Mariska is a passionate gardener and a dedicated community builder based in Tairāwhiti. As one of the organizers of Startup Weekend Tairāwhiti, she contributes to spaces of innovation and collaboration within her community. Her expertise spans across various fields, including permaculture design, social innovation, and community development.

In addition, Mariska is an avid reader and huge fan of the local library. Her curiosity drives her to continually learn new skills, with her current focus being on CAD design. She is committed to creating infrastructure that enables effective collaboration among individuals and organizations.

Mariska also serves on the board of Drones Doing Good, an organization dedicated to utilizing drone technology for humanitarian purposes. Her contributions to the field of ethics in technology are highlighted in the publication, "What’s Ethics Got to Do With It?". With a unique blend of practical gardening skills, innovative thinking, and a passion for community development, Mariska continues to develop her skill set and contribute to spaces of hope.

For anyone confused about her accent, she was born in Aotearoa and moved to the Netherlands at the age of 10. Since then, she lived in Germany, Spain, India and Zimbabwe before coming back home.