Tsjerk is a student of the MSc International Land and Water Management at Wageningen University, the Netherlands. He has interdisciplinary experience in research and practice: researching soil properties in relation to plant growth for his BSc thesis in Japan and working on riverine water safety projects during his internship at the Dutch consultancy company Arcadis. His work for Living with Water will generate new knowledge on the integrated and inclusive implementation of Nature-based Solutions on the South Coast of B.C.

Outside of his studies, Tsjerk spends time organising sailing events and facilitating sustainable change and innovation at the Sail for the Future Foundation.