Marit creates a safe space for women to explore, grow, and celebrate their essence.
SWEATLODGE
Kristofer Twofeathers
Kristofer Twofeathers, sun dancer of the Lakota tradition, was trained thanks to the numerous teachings received from the wisdom of medicine men and women from various Native American traditions, however he considers his two children his greatest teachers. For 25 years he has been conducting numerous ceremonies in Europe such as the Inipi, the sweat lodge, fasting ceremonies and various ceremonial dances. He strongly feels in his heart that these ancient rituals should not be lost because they constitute a great source of healing, they give us the opportunity to reconnect with our true nature, with Mother Earth and with the entire universe. Rituals create magic and in these special moments we become aware that we are in relationship with everything, all existence and we return as newborns, simple beings amazed by the beauty that is all around us.
Lieke White Winds
From a young age, Lieke has felt a deep sense of connection with everything that exists—the trees, the stars, the mountains. In her ceremonies, she weaves together the wisdom she has gained from various teachers and shamans from North and South America. Trained in the Susquehannock and Inca traditions, she walks the path of authenticity. For over 20 years, she has guided sweat lodge ceremonies, crafted shamanic drums, and offered individual shamanic coaching. The (sweat lodge) ceremony serves as a gateway to the vastness of existence, reconnecting you with your true essence. It brings you to a profound sense of unity and connection—something you can carry with you into your daily life.
CREATIVE TEAM
Caspar
A number of years ago Caspar Diederik decided to make his dreams reality. After quitting his desk-job as a manager in the Netherlands he decided to become a travelling videographer; a story-traveler. Caspar is a passionate human being, and a nature-lover at heart, who’s always hunting for new stories. Matera, Southern Italy is his home, yet he’s almost continuously on the move, capturing and sharing beautiful experiences and authentic stories. His breathtaking work touches and inspires many, and provides us (the viewer) with a glimpse of his unique life vision. Caspar is the in-house photographer for Otro Elements and delivered incredible images that already travelled the world. Watch [ the first notorious promo-video ] he made for us.
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Harm Koningen
Student and explorer of life ✨ Ambassador of Otro Elements, co-owner of Debo Software (where we’re developing Otro’s new website), and initiator of the mountain expeditions we organize between Ayuna.world and Otro. In many ways, deeply connected to this beautiful place, its incredible people, and its inspiring mission. Passionate about using technology in a way that serves—helping us save time so we can create more space to connect with ourselves and, from that place, with others.
Hermen van de Waal
Hermen van de Waal is a film-maker, operating as a social entrepreneur with his brand ‘Macula Films’ where his endless drive for creating a better world blends with his videographic talents. With a group of fierce creatives he contributed to the birth of an ecological platform for social enterprises, named ‘de Ceuvel’ in Amsterdam. Hermen calls himself ‘an Optivist’, someone who strives to bend the slightly angry force of activism in of positive change. ‘We must teach our children to dream with their eyes open, so they can teach us’. This vision he shares with Raymond, as well as his love for the Italian Alps. Ever since the first expedition Hermen’s been involved with Otro Elements and, if it’s up to him, this will always be the case.
He’s been responsible for various production, short films, trailers and promotions, follow [ this link ] to check out his latest work for Otro Elements.
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BACKOFFICE & COMMUNICATIE
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Myra Stals
Myra manages the back office and communication channels for Otro Elements and previously worked as a Content Manager for the European Association of the Via Francigena (EAVF). She loves both physical and mental challenges, which in recent years have led her to embark on multiple solo cycling journeys across Europe. In 2020, for example, she cycled through Italy with her Cycle 2 Recycle initiative, raising awareness about plastic pollution. Myra has been living in Italy for over 12 years—first in Florence and Turin, and now in the Province of Parma with her partner Luca and their daughter Leia.
