About Koru Consulting – Turning Intention into Impact
The Essence of Koru
Koru is a Māori word that describes the spiral shape of a fern frond as it unfurls each year. This powerful symbol of renewal and positive change reflects our commitment to helping organizations accelerate their sustainability efforts.
At Koru Consulting, we bring this to life through thoughtful strategies and tangible actions built on four core values: sustainability, connection, reliability, and innovation.
The Origin of Koru
Koru Consulting was founded in 2015 by Dr. Diane Zandee RC, advisor on the circular economy and the financial challenges that come with it. Experience showed that a financial proposition and a sustainable business model do not always align easily and at times may not fit within existing accounting frameworks. Yet the circular economy offers unique opportunities for a more sustainable world, where social, ecological, and financial goals are interconnected.
From this conviction, Koru was born: with the mission to make transitions not only desirable, but also feasible and financially viable. After all, sustainability affects not only the organization itself, but also the entire value chain and the broader ecosystem
Our Role as a Network Organization
KORU is a network organization that brings together the best expertise from the market in the field of circular economy and transition. We connect the pieces of the bigger puzzle: companies, governments, knowledge institutions, and consumers are brought together in joint initiatives that enable the shift toward circular business models.
Our Three Pillars
Our approach is built on three pillars: Clarity, providing focus and insight; Commitment, fostering ownership and determination; and Collaboration, creating the partnerships that truly make a difference.
International Knowledge Network
KORU works closely with leading universities such as Nyenrode Business University (Netherlands) and Monash University (Australia). By combining academic insights with practical application, we strengthen the bridge between research, policy, and entrepreneurship.
Our Vision
We believe that circular business is not only a necessity, but above all an opportunity to become stronger, more innovative, and more resilient. With Koru Consulting, organizations take the step from intention to impact, building together an economy that is future-proof, inclusive, and competitive.
Name
Dr. Diane Zandee RC
Role
Advisor, Speaker, Assistant Professor at Nyenrode Business University
About
Diane (1977) founded Koru Consulting in 2015. She is also an Assistant Professor at Nyenrode Business University, where her research and teaching focus on the financial dimension of sustainability, with a particular emphasis on the circular economy. Her work explores the role of the financial sector, controllers, and accountants and the tools that can support them in enabling sustainable transitions.
Her interest in sustainability began at Eneco, where she contributed to the energy transition in finance and procurement roles. She later held CFO and senior procurement positions at organizations such as Dutch Railways (NS), Schiphol Airport, and various start-ups and scale-ups. This has given her broad experience with the financial challenges and opportunities in sustainable business operations.
In 2023, Diane completed her PhD research on the circular economy and financial barriers. Today, she applies these insights to help organisations transition toward more sustainable and financially robust models.
Contribution
Diane has extensive experience in integrating sustainable strategy, designing circular business models, and navigating CSRD requirements. She brings a wide network of experts in stakeholder management, change management, and sustainable transitions. Diane is also available as a speaker. Thanks to her knowledge, experience, and unfailing optimism, she has guided many organisations on their sustainability journey. With an inspiring style, she makes complex and abstract topics practical, concrete, and results-driven turning them into actionable roadmaps for transformation.
Core Values
Transparency • Equality • Fun • Creativity • Courage