Petra Dankers

Petra Dankers is a coastal and rivers morphologist with a specialisation in sediments and Nature-Based Solutions. She has worked in many projects where green infrastructure, nature-based solutions or Building with Nature play an important role.

In 2022, she was appointed as leading professional Nature-based solutions at Haskoning. She has been working for EcoShape, the foundation that runs the innovative and research orientated Building with Nature projects, since 2008. And in 2023, she has been part of the Management Team of EcoShape.

Since 2024 Petra joined the Dutch DRRS think tank and team leaders pool.

Petra Dankers has PhD degree in Fluid mechanics, Delft University of Technology (2006), The Netherlands and a MSc Physical Geography, Coasts and Rivers, Utrecht University, The Netherlands (2001).

Some project examples: 

• Expert on NBS for Adaptation pathways Singapore coast. Including the preservation of current mangrove coastlines and designing future mangrove coasts within the urban environment of Singapore.
• Expert on Nature Based Solutions for river and coastal erosion as part of the Mekong Delta Plan Vietnam (RVO). Including reviewing and designing measures for mangrove restoration in the coastal areas and green infrastructure measures in the urbanized areas along the channels.
• Expert on Nature Based Solutions to reduce flood risk and strengthen resilience in the city of Kigali Rwanda. Hands on advice on green infrastructure measures to be implemented at city district scale;
• Expert on Nature Based Solutions within the Disaster Risk Reduction team for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Focus was on the Kuala Lumpur district, masterplanning with NbS to prevent future heavy floods.
• Preparing long term visions and strategies for various estuarine and coastal systems in the Netherlands. All include sediment strategies, coping with sea level rise and Nature-based Solutions.