What makes someone dedicate their time and expertise to changing the world? For the ISPO Impact Foundation team, the answer lies in their personal ‘why.’ While our team works behind the scenes to steer our mission, they are driven by a genuine commitment to making a difference.
To ensure trust is well-placed, the Foundation operates under a strictly independent and transparent advisory structure. This guarantees that all grant decisions are made entirely free from the influence of our funders.
Our funding comes from Raccoon Media Group, owners of the ISPO trade show. Held in Amsterdam every November, this show brings together the brands, retailers, and suppliers involved in the international sports, outdoor, and winter sports sectors.
Because we believe true impact requires both clear accountability and real passion, we sat down with our board members to pull back the curtain. Read on to look at what inspires and drives them.
Meet Matthias Koeppel, Global Director of Charitable Giving at adidas AG
ISPO Impact Foundation – Advisory Council
A sports industry professional with over twenty years of cross-sector experience in Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Strategy. Matthias has more recently focused on the foundation and non-profit sector. He is also a certified Foundation Manager and passionate youth soccer coach.
What inspired you to join the Foundation?
ISPO has always been a topic throughout my more than 20 years in the sporting goods industry. Being able to support a new Foundation and help shape its journey is a great opportunity to give back to the industry and the communities it serves.
What first sparked your passion for philanthropy and social change?
Getting to know the inspiring work of the adidas Foundation and its many outstanding partners sparked my passion for philanthropy and social change. Seeing the positive impact these organizations create for individuals and communities has been highly motivating.
If you could instantly solve one global issue, what would it be?
Climate change. It is one of the most unfair global challenges we face today. While it has been driven largely by a relatively small number of wealthy nations, its most severe consequences are often felt by poorer countries and vulnerable communities that have contributed the least to the problem.
Meet Yasmin Dufournet, Consumer Insight Director, Salomon
ISPO Impact Foundation – Advisory Council
A senior leader in strategic foresight and innovation within the premium sports and outdoor industries, blending professional expertise with a lifelong passion for hiking, travel, art, and writing.
What inspired you to join the Foundation?
What attracted me to the Foundation was the opportunity to turn purpose into action. Nature and the outdoors have always been important to me, and I’ve seen how much they can contribute to people’s health, confidence, and sense of belonging. I liked the fact that the Foundation connects these two things: protecting nature and fostering inclusivity in sport and the outdoors. It felt like a meaningful way to contribute and to support organisations that are already making a difference.
What first sparked your passion for philanthropy and social change?
My interest in social change developed through my work in inclusion, consumer understanding and employee experience. I’ve seen that good intentions are not enough. We need to listen to people, understand the barriers they face and take practical action.
If you could instantly solve one global issue, what would it be?
If I could solve one global issue, I would choose inequality of opportunity. Everyone should have a fair chance to live a healthy, safe and fulfilling life, whatever their background. So many other issues are connected to unequal access – to education, healthcare, nature, sport and decent work. If we could remove some of those barriers, we would give many more people the opportunity to thrive.
Meet Ben Blischke, Sustainability & Circularity Specialist
ISPO Impact Foundation – Advisory Council
An industry professional with over 15 years’ experience across product design, manufacturing and sustainability, including as Head of ESG at INTERSPORT-IIC. Ben works on circular economy and regenerative approaches within the sports industry, alongside his role in the Swiss Doughnut Economics Network.
What inspired you to join the Foundation?
I was inspired to see ISPO put together a charitable foundation with a mission to put real money into the hands of people who can effect change. Over the years I’ve seen how much dedication already goes into conservation and community projects in our sector, and how this foundation could really reinforce that work.
What first sparked your passion for philanthropy and social change?
My wakeup moment was as a design student, learning that the mountains of our old products don’t just “go away”, but are so often exported to vulnerable communities. This realisation has since been reinforced by years of firsthand experiences working in supply chains, and it’s clear that true sustainability must include just social change.
If you could instantly solve one global issue, what would it be?
I would focus on biodiversity loss and species collapse. Within just a couple of generations, so much damage has been done to the natural world, and we’re only at the beginning of seeing the rebound effects on our societies. Re-learning to live with nature, rather than above or aside from it, would be a great goal to achieve.
Meet Debbie Read, Head of Corporate Communications and CSR, Rab
ISPO Impact Foundation – Advisory Council
A communications and CSR leader with 20+ years’ experience strengthening reputation and stakeholder engagement – leading Equip Outdoor Technologies’ sustainability ambitions and responsible business commitments for technical outdoor brand Rab.
What inspired you to join the Foundation?
I believe the outdoor industry has a responsibility to improve the environment that shapes our businesses, fuels our passions, and supports our mental and physical wellbeing. ISPO has created an ideal opportunity where we can influence the partners and projects that will deliver measurable impact in these areas.
What first sparked your passion for philanthropy and social change?
A belief that we all have a part to play. Whether through small everyday actions or by advocating for and creating systemic change, we each have a responsibility to set a positive example and influence what we can to help create a better future.
If you could instantly solve one global issue, what would it be?
I would like to see politicians make decisions and commit investment and policies that prioritise the long-term wellbeing of society, and protecting our planet, rather than focusing on short-term election strategies driven by wealth and power.
Meet Susanna Bailey, Marketing Director – ISPO
ISPO Impact Foundation – Strategic Fund Adviser
Holding observer status, the Strategic Fund Adviser represents the ISPO Trade show and Raccoon Media Group, the organisation providing the funding for the foundation, ensuring that the ISPO Impact Foundation’s funding decisions remain consistent with the values, ethos, and intended impact of the funding organisation.
Susanna is a marketing leader overseeing all brand communications and PR for ISPO, the world’s largest sporting goods and outdoor trade show. With over 25 years delivering successful live event experiences to mass communities and brands, and a personal obsession with hiking and wild swimming.
What inspired you to join the Foundation?
When I first heard that ISPO would be investing €1 million in charitable causes that support our industry, I was genuinely excited and delighted to be asked to join the ISPO Impact Foundation Advisory Council as a Strategic Fund Advisor. It’s a rare opportunity to help make a meaningful difference across such a diverse range of projects, with the potential to change lives, protect the places we play and create a lasting impact on our industry and the world around us.
What first sparked your passion for philanthropy and social change?
I’ve always loved being outdoors. I crave fresh air and love hiking and swimming in nature, so the thought of losing the places that give us that freedom is genuinely frightening.
Sport has also always been a big part of my life. I believe being active can change how you feel, how you see yourself and how you approach life. It’s a brilliant combination of physical and mental wellbeing, enjoyment and personal achievement. Seeing yourself improve, whatever your starting point, builds confidence and can have a lasting impact.
I’d love to see more people from all backgrounds and abilities, given the opportunity to discover that for themselves, whether through sport, movement or simply spending more time outdoors. For me, encouraging participation and protecting the environments that make it possible, go hand in hand.
If you could instantly solve one global issue, what would it be?
I would make our seas and rivers clean and healthy again. Water is essential to all life, yet pollution threatens the natural habitats that wildlife depends on and the clean water that people need and enjoy. I’d love to see a world where our waterways are protected, wildlife can thrive and future generations can enjoy swimming, exploring and spending time in nature without worrying about the impact of pollution. Protecting these places is about so much more than the environment; it’s about preserving the freedom and joy they bring to all of us.
Meet Julian Lings – Global Sustainability Leader, Specialized Bike Components
ISPO Impact Foundation – Strategic Fund Adviser
Leading sustainability strategy and impact across global operations to foster impact reduction and long-term business resilience.
What inspired you to join the Foundation?
The biggest impact challenges the industry faces are shared challenges, and the need to drive positive action all the way from grassroots has never been more important. The Foundation has a vital role to play to help foster this.
What first sparked your passion for philanthropy and social change?
Having grown up around third sector organisations, it’s a world I’ve always valued very highly and believe that it has a critical role to play in a thriving society for all.
If you could instantly solve one global issue, what would it be?
Climate change. So many of the world’s challenges are interlinked, and solving the climate crisis would have multiple benefits to addressing other challenges.
Meet Katrin Bauer, Director of Sustainability, Ortovox
ISPO Impact Foundation – Advisory Council
Expert in due diligence, climate change and ESG compliance.
What inspired you to join the Foundation?
After many years working in sustainability, I’ve seen plenty of challenges and plenty of great ideas that struggle simply because they lack resources or funding. I really appreciate the opportunity to work with others across the industry to drive impact, open up opportunities and help great ideas get off the ground.
What first sparked your passion for philanthropy and social change?
For me, it has always been about fairness and responsibility. Working with global supply chains made me realise how deeply the decisions we make here can impact people and communities around the world. Over the years, this has become a major part of what motivates me: trying to use our influence as a company and an industry in a truly responsible way.
If you could instantly solve one global issue, what would it be?
I would probably choose inequality. So many other challenges – from living wages and access to opportunities to the impacts of climate change – are linked to it. A world in which your birthplace and family background have less influence on your opportunities in life would be a pretty good place to start.
And finally, meet Tanya Kenrick, General Manager, ISPO Impact Foundation
As the General Manager, Tanya is currently the Foundation’s sole employed team member, managing all day-to-day operations and reporting directly to the trustees. She brings 17 years of hands-on experience leading and growing a global conservation charity within the European outdoor sector, as well as a strong background in PR and marketing for prominent outdoor brands like The North Face and Lowe Alpine.
Leveraging her expertise as a senior corporate marketing and fundraising communications specialist, Tanya works closely with the advisory council while the trustees guide the Foundation’s overall strategic direction. She is also responsible for the initial assessing and shortlisting of all project applications, though she does not hold a final vote on the selection of funded projects.
What inspired you to join the Foundation?
I am passionate about the environment and doing everything we can to look after it. I was working for an organisation funding projects to do just that, and then the opportunity to work for the Foundation came up. This not only enabled me to do more of that, but it also broadened my remit to include looking after people by getting them physically active in sports and the outdoors. I spend all my spare time in the mountains—walking, climbing, swimming and paddling—and would love others to be able to experience that too, as there’s nothing like being out there to clear your mind and bring you closer to nature. I feel extremely lucky to be helping build something that makes that possible for more people.
What first sparked your passion for philanthropy and social change?
Reflecting on my career, I sort of fell into a job with a charity raising money for conservation projects around the world and ended up staying for 17 years. I was not only shocked by the immense need out there, but also deeply inspired by the countless organisations working tirelessly to protect and restore our planet’s incredible nature, in all its weird and wonderful forms. This experience showed me that people only protect what they know and love, and they only know and love what they have experienced. Consequently, getting more people active – especially outdoors – felt like the natural next step.
If you could instantly solve one global issue, what would it be?
Biodiversity loss. So many things depend on nature being healthy and able to look after us and our planet’s systems. For instance, you cannot solve climate change, food security, or nutrition without healthy ecosystems. Biodiversity is one of the nine planetary boundaries, and it underpins so many of the others. We must ensure we are protecting what is left while enabling the restoration and regeneration of what has already been lost.
